Recitative, alto: Behold, a virgin shall conceive

ERIN KEESY, SOPRANO Erin Keesy is an alumna of the University of Louisville where she received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She received her master's degree and Artist Diploma in Opera from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. She has made solo appearances with the Cincinnati POPS Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, Butler Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and performed as a young artist with the Cincinnati Opera. Most recently, she performed the role of Agathe in Queen City Opera’s Der Freischütz. She also made her international solo debut earlier this year in Seoul, South Korea singing the soprano solos in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Seoul Oratorio Festival. She also performs frequently with Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble. Ms. Keesy is a member of the voice faculty at the University of Louisville and looks forward to continuing work with her students in the spring.

KATHERINE CALCAMUGGIO DONNER, MEZZOSOPRANO Katherine Calcamuggio Donner is an award-winning mezzo-soprano. Ms. Calcamuggio has been featured in important roles and company debuts across the United States, eliciting kudos for her “soaring, rich voice” (The Miami Herald), her “polished musical and dramatic characterizations” (Kurt Weill Newsletter) and her “fine coloratura technique” (Philadelphia Inquirer). Favorite operatic appearances include leading roles in HMS Pinafore as Buttercup (Union Avenue Opera), Bon Appetit as Julia Child (Opera on the James), Ariadne auf Naxos as Komponist (University of Michigan), Hansel and Gretel as Hansel (Syracuse Opera) and Giulio Cesare as Sesto (Florida Grand Opera). The past several seasons, Ms. Calcamuggio has been performing as a mezzo-soprano soloist with orchestras in Handel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and as the soprano soloist in John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man. An active recitalist, she has been traveling across the country with the Piatigorsky Foundation performing recitals. Ms. Calcamuggio received her DMA from the University of Michigan and is currently an Assistant Professor of Voice at University of Louisville.

RICKY LYNN CASE II, TENOR Ricky Case is a proud Louisville native. He attended the University of Louisville and studied under Daniel Weeks. During his time at the University of Louisville, he was highly involved with the Opera Theatre, where he had numerous opportunities to collaborate with composers such as Jake Heggie and Daron Hagen. He performed in the Collegiate Chorale and the Cardinal Singers, and was often featured as a