crescendo: building the future of the arts

Rick X. Hoops (they/he) is a trans & queer, disabled performance artist, administrator, and educator. They currently work as the Program Manager at the Gender & Sexuality Center for Queer & Trans Life at UMN and as one of the Youth Programs Music Directors at MN Opera. Rick has two Bachelor’s degrees from St. Olaf College in Vocal Performance and Theater, a Graduate Certificate in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion from UMN, and will graduate with a master’s in arts & Cultural Leadership from UMN in May 2025. He also operates a voice and piano studio in Saint Paul. 

As a performer, Rick is a coloratura soprano who has sung on stages across North America, Europe, and Asia. Some of their operatic roles include: Adele (Die Fledermaus), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Gilda (Rigoletto), Rose Maybud (Ruddigore), and Musetta (La boheme). They have also performed many musical theater role, including Olive (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Carlotta (The Phantom of the Opera), Meredith Parker (Bat Boy), Fraulein Schneider (Cabaret), and more! They have also directed several productions and have a broad background in technical theater.  

Jared Mikach (he/him) is a Mexican-American collaborative pianist and educator based in the Twin Cities. He graduated from St. Olaf College with a B.A. in Music and an Asian Studies Concentration and completed a master’s degree in Collaborative Piano and Coaching at the University of Minnesota. Jared has served as pianist, assistant music director, and repetiteur for productions of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Big Fish, Der Vampyr, Die Fledermaus, Cabaret, Sister Act, Addams Family, Ruddigore, Into the Woods, Chicago, Mamma Mia, Little Shop of Horrors, The Consul, The Rape of Lucretia, Proving Up, and Dark Sisters. As an educator, he works with the music department at North High School in North St. Paul, as the music department pianist, is a Youth Program Music Director at MN Opera, as well as a core faculty member for the Ordway’s BIPOC musical theater training fellowship, GreenRoom. 

As a freelance pianist in the Twin Cities, Jared has worked with groups and organizations including BorderCrosSing, Heritage Choir, South Metro Chorale, Schubert Club, Source Song Festival, OOPS MN, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Skylark Opera, AOT, Journey North Opera Company, MN Opera, and The Ordway Center for Performing Arts. Jared strives to bring a holistic approach to every facet of his art making, creating spaces that foster sustainability in the arts. 

Rocky Jones (he/him) will produce and edit.

Emilia Mettenbrink (she/her) will handle guest relations, scheduling, and logistics.