|
Ava DeLara, Soprano
|
Norman DeVol, Tenor  |
| Soprano AVA DELARA has been guest soloist with many regional California orchestras, including the Solano Symphony, Camellia Symphony, Auburn Symphony, Gold Country Chamber Orchestra, the Sacramento Choral Society Festival Symphony, and the Valley Choral Society Orchestra. Her oratorio work includes Rossini's Stabat Mater, Händel's Messiah, Haydn's Missa in Augustiis, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Dominica, a television broadcast of Verdi's "Messa da Requiem", Saint-Saen's Oratorio de Noël, and J.S. Bach's Magnificat and B Minor Mass. In December 2007, Ava sang the Magnificat from Randall Thompson's The Nativity according to St. Luke. In 2009 she added Vaughn Williams' Dona Nobis Pachem to her repertoire and gave her first ever performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 4. Her opera experience includes performances of leading roles with several of California's regional opera companies, including Townsend Opera Players, North Bay Opera and the San Francisco Children's Opera. The roles she has performed include Violetta (La Traviata), Cio-cio-san (Madama Butterfly), Aida (Aida), Erste Dame (Die Zauberflote), Georgetta (Il Tabarro), Esmeralda (The Bartered Bride), Cinderella (Cinderella), Polly (The Beggar's Opera), and Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore). |
NORMAN DEVOL is an accomplished soloist from San Francisco Peninsula currently living in San Bruno. He received his B.A. in voice from San José State University where he studied with Jeanne Garson. Norman has performed with professional symphonies and opera companies throughout Northern California, including the Sacramento Symphony, Auburn Symphony, Apollo Opera, Camellia Symphony, Monterey Symphony, Opera La Piccola Scala, Mission City Opera, Pocket Opera, West Bay Opera and Berkeley Opera.
Reviewing a recent performance of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, the Santa Clara WEEKLY called him "the vocal standout of the evening…. His clear and flexible voice rang from beginning to end with strength, stability, and true artistry, as one hopes to hear in a heroic Tamino. One sensed the experience and knowledge behind every nuance, and true artistic respect for each famous note." Norman's interpretation of Rodolpho in the Piccola Scala production of La Bohème garnered him a nomination for a Sacramento regional theater Elly Award. When he’s not singing, Norman also teaches voice privately, is a choral director and accompanist. He is currently the assistant conductor of the internationally acclaimed Masterworks Chorale based at the College of San Mateo and is a member of the San Francisco Opera Chorus. |
|
Kathleen Moss,
Mezzo-Soprano
|
Patrice Houston
Mezzo-Soprano
|
|
|
Mezzo-soprano PATRICE HOUSTON possesses a rich, vibrant sound and a keen dramatic sense, both of which she fully employs in realizing the complex characters typical of the dramatic mezzo repertoire. Of her Ulrica Opera News declared, “There is no question that this gypsy fortune teller deserved to be taken seriously. The voice was stunning, with solid lows and free, glorious highs.” For her portrayal of Azucena with the Summer Opera Theatre Company of Washington DC Ms. Houston was honored with the Summer Opera Guild Award in the company’s acclaimed July 2006 production of Il trovatore. Additional operatic roles include Amneris in Aida, Ulrica in Un ballo in maschera, Frugola in Il tabarro, La Principessa in Suor Angelica, and Dido in Dido and Aeneas. Most recently, Ms. Houston debuted the role of Amneris in Verdi’s Aida. Internationally, the dramatic mezzo has performed in Holland, Italy, and Germany. On the concert platform Ms. Houston has been seen as a soloist in the Requiem of both Verdi and Mozart, and is now expanding her repertoire with Wagner and Mahler. Ms. Houston was once a Regional Semi-Finalist in both the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for the Northwest region and the Loren L. Zachary Competition in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Houston was born and educated in San Jose, California. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from San Jose State University under the tutelage of the late Jeanne Garson and Joseph Frank. As an Associate Resident Artist with Opera San Jose, Ms. Houston had the opportunity to work with and learn from the legendary divas Irene Dalis, Olivia Stapp, Lorna Haywood and Mignon Dunn. Ms. Houston currently works with Evaldo Dal Poggetto, Bruce Olstad and Mary Elizabeth Enmann. |
|
Jason Sarten, Baritone
 |
| JASON SARTEN has graced stages through out the United States. Noted for his flexibility as a performer, Jason has been seen in multiple roles from La Bohème (Marcello, Schaunard and Benoit/Alcindoro), Le Nozze di Figaro (Figaro, Count, Bartolo and Antonio) as well as leading baritone roles in Faust, Die Zauberflöte, Die Fledermaus, Romeo et Juliette, Madama Butterfly, and Carmen with companies including Opera San Jose, Sacramento Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera, West Bay Opera, Berkeley Opera, Lamplighters Music Theatre, Opera Ft. Collins (CO), Long Leaf Opera (NC), Abilene Opera Association, Cinnabar Opera and Livermore Valley Opera. Active as a concert soloist, Jason has performed the Requiem Masses of Mozart, Fauré, and Duruflé, Handel's Messiah, Vaughan William's Five Mystical Songs, Orff's Carmina Burana and Beethoven'sNinth Symphony. |