Bios

Cast:

Spencer Adamson:
Pastor Cleary (The Female Stranger)
Peter (Dreamless)
Eli (The Name on the Door​)

Mr. Adamson's recent performances include leading roles and extensive chorus work in local and national opera houses as well as many other classical music venues. Last season, Mr. Adamson made his debut with Annapolis Opera singing the role of Prince Yamadori in their production of Madama Butterfly and with Opera Susquehanna as Timur in their concert production of Turandot. Previously, Mr. Adamson made his solo debut on two grand opera stages: The Lyric Opera House, Baltimore, MD and The Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, DC singing the roles of Fiorello in Lyric Opera Baltimore's production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and as The Confederate Soldier in Washington National Opera's premiere of Philip Glass' newly-written production of Appamattox. Mr. Adamson also began an ongoing relationship with Chester River Chorale where he was invited as a guest soloist with the wonderful musicians and people of Maryland's beautiful Eastern Shore. Previous season highlights include the roles of Marquis d'Obigny in La Traviata with Baltimore Concert Opera, Tonio in Pagliacci and Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana with HUB Opera Ensemble, Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance with The Young Victorian Theater Company, and chorus work with Washington National Opera, Baltimore Lyric Opera, and Baltimore Concert Opera. He is regularly heard ministering to the congregations of Christ Lutheran Church, York, PA, Dickeyville Presbyterian, and St. Benedict's, Our Lady of the Angels, St. Athanasius, and St. Jane Frances Catholic Churches, located in the greater Baltimore area, where he performs sacred and contemporary works as well as serving in a more traditional capacity as cantor.

A believer in musical education for youth, Mr. Adamson performs in outreach programs with Baltimore Lyric Opera bringing opera to elementary schools of the greater Baltimore area.

Mr. Adamson holds a Bachelor's degree in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College, and graduate work at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Kelly Curtin:
Veronica (The Female Stranger)
Emma (What Gets Kept)
Josephine (The Name on the Door)

​Kelly Curtin, lyric coloratura soprano, has been lauded for her “stunning soprano” (broadwayworld.com) and “divine high notes” (dcmetrotheaterarts.com). She has performed such roles as Die Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Eurydice (Orphée aux Enfers), Olympia (Les Contes d'Hoffmann), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), Le Feu and Le Rossignol (L'enfant et les sortilèges), Despina (Così fan tutte), Frasquita (Carmen), Valencienne (The Merry Widow), Valentina (Later the Same Evening), Ms. Wordsworth (Albert Herring), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), Rose (Street Scene) and Angelina (Trial by Jury). She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2009 as Poussette in a concert version of Manon at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall.

​Ms. Curtin began the 2017/18 season with The In Series (Washington D.C.) in their production of The Magic Flute as the Queen of the Night. She reprised that role later in the fall with Shreveport Opera and Bel Cantanti Opera. Ms. Curtin then returned to Montana as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Helena Symphony, and returned to St. Pete Opera as the First Lady in their production of Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Curtin then joined the cast of Piramo e Tisbe with the Little Opera Theater of New York. For her performance as Tisbe, Ms. Curtin was praised for the “lovely fullness" of her voice (New York Classical Review) and her “charming” portrayal (Concerto Net). Most recently, she made her debut at Opéra Louisiane as Josephine in their production of HMS Pinafore. More information is available at www.kellycurtin.com.

Katherine Fili:
Andrew (The Female Stranger​)

Heralded as "hilarious & impressive" by DC Metro Theater Arts, Katherine is a graduate of The Maryland Opera Studio. During her master’s degree, Katherine performed the Nurse in Lee Hoiby's Romeo & Juliet, both Nancy and Florence in Albert Herring, and Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. During her undergraduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University, she performed roles including The Sorceress (Dido & Aeneas) and Bessie (Das Kleine Mahagonny). Katherine has been seen in Tobias Picker’s Fantastic Mr. Fox (Mrs. Fox) with the Microscopic Opera Company and has performed with The Pittsburgh Opera Theater. Katherine spent the 2015 – 2016 season as the resident mezzo soprano with The Florentine Opera Company before returning to The University of Maryland as a guest alumni artist to sing Bianca in The Rape of Lucretia. Katherine debuted with the In-Series Company as Puck in Oberon and then Second Lady in their production of The Magic Flute during their 2017 season. Katherine will spend the 2018 - 2019 season as the mezzo soprano Resident Artist with Toledo Opera. ​

Annie Gill:
The Female Stranger (The Female Stranger)
Amelia (Dreamless)
Jezebel (The Name on the Door)

Praised for “astounding technical vocal ability, solid song interpretation and stage presence,” soprano Annie Gill continues to gain recognition as a distinctive and versatile artist.  Most recently, Ms. Gill performed the roles of Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with Opera Camerata of Washington and Serpina in La Serva Padrona with Loudoun Lyric Opera.

Past operatic roles include the title roles in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Massenet’s Manon, Micaëla (Carmen), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Mimì and Musetta (La Bohème), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), The Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), La Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Donna Anna and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte).

A champion of contemporary composers and new works, Ms. Gill has performed and recorded the music of composers Keith Kramer (Jasmine) and Garth Baxter (album debut - Ask the Moon).  She has twice appeared as the Soprano Soloist for the Baltimore Composers’ Forum concerts, where she premiered works by composers Anna Rubin, Keith Kramer, Janice Macaulay, Garth Baxter, and Harriet Katz.
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In addition to her classical singing career, Ms. Gill is a voice over artist and acts in commercials and television, notably appearing as the “Opera Singer” in the Season 2 Finale of House of Cards.  Ms. Gill is a Jenny Craig 2017 Success Stories Winner, and is currently featured in several national commercials.
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Upcoming engagements include recital performances with the Baltimore Composers’ Forum and the Baltimore Musicales concert series.

Elizabeth Mondragon:
Amy (What Gets Kept)
Professor (Dreamless​)

Elizabeth Mondragon is a Washington, D.C. and New York City-based mezzo-soprano. Her performance experience ranges from traditional operatic productions to new music premieres. Principal roles include Carmen, Rosina, Dido, Ma Moss, Giulio Cesare, and Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. She has sung throughout the Northeastern U.S. with companies such as Opera North, Camerata Baroque, Amore Opera, One World Symphony, Maryland Lyric Opera, Regina Opera and The In Series. As much a lover of concert and recital as of opera, she has been a soloist with the Central City Chorus, St. George’s Choral Society and the Astoria Symphony featured in the Bach Christmas Oratorio, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor and Mendelssohn's Elijah. In addition, she has been a featured soloist with Ars Musicae Hispaniae Harp Ensemble, performing the music of Spain and Mexico, and has sung recitals of 20th and 21st century song at The Liederkranz Club, the Wiscasset Salon Series, and the UUCC Chalice Concert Series in New York and Maryland. Her enthusiasm for new music and working with living composers has led to her performing and premiering works by several local composers, such as David E. Chávez, Elisabeth Mehl Greene, Michael Oberhauser, and Erin Rogers, as well as having established a regular collaboration with award-winning, New York City—based composer, David Sisco.

Nigel Rowe:
Lawrence (What Gets Kept)
James (Dreamless​)

​ Nigel is relatively new to the DC theatre community after relocating from Connecticut in summer 2017. While there, Nigel worked with the Hartford Theatre Company appearing their productions of The Tender Land as well as The Crucible and New In November: A Showcase of New Works. Since his relocation, Nigel has appeared with the InSeries in their production of Duke Ellington’s Neighborhood, as well as Zarzuela a la Cubana: Cecelia Valdes and Maria la O. He has also worked with Monumental Theatre Company appearing in Infinite Future: Bernstein at 100, and most recently in their Flip Flop Cabaret. Nigel is thrilled to be taking part in this years Fringe Festival and to be working with the Silver Finch Arts Collective! 

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Orchestra:

Elena Forbes - Clarinet

Elizabeth G. Hill - Piano

Elizabeth G. Hill is an accomplished soloist, chamber musician, orchestral pianist, and educator. Her recent concert appearances include performances for the Embassy Concert Series in Washington DC, the Center for Jewish History in New York, and the Robert-Schumann-Haus in Zwickau, Germany. A devoted supporter of new music, Elizabeth’s work in contemporary music ranges from solo to chamber performances,  including premieres at the The Fringe Festival (Washington, DC), and the West Fork New Music Festival (Fairmont, WV). Elizabeth is the Principal Pianist with Baltimore-based chamber orchestra, Symphony Number One. She is a co-founder of Meraki, a chamber ensemble dedicated to making a social impact through music.

Elizabeth’s principal instructors of solo and collaborative piano include Drs. Lise Keiter, Eric Ruple, Gabriel Dobner, and Ralitza Patcheva. Elizabeth studied Piano Performance at Mary Baldwin College and James Madison University. She earned the Doctorate in Musical Arts (DMA) in Chamber Music at The Catholic University of America.

Molly Jackson - Violin (7/14, 7/15, 7/26)

Ava Shadmani - Violin (7/21, 7/22)

Andrew Weaver - Viola

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Creative Team

Corinne Hayes - Stage Director

A dynamic new voice on the opera scene, stage director Corinne Hayes has recently presented work with Miami Music Festival, Shreveport Opera, and Mississippi Opera. In the 15-16 season, Corinne's new production of Così fan tutte for Winter Opera St. Louis was highly praised in Broadway World, which stated — "Corinne Hayes manages her players wonderfully. Every move is natural, stage pictures are well composed, the chorus is given lovely detail, and every instrumental passage is filled with meaningful physical action. All in all a beautiful job by Ms. Hayes."

Other company debuts in 15-16 included Carmen with Shreveport Opera, Hansel and Gretel with Red River Lyric Opera, and Menotti's The Medium with Bel Cantanti Opera. Corinne returned to Bel Cantanti in the new year with a double bill of Poulenc's La voix humaine and Rimsky-Korsakov's Mozart and Salieri. The 16-17 season continues with company debuts at Mississippi Opera (Rigoletto) and Miami Music Festival (Le nozze di Figaro).  In the 17-18 season, Corinne joins the production team of Washington National Opera for The Little Prince and Candide as assistant director to world-renowned stage director Francesca Zambello, and returns to Miami to direct a new production of La rondine.

 In June 2014, Corinne made her DC debut with Teatro Lirico of DC, directing La Verbena de la Paloma at the GALA Hispanic Theatre. In addition to her work in the zarzuela repertoire, Corinne has created site-specific productions of David Conte’s The Gift of the Magi and Gershwin's Blue Monday with Marble City Opera — in collaboration with beloved Knoxville jazz band The Marble City 5, Blue Monday played to sold-out houses in 2015.

 Corinne holds an MM in Stage Direction from Florida State University and a BA (magna cum laude) in Music from the University of Missouri. She is proud to be represented by Marvel Arts Management.

Joseph Kaz - Composer/Librettist (The Female Stranger​), Producer

Headshot and bio coming soon!

William Kenlon - Composer (Dreamless​), Producer, Music Director

Dr. William Kenlon (b. 1983), based in Washington DC, is a composer specializing in music for chamber, choral, and jazz ensembles. Described as "pointed and groovy" (New Music Box), Kenlon's music continues to garner praise for its "lyrical personality that is original and strong" (Boston Musical Intelligencer), and for its sophisticated tonal explorations: "solid without being dense, clear without being sparse, and ever-changing without being random" (ibid). Enjoying performances on both coasts and on both sides of the Atlantic—most frequently in New England, but also at other locations such as Washington DC's Kennedy Center—Kenlon has studied with composers from a variety of traditions and backgrounds, including John Hilliard, Jason Haney, Chuck Dotas, John McDonald, and Mark Edwards Wilson; he has also taken lessons with Forrest Pierce, Gabriela Lena Frank, Stacy Garrop, and Libby Larsen, among others. Kenlon has studied at McGill University and at the New England Conservatory, and holds the B.Mus. degree (magna cum laude) from James Madison University, the M.A. from Tufts University, and the D.M.A. from the University of Maryland, which he attended as a Flagship Fellow. 

Among the ensembles that have read and/or performed Kenlon's music are the James Madison University Jazz Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra (Harrisonburg, VA); the Tufts Wind Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra (Boston); the QX Quartet (Worcester, MA); the East Coast Contemporary Ensemble (Boston); the Spektral Quartet (Chicago); and Ensemble Nouveau Classical (New York). He has received commissions from NotaRiotous (resident ensemble of the Boston Microtonal Society), the JMU Treble Chamber Choir, the Tufts Chamber Singers, and baritone In Dal Choi (Washington, DC), among others. Recordings of his music have been released commercially by flutist Elizabeth Erenberg and by the Six Degree Singers.

Most recently, William is proud to be a co-founder and administrator of the District New Music Coalition, which promotes the performance and appreciation of contemporary music by connecting performers, composers, institutions, and audiences located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area through concerts, conferences, and active community-building. ​

Vanessa Moody - Librettist (What Gets Kept​)

Headshot and bio coming soon!

Michael Oberhauser - Composer/Librettist (The Name on the Door), Producer, Music Director

Michael Oberhauser's music has been performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, on the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU 88.5, by the Silver Finch Arts Collective, by Opera Alterna, by the Ohio Northern University Symphony Orchestra, the Ohio Northern University Singers, and the opera department at the Catholic University of America. Notable commissions include pieces for the University of Maryland Opera Studio and Christian Youth Theater in Chicago. Michael is a composer from Maumee, Ohio. After receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in composition from Ohio Northern University, where he studied with MJ Zank, he moved to Washington, DC to attend the Catholic University of America. He studied there for his Masters degree in Music Composition with a Stage emphasis with Andrew Earle Simpson. In May 2015 he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Maryland. He studied there with Lawrence Moss and Mark E. Wilson. 

Michael founded the Silver Finch Arts Collective in 2012 to bring a new, collaboration-minded voice for performing arts (especially opera) to the Washington, DC area. He is also a co-founder of the District New Music Coalition (see William's bio!)

Frances Pollock - Composer (What Gets Kept​)

Known for her “bold and bracing” (Baltimore Sun) opera writing, Frances Pollock’s music “pulls no punches and never flinches.” (City Paper) Originally from North Carolina, Frances’s music has been performed all over the country by the Bridge Ensemble, Prima Volta, The North Carolina Governors’ School, Divine Waters Ensemble, and many others. In 2015, she wrote her first opera, Stinney, which won multiple awards including John Hopkins University’s Diversity Innovation Grant and Best of Baltimore award. From 2016-2017, Frances was composer in residence for the Divine Water’s Ensemble. In 2016, Frances was commissioned by Washington National Opera to write a one-act opera entitled “What Gets Kept.” Frances is a founding member of the new music non-profit, Prima Volta. She is a composition fellow with American Opera Projects and with the Aspen Summer festival. Frances holds a B.M. in Theory and Composition from Furman University and an M.M. in Voice from Peabody Conservatory. She is continuing her graduate composition studies at Yale University. ​

Michael Sullin - Assistant Director/Stage Manager

Headshot and bio coming soon!

Katie Vagnino - Librettist (Dreamless​)

Headshot and bio coming soon!