CULLEN THEATER, WORTHAM THEATER CENTER AND STREAMING LIVE TO AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE
It is a time of glorious expansion at Houston Grand Opera. The 37th Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias will look decidedly different from years past. For the first time, our final ists—who have already distinguished themselves from among more than 1,000 hopeful artists around the world—will perform alongside our renowned HGO Orchestra, offering an entirely new experience for all of us here tonight in the Cullen Theater.
At the podium will be James Gaffigan, the General Music Director of Komische Oper Berlin, Music Director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, and Music Director of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra in Switzerland. Maestro Gaffigan has made it his mission to help promising young musicians reach their full potential throughout his own impressive career, which took root right here in our city: he holds a master’s degree from the Rice University Shepherd School of Music. We are thrilled to welcome him back to Houston, and to HGO, for this milestone moment.
Serving as our guest judge this evening is another leader in our industry: Michael Heaston, the Deputy General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera and former Music Director of the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio. Heaston will be lending his wonderful expertise as we seek to evaluate these young voices.
There is much at stake for the seven inspiring artists performing this evening. Those who take top honors could be invited to join the storied Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio, which has minted some of the biggest names in opera. They also stand to take home a larger cash award than ever before! As part of our efforts to discover, attract, and support the best young singers in the world, this year we have tripled the size of our prize purse, which is now on par with those awarded by the largest houses in the world.
I am proud to share that this year, as part of HGO’s commitment to expanding our global reach, we have formed a new partnership with Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu. Later this month, Butler Studio Director Colin Michael Brush will be representing HGO at that company’s 62nd Tenor Viñas International Singing Competition, where, thanks to the generosity of the Torras Foundation, he will award one artist a $25,000 prize—and automatic entry to the semifinal round of Concert of Arias 2026.
The future is shining bright at HGO. We will stop at nothing as we seek to invest in our artists and art form while making Concert of Arias one of the most exciting evenings in opera. Thank you for being here.
Khori Dastoor General Director and CEO
Margaret Alkek Williams Chair
Khori Dastoor at Concert of Arias 2024
Butler Studio alumna Emily Treigle with her underwriters, Jim and Molly Crownover
MEET THE JUDGES
KHORI DASTOOR
HGO General Director and CEO
Margaret Alkek Williams Chair
PATRICK SUMMERS
HGO Artistic and Music Director
Sarah and Ernest Butler Chair
MICHAEL HEASTON
Guest Judge
Deputy General Manager, Metropolitan Opera
Former Music Director,
Sarah and Ernest Butler
Houston Grand Opera Studio
ANA MARÍA MARTÍNEZ
Soprano and Judge of the Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award
CONDUCTOR
JAMES GAFFIGAN
General Music Director, Komische Oper Berlin
Music Director, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Valencia
LIVESTREAM HOST
ERNIE MANOUSE
Executive Producer and Host, Houston Public Media
PROGRAM
GEONHO LEE | BARITONE | “Si può?” from Pagliacci – Ruggero Leoncavallo
LAUREN CARROLL | SOPRANO | “Come scoglio” from Così fan tutte – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
LUKE NORVELL | TENOR | “Tarquinius does not wait” from The Rape of Lucretia – Benjamin Britten
MEG BRILLESLYPER | MEZZO-SOPRANO | “Svegliatevi nel core” from Giulio Cesare – George Frideric Handel
ALEXIS SEMINARIO | SOPRANO | “Ain’t it a pretty night?” from Susannah – Carlisle Floyd
LUKA TSEVELIDZE | TENOR | “Ah, la paterna mano” from Macbeth – Giuseppe Verdi
DARIA LUPU | SOPRANO | “Ah, je ris de me voir” from Faust – Charles Gounod
INTERMISSION
LAUREN CARROLL | SOPRANO | “Ah, fors’è lui…Sempre libera” from La traviata – Giuseppe Verdi
LUKE NORVELL | TENOR | “È la solita storia del pastore” from L’arlesiana – Francesco Cilèa
MEG BRILLESLYPER | MEZZO-SOPRANO | “Werther... Qui m’aurait dit la place” from Werther – Jules Massenet
DARIA LUPU | SOPRANO | “Era desso il figlio mio” from Lucrezia Borgia – Gaetano Donizetti
LUKA TSEVELIDZE | TENOR | “Kuda, kuda, vi udalilis” from Eugene Onegin – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
GEONHO LEE | BARITONE | “Eri tu” from Un ballo in maschera – Giuseppe Verdi
ALEXIS SEMINARIO | SOPRANO | “Du bist der Lenz” from Die Walküre – Richard Wagner
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA
Overture to Der fliegende Holländer – Richard Wagner
ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS
CELEBRATION DINNER
LAUREN CARROLL (United States)
SOPRANO
This season, Lauren Carroll is a Young Artist with Palm Beach Opera, where she will make her company debut as Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro and cover the roles of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Violetta in La traviata. In summer 2025, she will return to the Aspen Music Festival as a Renée Fleming Artist and debut as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. In summer 2024, she performed the role of Gretel in Hansel and Gretel at the Aspen Music Festival. Carroll was an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera in 2021 and 2022, where she covered the roles of Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Frasquita in Carmen. She earned her Master of Music degree from Rice University and her Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University.
DARIA LUPU ( Romania)
SOPRANO
Daria Lupu is a member of the Experimental Studio in Musical Performing Arts “Ludovic Spiess” at the Bucharest National Opera. She has performed roles such as Mimì in La bohème, Marguerite in Faust, and La Bergère in L’enfant et les sortilèges at venues including the Bucharest National Opera, the Romanian Athenaeum, and Radio Hall. She was a finalist in the 2024 Sumi Jo International Singing Competition and represented Romania at the 2023 Voix Nouvelles Semifinal in Paris. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the National University of Music in Bucharest.
ALEXIS SEMINARIO (United States)
SOPRANO
Alexis Seminario, a 2020 alumna of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy, is currently a Young Artist with Palm Beach Opera, where she will debut as Annina in La traviata and cover the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro. In summer 2024 as a Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Music Festival, Seminario stepped in for Tamara Wilson as Sieglinde and sang Helmwige in Act III of Die Walküre, in addition to portraying Gertrud in Hansel and Gretel under the baton of Maestro Patrick Summers. In summer 2025, she will cover Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw and Ortlinde in Die Walküre with the Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist. During the 2022-23 season, Seminario was a Studio Artist with the Atlanta Opera and an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera. She received 3rd Place in the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition and is a Southeast Regional Finalist in the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She holds a Master of Music degree from Bard College Conservatory.
FINALISTS
MEG BRILLESLYPER (United States)
MEZZO-SOPRANO
Meg Brilleslyper is a 2022 alumna of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy. Recent roles include Bradamante in Alcina, Mércèdes in Carmen, Bianca and Lucretia (cover) in The Rape of Lucretia, Filipyevna (cover) in Eugene Onegin, and Ruggiero in Alcina. Brilleslyper was a winner at the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont CompetitionHouston District (2025), in addition to winning first place in the Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition (2023) and first place in the Eastman Concerto Competition (2022). She attended the Aspen Music Festival (2022, 2023) and the Music Academy of the West as a Lehrer Vocal Institute Fellow (2024). In early 2025, she will compete in the live rounds of the International Franz Schubert and Modern Music Competition in Graz, Austria. Upcoming roles include Cherubino in The Ghosts of Versailles at Rice University and Isolier in Le comte Ory at San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
LUKE NORVELL (United States)
TENOR
Luke Norvell is a fourth-year resident artist at Academy of Vocal Arts. Previous operatic highlights include the role of Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi and Buoso’s Ghost and serving as a tenor soloist in Verdi’s Messa di Requiem at Utah Festival Opera; Werther (Act III) with Opera Philadelphia; performing as Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia and as Alfredo in La traviata, Lensky in Eugene Onegin, and the Duke in Rigoletto (Act III) at Academy of Vocal Arts; Rodolfo in La bohème and Lensky in Eugene Onegin with Music Academy of the West; Anatol (cover) in Vanessa with Spoleto Festival USA; and Fenton in Falstaff with Puget Sound Concert Opera. Upcoming engagements include the title role in Faust at Academy of Vocal Arts and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Roanoke. Norvell has won prizes in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, as well as Opera Index, Young Patronesses of the Opera, and SAS Performing Arts competitions. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Master’s University.
LUKA TSEVELIDZE (Georgia)
TENOR
Luka Tsevelidze is a student at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. Tsevelidze made his operatic debut as Tamino in The Magic Flute with the Tbilisi State Conservatoire Opera Studio. In summer 2024, he performed in a concert in Kassel, Germany. He will soon take the stage as Alfredo in La traviata at the Tbilisi State Opera. He was
REINNETTE AND STAN MAREK
2025 EVENT CHAIRS
to fostering future generations. Together, they embody the values of leadership, education, and philanthropy, which has inspired their long-standing support of Houston Grand Opera and Concert of Arias.
Reinnette, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, began her career as a commercial litigator, practicing in Chicago and later in Houston. After receiving her master’s degree in international law from the University of Houston and MBA from Rice University, Reinnette transitioned into entrepreneurship. Most notably, she helped launch Dr. Richard Smalley’s company, which was founded following his Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the buckyball. An avid adventurer, she has summited high-altitude peaks across multiple continents and most recently walked 193 miles across England. Her commitment to service is equally impressive and includes serving on the boards of the Houston Food Bank, the Children’s Assessment Center, and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
Stan, a Texas native, graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA in Finance. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, he began his career in construction and later became President and CEO of the Marek Family of Companies, one of the largest interior contractors in the Southwest. Stan is a recognized leader in the construction industry and was inducted into the Texas A&M Constructors Hall of Fame in 2013. He is also a dedicated advocate for immigration reform, co-founding Texans for a Sensible Immigration Policy and serving as a frequent lecturer on the subject. His community involvement spans from service as a Trustee at St. John’s School to roles as Chairman of the St. Luke’s Foundation Board and board member at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.
The Mareks are continually impressed by HGO’s Concert of Arias, as well as the organization’s larger commitment to arts education across Houston. They recognize that the company’s Community and Learning programs are already inspiring the next generation of artists and that the arts are essential to every child’s education. Reinnette and Stan’s shared dedication to their community aligns seamlessly with HGO’s mission, and they are honored to support this important work.
EVENT UNDERWRITERS
REINNETTE AND STAN MAREK, CHAIRS
PRESENTER
Estate of Eleanor Searle McCollum
ORCHESTRA
PRESENTER
Drs. Liz Grimm and Jack Roth
CONDUCTOR
Christopher Bacon and Craig Miller
Gudrun Becker
Astley L. Blair
ConocoPhillips
Molly and Jim Crownover
Marty Dudley
Frost Bank
AWARDS PRESENTER
Houston Methodist
Official Health Care Provider of Houston Grand Opera
STAR
Reinnette and Stan Marek
Dian and Harlan Stai
DIRECTOR
Janet and John Carrig
Teresa and José Ivo
John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer
IMPRESARIO
Anne and Albert Chao
Matthew Healey
Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer
The Petrello Family Foundation
The Evans-Portela Family
Jill and Allyn Risley
Vitol
Claire Liu and Joe Greenberg
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Beth Madison
John P. McGovern Foundation
Novum Energy
Matthew Ringel
John Serpe and Tracy Maddox
Yuichi and Uny Watanabe
Michelle Beale and Richard H. Anderson / Geraldine Gill / Drs. Liz Grimm and Jack Roth / Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau, Jr. / Hinda Simon / Helen B. Wils and Leonard A. Goldstein
CHORUS
Carol and Paul Beck
Hon. Theresa and Dr. Peter Chang
John and Jeanette DiFilippo
Drs. Rachel and Warren Ellsworth IV
Stephanie D. Larsen
Amy and Mark Melton
USI Insurance Services
Vinson & Elkins LLP
MAESTRO
Jack Bell
Cindy and Les Fox
Sandy and Lee Godfrey
Liz Travis and Jerry Hyde
Marianne Kah
Diane Marcinek
Barbara and Pat McCelvey
Jill Schaar and George Caflisch
Rhonda Sweeney
Ellen and Bob Vladem
RÉPÉTITEUR
Gloria and Robert Anderson
Susan Bloome
Cheryl and Michael Clancy
Lexie and Dr. William Mitch
Diane Morales Terrylin Neale
Regina Rogers
Kathi Rovere
Roz and David Rowan
Kathy and Richard Stout
Mary Lee and Jim Wallace
Cyvia Wolff
Rini and Edward Ziegler
Ann Ziker
SOLOIST
Larissa Bither
Adrienne Bond
Linda and Lester Burgess
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Kirk Hickey and Bill Maguire
Renee Margolin
Susan and Doug Paisley
City Kitchen Catering
The Events Company
Mathilda Cochran
Shelly Cyprus
Mindy and Joshua Davidson
Anna Dean
Dr. Thomas DeNapoli and Mr. Mark Walker
Nancy Dunlap
Connie Dyer
Trish Freeman and Bruce Patterson
Lynn Gissel
Julia Gwaltney
Nancy Haywood
Patricia Hunt Holmes Ph.D, JD
Ellen and Alan Holzberg
Yolanda and Bill Knull
Stephanie and Richard Langenstein
Jackie Macha and Brian Faulkner
Brenda Harvey-Traylor
Rita Leader
Jackie Macha and Brian Faulkner
Dr. Susan Osterberg
Dr. Tatiana Sorkin
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
Robert Anderson
Emily Bivona and Ryan Manser
Albert Garcia Jr.
Lori Harrington and Parashar Saika
Anna Kovalenko
Paul Muri and Stephanie Weber
Morgan Pfeil
Constance Rose-Edwards
Melanie Smith
HGO also thanks those who pledged their support after January 10, 2025
AT CONCERT OF ARIAS
For the first time in company history, tonight’s finalists will perform accompanied by the HGO Orchestra, conducted by Maestro James Gaffigan.
HGO ORCHESTRA
Patrick Summers, Artistic and Music Director
Sarah and Ernest Butler Chair
VIOLIN
Denise Tarrant*, Concertmaster
Sarah and Ernest Butler Concertmaster Chair
Chloe Kim*, Assistant Concertmaster
Natalie Gaynor*, Principal Second Violin
Carrie Kauk*, Assistant Principal Second Violin
Miriam Belyatsky*
Rasa Kalesnykaite†
Hae-a Lee Barnes*
Chavdar Parashkevov†
Anabel Ramirez*
Mary Reed*
Erica Robinson†
Linda Sanders*
Oleg Sulyga†
Melissa Williams*
Zubaida Azezi
Lucinda Chiu
Andres Gonzalez
Kana Kimura
Mila Neal
Jacob Schafer
Rachel Shepard
Emily Zelaya
VIOLA
Eliseo Rene Salazar*, Principal
Lorento Golofeev*, Assistant Principal
Gayle Garcia-Shepard*
Elizabeth Golofeev*
Erika C. Lawson*
Suzanne LeFevre†
Matthew Weathers*
CELLO
Barrett Sills*, Principal
Erika Johnson*, Assistant Principal
Dana Rath*
Wendy Smith-Butler*
Chennie Sung*
DOUBLE BASS
Dennis Whittaker†, Principal
Erik Gronfor*, Assistant Principal
Carla Clark*
Paul Ellison
FLUTE
Henry Williford*, Principal
Tyler Martin*
Izumi Miyahara
The competition finalists will gain valuable experience performing with a full orchestra.
OBOE
Elizabeth Priestly Siffert*, Principal
Mayu Isom†
Spring Hill
Pablo Moreno
CLARINET
Eric Chi*, Acting Principal
Justin Best
Molly Mayfield
BASSOON
Amanda Swain*, Principal
Quincey Trojanowski*
Micah Doherty
SAXOPHONE
Scott Plugge
HORN
Sarah Cranston*, Principal
Kimberly Penrod Minson*
Spencer Park*
Kevin McIntyre
Gavin Reed
TRUMPET
Tetsuya Lawson*, Principal
Randal Adams*
Gerardo Mata
TROMBONE
Thomas Hultén*, Principal
Mark Holley*
Jordan Milek Johnson*
TUBA
Mark Barton*, Principal
TIMPANI
Alison Chang*, Principal
PERCUSSION
Richard Brown†, Principal
Christina Carroll, Acting Principal
Robert McCullagh
HARP
Caitlin Mehrtens*, Principal
HARPSICHORD
William Woodard
* HGO Orchestra core musician † HGO Orchestra core musician on leave this production
Maestro James Gaffigan at the podium
BUTLER STUDIO ARTISTS 2024-25
Laura Bleakley, Pianist/Coach
Ms. Lynn Des Prez/ Dr. and Mrs. Miguel Miro-Quesada Fellow
Jenny Choo , Pianist/Coach
Dr. Laura E. Sulak and Dr. Richard W. Brown Fellow
Sam Dhobhany, Bass-Baritone
Dian and Harlan Stai Fellow
Alissa Goretsky, Soprano
Nancy Haywood/ Susan Bloome/ James M. Trimble and Sylvia Barnes Fellow
Navasard Hakobyan , Baritone
Melinda and Bill Brunger/
Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Nickson/ Gloria M. Portela Fellow
Elizabeth Hanje , Soprano
Ms. Marty Dudley/ Amy and Mark Melton/ Jeff Stocks and Juan Lopez Fellow
Ani Kushyan , Mezzo-Soprano
Donna and Ken Barrow/
Barbara and Pat McCelvey/ Jill A. Schaar and George Caflisch Fellow
Michael McDermott , Tenor
Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson/ Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Fellow
Shawn Roth , Tenor
Drs. Liz Grimm and Jack Roth/ Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV/ Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer/ Sharon Ley Lietzow and Robert Lietzow Fellow
Demetrious Sampson, Jr. , Tenor
Dr. Dina Alsowayel and Mr. Anthony R. Chase/ Dr. Eric McLaughlin and Mr. Eliodoro Castillo/ Alejandra and Héctor Torres/ Mr. Trey Yates Fellow
Ziniu Zhao , Bass-Baritone
Carolyn J. Levy / Jill and Allyn Risley/ Dr. Peter Chang and Hon. Theresa Chang and Friends / Dr. Ron Galfione and Carolyn Galfione Fellow
The current group of talented artists training with HGO’s Butler Studio, with program director Colin Michael Brush (top left)
Cast Forward
There is no better experience for an emerging opera artist than a major HGO production—and our current Butler Studio members are everywhere this season!
Verdi’s Il trovatore
Demetrious Sampson Jr. – Ruiz
Elizabeth Hanje – Ines
Michael McDermott – Messenger
Jenny Choo – Assistant Coach
Rossini’s Cinderella
Alissa Goretsky – Clorinda
Laura Bleakley – Assistant Coach
Rossini’s Cinderella –Family Day
Michael McDermott – Don Ramiro
Ziniu Zhao – Don Magnifico
Sam Dhobhany – Alidoro
Alissa Goretsky – Clorinda
Laura Bleakley – Assistant Coach
Puccini’s La bohème
Michael McDermott - Rodolfo
Navasard Hakobyan – Schaunard
Demetrious Sampson Jr. – Parpignol
Laura Bleakley – Assistant Coach
Jenny Choo – Assistant Coach
Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves
Sam Dhobhany – Terry
Jenny Choo – Assistant Coach
Wagner’s Tannhäuser
Shawn Roth – Heinrich der Schreiber
Ziniu Zhao – Reinmar von Zweter
Ani Kushyan – Shepherd
Laura Bleakley – Assistant Coach
Elizabeth Hanje (right) with Ailyn Pérez in Il trovatore
Michael McDermott with Yaritza Véliz in La bohème
Alissa Goretsky (right) with Emily Treigle in Cinderella
THE JOURNEY TO TONIGHT’S CONCERT OF ARIAS:
The Live Final Round of HGO’s Eleanor McCollum Competition
Butler Studio Director Colin Michael Brush shares a peek behind the scenes.
The view from Butler Studio Director Colin Michael Brush’s window as he set off in search of the finest emerging artists in opera.
Tonight marks an exciting milestone for the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, as the final round features the wonderful Houston Grand Opera Orchestra for the first time. For those of you who have attended Concerts of Arias before, you may remember that the competition has always been performed with piano. Many of the world’s best competitions present their final round with full orchestra, and it’s a different process for both the singers and for us, the company. Executing a competition with orchestra instead of piano involves far more preparation but is a rewarding experience, as singing with full instrumental accompaniment is something not all young singers get to experience so early. This addition reflects HGO’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of opera stars while ensuring an extraordinary experience for the audience and performers alike. From its inception, this competition has required months of preparation, a global search for talent, and tireless dedication, but this year the process has been even more intense. Here’s a peek behind the scenes of how we got to the final round of the competition: tonight’s Concert of Arias.
SUMMER 2024
The process began even before the start of our season. I launched our search for the most promising emerging artists out there by traveling to all the major summer opera apprentice artist programs in the United States, including Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Wolf Trap Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and San Francisco Opera. Additionally, I scouted singers in Europe, visiting conservatories, competitions, and training programs in Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and more. HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor and Director of Artistic Planning Richard Bado also heard singers across Europe. In the U.S., Butler Studio Music Director Dr. Maureen Zoltek scouted talent while teaching at the renowned Music Academy of the West, and Director of Vocal Instruction Dr. Stephen King joined Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers at the Aspen Music Festival.
JULY 1, 2024
The competition application officially opened, inviting singers from around the world to submit materials. Applicants provided biographical information, details about their training, and two contrasting video performances.
LATE AUGUST 2024
Applications closed, with nearly 1,000 singers submitting close to 2,000 videos. Over the next few weeks, the pre-screening process began, allowing us to narrow the pool of singers to the most promising candidates for live auditions. This critical step enabled us to determine the best potential fits for the competition and the Butler Studio, ultimately inviting 250 singers to the next phase.
LATE OCTOBER
The live audition tour began with two days in Houston. The team—comprising Dr. Zoltek, Dr. King, and me—then traveled to Cincinnati, New York, and Philadelphia. We do a live audition tour every year to ensure we hear the best talent possible. Not everyone can travel to Houston, as many singers are in school, working, or performing, so we include stops in multiple cities to make it feasible for more applicants. The tour takes lots of preparation, as we must find audition spaces in these cities, pianists for the auditioners, and audition staff, while navigating a hectic travel schedule for the judging panel. In total, we heard around 250 live auditions from the 1,000 applications submitted.
NOVEMBER 10
Following the auditions, 20 semifinalists were selected to move forward to the official live semifinal audition round in Houston on January 10.
MID-NOVEMBER TO MID-DECEMBER
We began the next critical stage of preparations. Unlike previous years, when piano accompaniment allowed for more repertoire flexibility, the addition of the HGO Orchestra required all aria selections to be finalized early. Each semifinalist submitted four arias for consideration, creating a pool of 80 possibilities for tonight’s program.
While only 14 arias will be performed tonight, the final program wasn’t determined until just under a week ago. Last week’s semifinal round determined which seven singers would advance to tonight’s final round, so the program was decided on Saturday evening. With such a tight timeline, it’s impossible to prepare all orchestra parts at the last minute. This meant that all 80 potential arias had to be prepared weeks in advance.
Our incredible Music Planning team, led by Director of Artistic Partnerships & Music Planning Monica Thakkar, worked with our artistic staff to pull the music for these 80 selections. This Herculean task required gathering and organizing parts for every individual player in the orchestra—a process demanding extraordinary coordination and accuracy.
While this initial preparation for our first year hosting the competition with the HGO Orchestra requires significant effort, it also lays a strong foundation for future competitions. Once we prepare an orchestral aria for
performance, we keep those parts, gradually building a comprehensive library of fully prepared orchestral repertoire. Over time, this process means that much of the standard audition repertoire will already be available, significantly reducing preparation time for future competitions. In just a few years, we will have a robust catalog of arias at the ready, streamlining this complex process.
Throughout this process, our Butler Studio Manager, Kiera Krieg, managed and coordinated the complex logistics—finalizing schedules, overseeing arrangements, and maintaining consistent communication—required to ensure every semifinalist was ready to arrive in Houston.
JANUARY 8–9
The semifinalists arrived in Houston, with five traveling internationally and the rest coming from across the U.S.
JANUARY 10
All 20 semifinalists performed two of their selected arias in the Cullen Theater, where you are sitting tonight, for members of the HGO Artistic team and Butler Studio and company leadership. From these, seven finalists were chosen to advance to tonight’s competition.
JANUARY 11
The seven finalists performed their remaining two arias for our Artistic team, helping us determine which selections would best showcase their voices in tonight’s program. The 14 arias featured tonight were selected with care, their performance order meticulously arranged, before final preparations were made to ensure every orchestral part was printed and ready for our incredible orchestra.
JANUARY 12–15
The finalists worked closely with tonight’s conductor, the incredible James Gaffigan, and participated in rehearsals with our HGO Orchestra. During this time, they also completed wardrobe fittings to ensure they look their best and recorded interviews so you can get to know them a little better tonight.
JANUARY 16
The finalists sang for the HGO Artistic team in the Brown Theater to give us a sense of how their voices carry in a larger space. That evening, they participated in a dress rehearsal, bringing all preparations to a close.
TONIGHT
The journey comes to an end. The finalists take the stage in the Cullen Theater, performing two arias each, accompanied by the full HGO Orchestra.
For some, this marks their first opportunity to sing with an orchestra, a thrilling and formative milestone in their
careers. It has been an extraordinary and rewarding voyage to this moment, and we are delighted to share the artistry of these young talents with you tonight. And you never know—as epic as this journey has been for these artists, for some of them, tonight could mark the very beginning of an even longer relationship with Houston Grand Opera.■
SEARCH WITHIN
HGO’s Patrick Summers on the role of the judge.
Asked about his famous marble sculpture of David (now in the Accademia in Florence), Michelangelo famously said that “the sculpture is already complete within the marble block… I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” This is quite an apt metaphor for what we are doing tonight.
The primary thing audiences want to know is what we’re listening for. Firstly, we view all of the contestants as superlative winners simply for being here, which, as you can imagine is already an extremely competitive journey.
How much is subjective? Initially, not much: we first evaluate if the notes and words being performed are the same as those put there by the composer, and we note if the singing is in or out of tune. But then we look deeper, moving towards subjectivity, into an artist’s relationship with their own instrument and the music to which their artistic life will be devoted. We are often dreaming within tonight’s decisions about Houston Grand Opera in 2030 more than we are thinking about the present. We are looking for leanings towards greatness rather than any attempt at perfection.
And we pointedly are not looking for the next Pavarotti. What we are ultimately seeking is the very thing at which Michelangelo chipped away on his own journey to David: the unique art that is already within any individual artist, those special ones who fit no mold, who sound like no one else, and who change the whole feeling of the very air their voices vibrate.
Classical music documentarian
Veronika Emily Pohl, New York
City Opera Executive Director and Music Director Constantine Orbelian, Kaunas Orchestra
General Manager Algimantas Treikauskas, National Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre’s Vladimiras Prudnikovas, and Brush
Brush attended the semi-final round of the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition in the Loire Valley region of France.
Outside the Château de la Ferté-Imbault, during intermission for the Sumi Jo competition
1996 Monique McDonald 1st Place
Joyce DiDonato 2nd Place
Misha Royzen 3rd Place
Arturo Rodriguez A.C.
1997 Karen Henrikson 1st Place
Alfred Walker III 2nd Place
Jennifer Davison 3rd Place Tiffany Jackson 3rd Place
Tiffany Jackson A.C.
1998 Chen-Ye Yuan 1st Place
Alexandra Deshorties 2nd Place
Troy Cook 3rd Place Chen-Ye Yuan A.C.
1999 Michael Maniaci 1st Place
Kyle Ketelsen 2nd Place
Twyla Robinson 3rd Place
Liam Bonner A.C.
2006 Maria Markina 1st Place
Alicia Gianni 2nd Place
Cortez Mitchell 3rd Place
Alicia Gianni A.C.
2007 Faith Sherman 1st Place
James J. Kee 2nd Place
Jamie Barton 3rd Place
James J. Kee A.C.
2008 Caitlin Lynch 1st Place
Joélle Harvey 2nd Place
Octavio Moreno 3rd Place
Caitlin Lynch A.C.
2009 Rachel Willis-Sørensen 1st Place
Catherine Martin 2nd Place
Kyle Ketelsen A.C. Ryan McKinny 3rd Place
Michael Sumuel 3rd Place
Jung Nan Yoon 3rd Place
Nathaniel Peake A.C.
Yongzhao Yu A.M.M.E.A.
Yongzhao Yu A.C.
2016 Madison Leonard 1st Place
Zoie Reams 2nd Place
Alexandra Razskazoff 3rd Place
Yelena Dyachek A.M.M.E.A.
Sol Jin A.C.
2017 Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen 1st Place
Nicolette Book 2nd Place
Thomas Glass 3rd Place
Siphokazi Moltena A.M.M.E.A.
Siphokazi Moltena A.C.
Geoffrey Hahn O.V.C.
2018 Leia Lensing 1st Place
Dorothy Gal 2nd Place
Lindsay Kate Brown 3rd Place
Liv Redpath A.M.M.E.A.
Liv Redpath A.C.
Leia Lensing O.V.C.
2019 William Meinert 1st Place
William Guanbo Su 2nd Place
Nicholas Newton 3rd Place
Yunuet Laguna A.M.M.E.A.
Elena Villalón A.C.
Katherine DeYoung O.V.C.
2024 Elizabeth Hanje 1st Place
Ziniu Zhao 2nd Place
Alissa Goretsky 3rd place
Sam Dhobhany A.M.M.E.A.
Jazmine Saunders A.C.
Jouelle Roberson O.V.C.
A.C. — Audience Choice
A.M.M.E.A. — Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award
O.V.C. — Online Viewers’ Choice
WITH APPRECIATION
2024-25 BUTLER STUDIO FACULTY & STAFF
Colin Michael Brush, Director
Sponsored by Christopher Bacon and Craig Miller, Mr. Jack Bell, and Lynn Gissel
Maureen Zoltek, Music Director
Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair
Kiera Krieg, Butler Studio Manager
Stephen King, Director of Vocal Instruction
Sponsored by Jill and Allyn Risley, Janet Sims, and the James J. Drach Endowment Fund
Patrick Summers, Conducting Instructor and Coach
Sarah and Ernest Butler Chair
Peter Pasztor, Principal Coach
Sponsored by the Mr. and Mrs. James A. Elkins Jr. Endowment Fund
Madeline Slettedahl, Assistant Conductor
William Woodard, Assistant Conductor
Brian Connelly, Piano Instructor
Mo Zhou, Showcase Director and Guest Acting Faculty
"Ain't it a pretty night?" from Susannah, music and libretto by Carlisle Floyd, performed by arrangement with B&H Music Publishing, Inc.
"Tarquinius does not wait" from The Rape of Lucretia, music by Benjamin Britten, libretto by Ronald Duncan after the play by André Obey, performed by arrangement with B&H Music Publishing, Inc.
ABOUT THE BUTLER STUDIO
BUTLER STUDIO SUPPORTERS
The Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio is grateful for the underwriting support of Ms. Marty Dudley, Ms. Stephanie Larsen, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Langenstein. The Butler Studio is also thankful for the in-kind support of the Texas Voice Center and for the outstanding support of the Magnolia Houston hotel.
Additional support for the Butler Studio is provided by the following funds within the Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.:
The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation Endowment Fund
Marjorie and Thomas Capshaw Endowment Fund
James J. Drach Endowment Fund
The Evans and Portela Family Fund
Carol Lynn Lay Fletcher Endowment Fund
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund
Charlotte Howe Memorial Scholarship Fund
Elva Lobit Opera Endowment Fund
The Eleanor McCollum competition is a crucial recruitment tool for the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio, one of the most highly respected and prestigious young artist programs in the world. Since 1977, the Butler Studio has served young singers and pianist/coaches who have completed their academic training and are preparing to embark on full-fledged operatic careers. Each year after an exhaustive international search, a hand-selected group of the most exceptionally talented individuals is brought here to Houston to work on the mainstage and in recital alongside the best in the business at Houston Grand Opera. During a residency of up to three years, each performer collaborates with an expert team while gaining invaluable experience at the highest professional level. Alumni of the Butler Studio perform at the best opera houses around the world—and internationally renowned artists such as Joyce DiDonato, Jamie Barton, Ana María Martínez, Ryan McKinny, and Tamara Wilson still regularly return to their home stage at HGO. For many, the Butler Studio is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the company.
Marian and Speros Martel Foundation Endowment Fund
Erin Gregory Neale Endowment Fund
Dr. Mary Joan Nish and Patricia Bratsas Endowed Fund
