CCM stars featured in Cincinnati Opera's Summer Festival
More than 70 students, alums and faculty are working on stage and behind-the-scenes at the opera
Cincinnati Opera presents Lucia di Lammermoor on June 22 and 24, 2023, with alumna Raven McMillon in the title role, but she is not the only CCM star featured this season. A variety of students, alums and faculty will be featured on stage throughout Cincinnati Opera's 2023 Summer Festival, including CCM singers, designers, musicians, arts administrators, stage managers and a conductor!
The CCM stars involved in Cincinnati Opera's summer season represent multiple programs from the college — Opera/Voice, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Arts Administration, Stage Design, Orchestral Conducting, Performance Studies and Stage Management. A breakdown of major roles in each production is below, continue reading for CCMers who are also credited in the chorus roster, orchestra roster and behind-the-scenes throughout the Cincinnati Opera season.
Cincinnati Opera's “Lucia di Lammermoor” Illustration: © Daria Petrilli - Licensee Chiara Roilo
CCM stars involved in Lucia di Lammermoor include:
- Raven McMillon (MM Voice, '20) as Lucia
- Kayleigh Decker (MM Voice, '17) as Alisa
- Thomas C. Hase (MFA Lighting Design and Technology, ‘22) is the Lighting Designer
- Hannah Holthaus (BFA Stage Management, '22) is the Production Stage Manager
- Jennelle John-Lewis (BFA Stage Management ’20) is the Assistant Stage Manager
Cincinnati Opera's “The Knock” Illustration: © Daria Petrilli - Licensee Chiara Roilo
CCM stars involved in The Knock include:
- Felicity Tomkins (AD Opera Performance, ’23) as Soprano 1
- Erin Keesy (MM Voice '13; AD Opera-Vocal Performance '15) as Soprano 2
- Thomas C. Hase (MFA Lighting Design and Technology, ‘22) is the Lighting Designer
- Alison Pogorelc (AD Opera Direction, '23) is the Assistant Director
- Annalee Crosser, a BFA Stage Management student, is a stage management intern
Cincinnati Opera's “The Barber of Seville” Illustration: © Daria Petrilli - Licensee Chiara Roilo
CCM stars involved in The Barber of Seville include:
- Christopher Allen (MM Orchestral Conducting, '11) is the Conductor
- Kendra Beasley (AD Opera Performance, '23) as Berta
- Thomas C. Hase (MFA Lighting Design and Technology, ‘22) is the Lighting Designer
- Madison Stone (BFA Stage Management, '22) is the Assistant Stage Manager
Cincinnati Opera's “Madame Butterfly” Illustration: © Daria Petrilli - Licensee Chiara Roilo
CCM stars involved in Madame Butterfly include:
- Joseph O'Shea (MM Voice, '23) as Official Registrar
- Jacob Junbo Zhou (MM Voice, '23), current DMA student, as Prince Yamadori
- Kayleigh Decker (MM Voice, '17) as Kate Pinkerton
- Hannah Holthaus (BFA Stage Management, '22) is the Production Stage Manager
CCM students and alums featured in the chorus roster throughout the Cincinnati Opera's summer season include:
- Tyler Alessi (MM Voice, '12; DMA Voice, '18)
- Ahhyun Baek, current MM Voice student
- Kendra Beasley (AD Opera Performance, '23)
- Malone Blaich (MM Voice, '23), incoming AD Opera Performance student
- Joy Burdette (DMA Voice, '13)
- Tony Burdette (MM Voice, '01)
- Jaeyoon Choi (MM Voice, '23), incoming DMA Voice student
- Victoria Ellington (MM Voice, '20; DMA Voice, '23)
- Emily Garcia, current MM Voice student
- Reed Gnepper, incoming MM Voice student
- Ellen Graham, Adjunct Instructor of Voice at CCM
- Stephen Hanna (MM Voice, '16)
- Christina Hazen (MM Voice, '20; AD Opera Performance, '22)
- Madeline Jentsch (MM Voice, '16; MM Voice, '19)
- Joshua Klein, current BM Voice student
- Tess Klibanoff (MM Voice, '22), current AD Opera Performance student
- Rachel Kobernick (MM Voice, '22), current AD Opera Performance student
- Haksung Lee, current DMA Voice student
- Claire Lopatka (MM Voice, '18; AD, Opera Performance, '20)
- Lauren McAllister (MM Voice, '14)
- Joseph O'Shea (MM Voice, '23)
- Will Reed (BM Music Education, '04; MM Voice, '06)
- Arieh Sacke (MM Voice, '22)
- Stacey Sands (MM Voice, '10)
- Grant Shields, current BM Voice student
- Candace Williams, current AD Opera Performance student
CCM students and alums working behind the scenes throughout the Cincinnati Opera's summer season include:
- Suzanne Barnes, current BFA Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student, is a props intern
- Olivia Cleri (MA Arts Administration, ‘23) is the Interim Production Administrator
- Andrew Crooks, Adjunct Instructor of Opera at CCM, is the Head of Music Staff
- Sarah Farwell, current Arts Administration student, is the Production Management Intern
- Iris Harmon (BFA Costume Design and Technology, ‘22) is the Assistant Shop Manager in Costumes
- Kate Ingram (BFA Lighting Design and Technology, ‘23) is a lighting intern
- Charlie Raschke, current BFA Lighting Design and Technology student, is an assistant lighting design intern
- Nina Rodriquez, current Arts Administration student, in Marketing
- Maria Seffrin (MA Arts Administration, ’23) is the Individual Giving Manager
CCM faculty and alums performing with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra during the summer opera season include (in program order):
- Eric Bates (Violin, att. '91-'95)
- Kathryn Woolley (BM Violin, '93)
- Anna Reider (BM Violin, '00)
- Mauricio Aguiar (BM Violin, '95)
- Sylvia Mitchell (BM Violin, '81)
- Yang Liu (BM Violin, '13; MM Violin, '15)
- Kun Dong (BM Violin, '02)
- Stacey Woolley (BM Violin, '83)
- Emilio Carlo (AD Viola, '18)*
- Dan Wang (AD Viola, '19)*
- Ilya Finkelshteyn, Adjuct Assistant Professor of Cello
- Alan Rafferty, Associate Professor-Educator of Cello
- Owen Lee, Adjunct Associate Professor of Double Bass
- Luis Arturo Celis Avila (MM Double Bass, '22)*
- Gillian Benet-Sella, Adjunct Professor of Harp
- Dwight Parry, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Oboe
- Christopher Pell, Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet
- Joseph Morris, Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet
- Ixi Chen, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clarinet
- Ronald Aufmann, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clarinet
- Christopher Sales, Adjunct Instructor of Bassoon
- Martin Garcia, Adjunct Instructor of Bassoon
- Charles Bell (MM French Horn, '80)
- Stephen Pride (BM Trumpet, '79)
- Christopher Kiradjieff (BM Trumpet, '95)
- Michael Chertock, Chair of Piano Department
- Julie Spangler, Adjunct Instructor of Musical Theatre
- Tyler McKisson, AD Viola student*
- Luis Parra, MM Cello student*
- Samantha Powell, AD Cello student*
*CSO/CCM Diversity Fellow; learn more.
Learn more about Cincinnati Opera's 2023 Summer Festival.
Want to know what's Next OnStage at CCM? Subscribe to our e-newsletter, shared every other Wednesday, to get the latest news from the college and performance updates. Our 2023-24 performance details will be announced later this summer.
There's More To Explore
CCM and Cincinnati Opera partnered to create Opera Fusion: New Works, which offers composer/librettist teams the opportunity to workshop an opera during a 10-day residency in Cincinnati. Learn more about this dynamic partnership.
Watch "A Voice Like Mine" mini-documentary, featuring Opera Fusion alum John Mburu (MM Voice, '23) and a behind-the-scenes look at the recent Robeson Opera workshop.
Are you a CCM student, alum or faculty member working with Cincinnati Opera this summer? Let us know and we'll add you to our list of CCM stars! Email ccmpr@ucmail.uc.edu
Featured image at the top: Cincinnati's Music Hall.
Additional Contacts
Curt Whitacre | Director of Marketing/Communications | UC College-Conservatory of Music
whitaccp@ucmail.uc.edu | 513-556-2683
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