Resident Artist Program
One of North America’s premier training programs, the MN Opera Resident Artist Program offers a full season of employment for talented artists beginning their professional careers. From September through May, Resident Artists gain valuable experience through mainstage productions and community performances, while refining their skills off stage and mentoring with guest instructors and staff.
Masterclasses with guest clinicians, individualized language work, acting, and professional career development are just a few benefits of the program. The program is designed for artists in the early stages of their performance careers. Ideal Resident Artists have completed their graduate education and may have some professional experience.
For 27 years, the Resident Artist Program has been a critical part of MN Opera’s mission to advance the art of opera for today and future generations. Your gift makes it possible for us to continue the work of preparing these artists for successful careers in the opera industry, both here in Minnesota and beyond. Thank you for your commitment to securing the future of opera.
Support the Resident Artist Program to help launch and support our young artists.
2025-2026 RESIDENT ARTISTS
2025-2026 Resident Artist Guest Faculty
Lara Bolton
John Churchwell
More About The Resident Artist Program
HIGHLY
SELECTIVE
The 2025-2026 MN Opera Resident Artists were selected from an audition pool of over 1,000 applicants. The cohort will work with the company all season long, performing in mainstage productions and honing their craft offstage through mentoring from guest instructors and staff.
CAREER
OUTCOMES
After nearly thirty years, MN Opera’s Resident Artist Program has a proven track record of equipping singers and pianists with the tools necessary to make an impact in the opera industry. Former Resident Artists have gone on to successful careers, working with top companies across the United States and beyond—a testament to the level of instruction and opportunity that exists here.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
During their time at Minnesota Opera, Resident Artists receive training and guidance from world-class musicians including MNOP Head of Music and Director of the Resident Artist Program Mario Antonio Marra, MNOP Principal Conductor Christopher Franklin, and guest teachers such as John Churchwell, Ryan and Tonya McKinny, Renée Fleming, and more. Resident Artists are also exposed to the inner workings of the company, with access granted to members of the Advancement, Development, Marketing, and Production departments so that they have a full understanding of the art form from an administrative perspective. The goal of this wholistic approach to training is to ensure that artists coming through the program are poised to commit themselves to this beautiful art form and become its future leaders.
Resident Artist applications for the 2026-2027 season have closed.
Resident Artist Alumni
2020s
2024-2025
Fumiyasu Kawase, Pianist/Coach
John Mburu, Bass
Kara Morgan, Mezzo-Soprano
Ángel Vargas, Tenor
David Wolfe, Baritone
2023-2024
Efrain Corralejo, Tenor
Charles H. Eaton, Baritone
Keely Futterer, Soprano
Erica Guo, Pianist/Coach
Jeremiah Sanders, Baritone
2022-2023
Efrain Corralejo, Tenor
Charles H. Eaton, Baritone
Keely Futterer, Soprano
Erica Guo, Pianist/Coach
Jeremiah Sanders, Baritone
2021-2022
Emily Bishai, Director
Leah Brzyski, Soprano
Celeste Marie Johnson, Pianist/Coach
Symone Harcum, Soprano
Allen Michael Jones, Bass
Aaron Keeney, Baritone
Joseph Leppek, Tenor
2020-2021
Mia Athey, Mezzo-Soprano
Emily Bishai, Director
Leah Brzyski, Soprano
Frankie Charles, Assistant Technical Director
Celeste Marie Johnson, Pianist/Coach
Allen Michael Jones, Bass
Aaron Keeney, Baritone
Joseph Leppek, Tenor
2019-2020
Mia Athey, Mezzo-Soprano
Danielle Beckvermit, Soprano
Mary Box, Pianist/Coach
Frankie Charles, Assistant Technical Director
Adam Da Ros, Director
Nicholas Davis, Baritone
Andrew Gilstrap, Bass-Baritone
Lisa Marie Rogali, Soprano
Christian Sanders, Tenor
Andrew Sun, Pianist/Coach
2010s
2018-2019
Danielle Beckvermit, Soprano
Mary Box, Pianist/Coach
Adam Da Ros, Director
Nicholas Davis, Baritone
Stephen Martin, Tenor
Lisa Marie Rogali, Soprano
Christian Sanders, Tenor
Andrew Sun, Pianist/Coach
Wm. Clay Thompson, Bass
Christian Thurston, Baritone
2017-2018
Andres Acosta, Tenor
Nadia Fayad, Mezzo-Soprano
Jessica Hall, Pianist/Coach
Mary Evelyn Hangley, Soprano
Wm. Clay Thompson, Bass
Christian Thurston, Baritone
David Radamés Toro, Director
Lindsay Woodward, Pianist/Coach
2016-2017
Jonathan Brandani, Conductor
William Lee Bryan, Baritone
Christopher Colmenero, Tenor
Nadia Fayad, Mezzo-Soprano
Thomas Glass, Baritone
Jessica Hall, Pianist/Coach
Mary Evelyn Hangley, Soprano
Gina Perregrino, Mezzo-Soprano
Alexandra Razskazoff, Soprano
Benjamin Sieverding, Bass
David Radamés Toro, Director
David Walton, Tenor
Lindsay Woodward, Pianist/Coach
2015-2016
Jonathan Brandani, Conductor
Siena Forest, Soprano
Jessica Hall, Pianist/Coach
Jeni Houser, Soprano
Andrew Lovato, Baritone
Shannon Prickett, Soprano
Nickolas Sanches, Administration
Benjamin Sieverding, Bass
David Radamés Toro, Director
David Walton, Tenor
Lindsay Woodward, Pianist/Coach
2014-2015
Jonathan Brandani, Pianist/Coach
Aaron Breid, Conductor
Gerard Michael D’Emilio, Bass-Baritone
Siena Forest, Soprano
Geoffrey Loff, Pianist/Coach
Andrew Lovato, Baritone
Alison Moritz, Director
Cooper Nolan, Tenor
Shannon Prickett, Soprano
Nickolas Sanches, Administration
Christian Zaremba, Bass
2013-2014
Aaron Breid, Conductor
Daniel Ellis, Director
Christie Conover, Soprano
Rebecca Krynski Cox, Soprano
John Robert Lindsey, Tenor
Geoffrey Loff, Pianist/Coach
Sheldon Miller, Pianist/Coach
Matthew Opitz, Baritone
Shannon Prickett, Soprano
Victoria Vargas, Mezzo-Soprano
Christian Zaremba, Bass
2012-2013
Aaron Breid, Conductor
Daniel Ellis, Director
Christie Conover, Soprano
John Robert Lindsey, Tenor
Eric McEnaney, Pianist/Coach
Sheldon Miller, Pianist/Coach
Richard Ollarsaba, Bass-Baritone
Matthew Opitz, Baritone
Mary-Lacey Rogers, Administration
Victoria Vargas, Mezzo-Soprano
2011-2012
Joseph Beutel, Bass-Baritone
Aaron Breid, Pianist/Coach
Octavio Cardenas, Director
AJ Glueckert, Tenor
John Robert Lindsey, Tenor
Eric McEnaney, Pianist/Coach
Angela Mortellaro, Soprano
Gabriel Preisser, Baritone
Mary-Lacey Rogers, Administration
Clinton Smith, Conductor
Victoria Vargas, Mezzo-Soprano
2010-2011
Brad Benoit, Tenor
Octavio Cardenas, Director
Cassandra Flowers, Stage Manager
Jonathan Kimple, Bass-Baritone
Eric McEnaney, Pianist/Coach
Angela Mortellaro, Soprano
Rodolfo Nieto, Bass-Baritone
Michael Nyby, Baritone
Jeremy Reger, Pianist/Coach
Clinton Smith, Conductor
Victoria Vargas, Mezzo-Soprano
2009-2010
Brad Benoit, Tenor
Octavio Cardenas, Director
Cassandra Flowers, Stage Manager
Jonathan Kimple, Bass-Baritone
Eric McEnaney, Pianist/Coach
Rodolfo Nieto, Bass-Baritone
Michael Nyby, Baritone
Nicole Percifield, Mezzo-Soprano
Jeremy Reger, Pianist/Coach
Naomi Isabel Ruiz, Soprano
Clinton Smith, Conductor
2000s
2008-2009
Brad Benoit, Tenor
John David Boehr, Baritone
Bryan Boyce, Bass-Baritone
Octavio Cardenas, Director
Jamison Livsey, Pianist/Coach
Nicole Isabel Percifield, Mezzo-Soprano
Naomi Ruiz, Soprano
Clinton Smith, Conductor & Pianist/Coach
2007-2008
Kyle Albertson, Bass-Baritone
Alison Bates, Soprano
John David Boehr, Baritone
Andrea Coleman, Mezzo-Soprano
Christin-Marie Hill, Mezzo-Soprano
Christopher Job Bass-Baritone
Bryan Lemke, Pianist/Coach
Jamison Livsey, Pianist/Coach
Bill Murray, Administration
Christian Reinert, Tenor
2006-2007
Kyle Albertson, Bass-Baritone
Alison Bates, Soprano
Andrea Coleman, Mezzo-Soprano
Jamie-Rose Guarrine, Soprano
Joshua Kohl, Tenor
Bryan Lemke, Pianist/Coach
Bill Murray, Administration
Kelly Markgraf, Baritone
Cortez Mitchell, Countertenor
Edward Mout, Tenor
Nili Riemer, Soprano
Eric Schnobrick, Pianist/Coach
Hugo Vera, Tenor
2005-2006
Raymond Ayers, Baritone
Korey Barrett, Pianist/Coach
Alison Bates, Soprano
Theodore Chletsos, Tenor
Jamie-Rose Guarrine, Soprano
Seth Keeton, Bass-Baritone
Peter Kozma, Director
Bryan Lemke, Pianist/Coach
John Michael Moore, Baritone
Edward Mout, Tenor
2004-2005
Raymond Ayers, Baritone
Korey Barrett, Pianist/Coach
Jonathan Carle, Baritone
Theodore Chletsos, Tenor
Anna Jablonski, Mezzo-Soprano
Seth Keeton, Bass-Baritone
Karin Wolverton, Soprano
Christopher Zemliauskas, Conductor
2003-2004
Matt Boehler, Bass
Jeremy Cady, Tenor
Genevieve Christianson, Soprano
Liora Grodnikaite, Mezzo-Soprano
Anna Jablonski, Mezzo-Soprano
Seth Keeton, Bass-Baritone
Daniel Montenegro, Tenor
Evelyn Pollock, Soprano
Andrew Wilkowske, Baritone
Karin Wolverton Soprano
Christopher Zemliauskas Conductor
2002-2003
Matt Boehler, Bass
Genevieve Christianson, Soprano
Anna Jablonski, Mezzo-Soprano
Daniel Montenegro, Tenor
Andrew Wilkowske, Baritone
Karin Wolverton, Soprano
Christopher Zemliauskas, Pianist/Coach
2001-2002
Carlos Archuleta, Baritone
Matt Boehler, Bass
Ana De Archuleta, Soprano
Jeffrey Domoto, Conductor
Ryan Kinsella, Bass-Baritone
Laura Loewen, Pianist/Coach
James Valenti, Tenor
2000-2001
Amy Cope, Soprano
Jeffrey Domoto, Conductor
Sean Fallen, Tenor
Ryan Taylor, Baritone
Edwin Uhey, Tenor
James Valenti, Tenor
Adriana Zabala, Mezzo-Soprano
1999-2000
Christopher Fast, Baritone
Andrew Gangestad, Bass
Gary Haase, Bass-Baritone
Stephanie Lewis, Soprano
Lori-Kaye Miller, Mezzo-Soprano
Lyndee White, Soprano
Adriana Zabala, Mezzo-Soprano
1990s
1998-1999
Debra Butterworth, Soprano
Anna Niedbala, Mezzo-Soprano
Marc Schreiner, Tenor
Barrett Walz, Baritone
Andrew Gangestad, Bass
1997-1998
Esther Heideman, Soprano
Robert Schmidt, Tenor
Andrew Wilkowske, Baritone
Andrew Gangestad, Bass
Brian Poldony, Baritone