Eastman’s Voice, Opera & Vocal Coaching (VOVC) Department values its relationship with the Friends of Eastman Opera (FEO). For more than a decade, this group of vibrant opera connoisseurs has lent its support to Eastman Opera Theatre in a variety of ways. FEO is a very visible presence at all of our events and, as our most passionate “fan club,” spreads the word throughout the Rochester community about opera in general and Eastman Opera Theatre in particular.
Robert Swensen, chair of the VOVC Department offers “enormous gratitude” to FEO: “The unique gifts that the Friends of Eastman Opera give to our students each year are incalculable in their value. FEO has consistently stood by our students, supported them and shown kindness and individual interest to each vocalist.”
Eastman offers its congratulations to all of this year’s finalists. Shares Meagan Miller, adjudicator of the preliminary auditions, “I enjoyed hearing these singers so much… In fact, I think that I will have them in my mind for days to come.” She expressed that narrowing down the list to ten was not easy, and that she was “touched by the generosity, communication, musicianship, and vocal potential” of each of the singers. With that, here are the vocalists (and their collaborative pianists) who are advancing to the final round of the 24th Annual FEO Competition, in alphabetical order:
- Alanna Beilke, soprano (Chun-Hsin (Cynthia) Liu)
- Finn Bucci, baritone (William Shi)
- Jason Garcia-Kakuk, tenor (Derek Hamersly)
- Jillian Griffey, soprano (Chun-Hsin (Cynthia) Liu)
- Luke Honeck, tenor (TBD)
- Benjamin Krutsch, tenor (Chun-Hsi (Cynthia) Liu)
- Neylan Loffredo, soprano (Andrew Chen)
- Carolina Sullivan, soprano (Ariel Wong)
- Minghang Wang, baritone (Jeongmin Oak)
- Hannah Yan (Jeongmin Oak)
The finals will be held on Friday, February 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall. The adjudicator for the competition will be acclaimed bass-baritone Christian Van Horn. Eastman Opera Theatre’s artistic and music director Timothy Long shares that Van Horn was one of his very first students, making this a full circle moment for him: “I’m incredibly proud of Christian and cannot wait for him to meet my current students.”
This event is free and open to the public and will be livestreamed.
To learn more about studying Voice at Eastman, visit esm.rochester.edu/voice.
About Christian Van Horn:
Christian Van Horn
With a voice that can “shake the heavens” (OperaToday), bass-baritone Christian Van Horn has established himself as a favorite of audiences and critics alike. With his powerful instrument and commanding stage presence, Van Horn has been hailed by The New York Times as “a bass-baritone of uncommon agility and power,” with a versatility that allows him to embody a variety of compelling roles, ranging from Méphistophélès to Don Giovanni.
The 2024/25 season promises to be another tour de force as he stars as the Four Villains in Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann at The Metropolitan Opera, with a Live in HD broadcast in October 2024. Other engagements include the title role in Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen, his greatly anticipated role debut as Philippe II in Verdi’s Don Carlos at the Opéra national de Paris, Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen for both San Francisco Opera and Royal Ballet and Opera, and his title role debut in Verdi’s Attila, presented in concert at the Teatro Real.
Click here to read Van Horn’s full biography.