The Opera Project
The Rape of Lucretia
an opera by Benjamin Britten
David Gordon (Male Chorus)
Bio coming soon...
Elizabeth Bouk (Lucretia cover)
This spring, Ms. Bouk was featured as Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutte) with Underworld Productions, Madame Flora (The Medium) and La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica) with OperaOggiNY, and covered the role of Stephano (Romeo et Juliette) with NY Lyric Opera Theater. As an Apprentice Artist with Center City Opera Theater in 2009, she performed Filipyvena (Eugene Onegin) and Monitress (Suor Angelica). Other roles include Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Nancy (Albert Herring), Marie (Moïse et Pharaon), Wood Nymph (Rusalka), Anne (The Mother of Us All), and Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus). Ms. Bouk holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and The University of Cincinnati, CCM.
Adam Cavagnaro (Junius)
Adam D. Cavagnaro: Farm-raised baritone, Adam D. Cavagnaro received a Bachelor of Music from Montclair State University where he sang The Baker (Into the Woods), John Sorel (The Consul) and David (A Hand of Bridge). Adam will begin his second year of graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music this September as a student of Mark Oswald. At Manhattan School: Joe Harland (Later the Same Evening), Bi-Curious George (Love/Hate). Previous roles with Project Opera of Manhattan include: Junius(The Rape of Lucretia), Papageno(The Magic Flute), Figaro(The Marriage of Figaro). Adam recently made his off-broadway debut playing the roles of Park Attendant/Luka in Once/Twice and has just returned from OperaWorks in Northridge, CA.
Vania Chan (Lucia cover)
Vania Chan, lyric coloratura soprano, has been praised for her “sensitive musicianship”, “crystal-clear tone”, “commanding presence”, and “lovely effortless singing”. Operatic roles she has performed include, Flaminia(Haydn’s Il Mondo della Luna), Olympia(Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann), The Widow (Argento’s The Boor), Lucy Willow (Kupferman’s In a Garden), Gretel(Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel), Susanna (Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro), and Gismonda (Steffani’s Tassilone). Vania graduated Summa Cum Laude from York University (Canada), receiving her B.F.A. with a Specialized Honours in Music. She is pursuing her Master of Music degree in Classical Voice at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.
Elizabeth Eiel (Female Chorus cover)
Iowa native Elizabeth Eiel received her Masters in vocal performance at Manhattan School of Music. She has performed extensively through out the New York Metropolitan area with American Singers Opera Project, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Garden State Opera, Chelsea Opera, Bronx Opera, & St. Jean Players singing both opera & musical theater. She has performed numerous times with One World Symphony making her Town Hall debut with them to a full house singing Maria in West Side Storey Suite #1. She has enjoyed performing such roles as Anna Gomez (The Consul), Nannetta (Falstaff) Lady Billows (Albert Herring). Last summer she sang Gretel in Brooklyn Repertory Opera’s production of Hansel & Gretel to great reviews. Ms. Eiel currently lives in Manhattan with her husband where she studies with Hilda Harris & LeAnn Overton. www.ElizabethEiel.com
Meredith Flaster (Female Chorus)
Meredith Flaster, soprano, is thrilled to be performing with The Opera Project. Since graduating from Lehigh University in 2002, she received her Masters degree at Manhattan School of Music. She has performed with the Berkshire Opera Company, the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, the Center for Contemporary Opera, Dicapo Opera, and Empire Opera. Currently, she studies with Ruth Golden in New York City.
Melissa Gerstein (Bianca)
Mezzo-soprano, Melissa Gerstein, is quickly gaining notice on the New York City music scene. Last year, Ms. Gerstein made her debut with the famed Amato Opera Theatre in New York City, performing the roles of Meg Page in Falstaff, Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutti, for which the New York Sun stated: “Melissa Gerstein was a versatile Dorabella, putting her all into “Smanie implacabili,” an aria just a little too tragic for us not to hear the cackle of Mozart in the background.” She has also performed such distinctive roles as, Zerlina, Prince Orlofsky, Siebel, Cherubino, Octavio, Annio, Hänsel and Florence. Ms. Gerstein Resides in New York.
Robert Maril (Tarquinius)
Originally from Ponca City, Oklahoma, Robert Maril holds a B.M. in Voice Performance from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN and a M.M. in Voice Performance from Peabody Conservatory, where he studied with baritones John Shirley-Quirk and Steve Rainbolt. While at Peabody, Robert sang the roles of Hans Scholl in Weisse Rose, Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, and Macheath in The Threepenny Opera. Robert has worked extensively with composer George Lam, premiering the song sets Fog Argument and We Two Boys and the dramatic pieces Heartbreak Express and Skeleton. With New York City's Harbor Opera, he sang the roles of Claudio in Berlioz's Beatrice et Benedict and Pandolfe in Massenet's Cendrillon. Upcoming engagements include Ford in Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor. Robert lives in New York City and is a member of the Sanctuary Choir at Christ Church United Methodist.
Wendy Neikirk (Lucretia)
Mezzo-soprano Wendy Neikirk’s recent engagements include Beethoven 9 with the New Jersey Symphony, Die Fledermaus with Opera New Jersey and Gertrude (Romeo et Juliet) and Hippolyta (A MidSummer Night’s Dream) with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. During the 2006-07 season, Wendy performed Brahms Op. 91 for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano on the New York Philharmonic Salon Series with Philharmonic violist Dorian Rence, sang Marcellina ( Le Nozze di Figaro) and Giovanna/Maddalena ( Rigoletto) with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, and appeared as The Monitress (Suor Angelica) with Empire Opera. From 2004-2006 Wendy performed with LSU Opera as Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Mercedes (Carmen), Mother Jean (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Madame de l’Haltiere (Cendrillon), and Zweite Dama ( Die Zauberflöte). Wendy has been a Young Artist with Intermezzo Opera and the Berkshire Choral Festival. She holds degrees from Louisiana State University, Carnegie-Mellon University, and Wheaton College.
Glynis Rigsby (Director)
Bio coming soon...
Dominique Rosoff (Collatinus)
Dominique Rosoff, bass, has worked with Amato Opera in NY performing the roles of Colline, Alcindoro and Benoit in La Boheme, Dr. Bartolo and Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, St. Brioche in The Merry Widow and Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata. Other operatic roles include Tomaso in Un Ballo in Maschera, Don Pippo in L’oca del Cairo, Mayor in Dr. Miracle, Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Sarastro, Speaker and Second Armored Man in The Magic Flute, and King Balthazar in Amahl and the Night visitors among others. He won first place in the 2005 Boston NATS advanced vocational division and performs as a concert soloist.
Courtenay Schowalter (Lucia)
Soprano Courtenay Schowalter has performed with Voices of Women, Bacchanalia Baroque Ensemble, Brooklyn Repertory Opera, Musica Bella Orchestra of New York, dell'Arte Opera Ensemble, the Hillyer Festival Orchestra and Opera Boston. Ms. Schowalter is an avid recitalist, performing in solo and group recitals in the New York City region. Recent highlights include a recital at the French Ambassador’s home in Washington D.C. and performing Marzelline Fidelio and Euridice Orfeo with Brooklyn Repertory Opera. Ms. Schowalter received a Bachelors of Music at the University of Michigan and a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at New England Conservatory, both with high honor. She studies with Gregory Lamar and coaches with Christopher Fecteau in New York City.
Erik Nelson Werner (Coach)
A versatile musician, Mr. Werner studied piano and singing in Berlin and Munich, and sang as a baritone for many years before recently switching to tenor voice, specializing in the Heldentenor repertory. He has performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Wigmore Hall in London, Berlin’s Philharmonic, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Victoria Hall in Geneva, the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, New York City Opera, Ft. Worth Opera, and the Dallas Opera. In addition to his singing career, Mr. Werner is active as a coach, accompanist, and teacher in NYC and Europe.
David Gordon (Male Chorus)
Bio coming soon...
Elizabeth Bouk (Lucretia cover)
This spring, Ms. Bouk was featured as Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutte) with Underworld Productions, Madame Flora (The Medium) and La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica) with OperaOggiNY, and covered the role of Stephano (Romeo et Juliette) with NY Lyric Opera Theater. As an Apprentice Artist with Center City Opera Theater in 2009, she performed Filipyvena (Eugene Onegin) and Monitress (Suor Angelica). Other roles include Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Nancy (Albert Herring), Marie (Moïse et Pharaon), Wood Nymph (Rusalka), Anne (The Mother of Us All), and Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus). Ms. Bouk holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and The University of Cincinnati, CCM.
Adam Cavagnaro (Junius)
Adam D. Cavagnaro: Farm-raised baritone, Adam D. Cavagnaro received a Bachelor of Music from Montclair State University where he sang The Baker (Into the Woods), John Sorel (The Consul) and David (A Hand of Bridge). Adam will begin his second year of graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music this September as a student of Mark Oswald. At Manhattan School: Joe Harland (Later the Same Evening), Bi-Curious George (Love/Hate). Previous roles with Project Opera of Manhattan include: Junius(The Rape of Lucretia), Papageno(The Magic Flute), Figaro(The Marriage of Figaro). Adam recently made his off-broadway debut playing the roles of Park Attendant/Luka in Once/Twice and has just returned from OperaWorks in Northridge, CA.
Vania Chan (Lucia cover)
Vania Chan, lyric coloratura soprano, has been praised for her “sensitive musicianship”, “crystal-clear tone”, “commanding presence”, and “lovely effortless singing”. Operatic roles she has performed include, Flaminia(Haydn’s Il Mondo della Luna), Olympia(Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann), The Widow (Argento’s The Boor), Lucy Willow (Kupferman’s In a Garden), Gretel(Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel), Susanna (Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro), and Gismonda (Steffani’s Tassilone). Vania graduated Summa Cum Laude from York University (Canada), receiving her B.F.A. with a Specialized Honours in Music. She is pursuing her Master of Music degree in Classical Voice at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.
Elizabeth Eiel (Female Chorus cover)
Iowa native Elizabeth Eiel received her Masters in vocal performance at Manhattan School of Music. She has performed extensively through out the New York Metropolitan area with American Singers Opera Project, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Garden State Opera, Chelsea Opera, Bronx Opera, & St. Jean Players singing both opera & musical theater. She has performed numerous times with One World Symphony making her Town Hall debut with them to a full house singing Maria in West Side Storey Suite #1. She has enjoyed performing such roles as Anna Gomez (The Consul), Nannetta (Falstaff) Lady Billows (Albert Herring). Last summer she sang Gretel in Brooklyn Repertory Opera’s production of Hansel & Gretel to great reviews. Ms. Eiel currently lives in Manhattan with her husband where she studies with Hilda Harris & LeAnn Overton. www.ElizabethEiel.com
Meredith Flaster (Female Chorus)
Meredith Flaster, soprano, is thrilled to be performing with The Opera Project. Since graduating from Lehigh University in 2002, she received her Masters degree at Manhattan School of Music. She has performed with the Berkshire Opera Company, the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, the Center for Contemporary Opera, Dicapo Opera, and Empire Opera. Currently, she studies with Ruth Golden in New York City.
Melissa Gerstein (Bianca)
Mezzo-soprano, Melissa Gerstein, is quickly gaining notice on the New York City music scene. Last year, Ms. Gerstein made her debut with the famed Amato Opera Theatre in New York City, performing the roles of Meg Page in Falstaff, Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutti, for which the New York Sun stated: “Melissa Gerstein was a versatile Dorabella, putting her all into “Smanie implacabili,” an aria just a little too tragic for us not to hear the cackle of Mozart in the background.” She has also performed such distinctive roles as, Zerlina, Prince Orlofsky, Siebel, Cherubino, Octavio, Annio, Hänsel and Florence. Ms. Gerstein Resides in New York.
Robert Maril (Tarquinius)
Originally from Ponca City, Oklahoma, Robert Maril holds a B.M. in Voice Performance from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN and a M.M. in Voice Performance from Peabody Conservatory, where he studied with baritones John Shirley-Quirk and Steve Rainbolt. While at Peabody, Robert sang the roles of Hans Scholl in Weisse Rose, Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, and Macheath in The Threepenny Opera. Robert has worked extensively with composer George Lam, premiering the song sets Fog Argument and We Two Boys and the dramatic pieces Heartbreak Express and Skeleton. With New York City's Harbor Opera, he sang the roles of Claudio in Berlioz's Beatrice et Benedict and Pandolfe in Massenet's Cendrillon. Upcoming engagements include Ford in Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor. Robert lives in New York City and is a member of the Sanctuary Choir at Christ Church United Methodist.
Wendy Neikirk (Lucretia)
Mezzo-soprano Wendy Neikirk’s recent engagements include Beethoven 9 with the New Jersey Symphony, Die Fledermaus with Opera New Jersey and Gertrude (Romeo et Juliet) and Hippolyta (A MidSummer Night’s Dream) with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. During the 2006-07 season, Wendy performed Brahms Op. 91 for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano on the New York Philharmonic Salon Series with Philharmonic violist Dorian Rence, sang Marcellina ( Le Nozze di Figaro) and Giovanna/Maddalena ( Rigoletto) with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, and appeared as The Monitress (Suor Angelica) with Empire Opera. From 2004-2006 Wendy performed with LSU Opera as Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Mercedes (Carmen), Mother Jean (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Madame de l’Haltiere (Cendrillon), and Zweite Dama ( Die Zauberflöte). Wendy has been a Young Artist with Intermezzo Opera and the Berkshire Choral Festival. She holds degrees from Louisiana State University, Carnegie-Mellon University, and Wheaton College.
Glynis Rigsby (Director)
Bio coming soon...
Dominique Rosoff (Collatinus)
Dominique Rosoff, bass, has worked with Amato Opera in NY performing the roles of Colline, Alcindoro and Benoit in La Boheme, Dr. Bartolo and Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, St. Brioche in The Merry Widow and Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata. Other operatic roles include Tomaso in Un Ballo in Maschera, Don Pippo in L’oca del Cairo, Mayor in Dr. Miracle, Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Sarastro, Speaker and Second Armored Man in The Magic Flute, and King Balthazar in Amahl and the Night visitors among others. He won first place in the 2005 Boston NATS advanced vocational division and performs as a concert soloist.
Courtenay Schowalter (Lucia)
Soprano Courtenay Schowalter has performed with Voices of Women, Bacchanalia Baroque Ensemble, Brooklyn Repertory Opera, Musica Bella Orchestra of New York, dell'Arte Opera Ensemble, the Hillyer Festival Orchestra and Opera Boston. Ms. Schowalter is an avid recitalist, performing in solo and group recitals in the New York City region. Recent highlights include a recital at the French Ambassador’s home in Washington D.C. and performing Marzelline Fidelio and Euridice Orfeo with Brooklyn Repertory Opera. Ms. Schowalter received a Bachelors of Music at the University of Michigan and a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at New England Conservatory, both with high honor. She studies with Gregory Lamar and coaches with Christopher Fecteau in New York City.
Erik Nelson Werner (Coach)
A versatile musician, Mr. Werner studied piano and singing in Berlin and Munich, and sang as a baritone for many years before recently switching to tenor voice, specializing in the Heldentenor repertory. He has performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Wigmore Hall in London, Berlin’s Philharmonic, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Victoria Hall in Geneva, the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, New York City Opera, Ft. Worth Opera, and the Dallas Opera. In addition to his singing career, Mr. Werner is active as a coach, accompanist, and teacher in NYC and Europe.
