LARISA YUDINA, Leila
Russian soprano Larisa Yudina is a prize-winner at the International Diaghilev Young Opera Singers’ Competition (1997, Perm) and the International Rimsky-Korsakov Vocalists’ Competition (1998 and 2000, St Petersburg). She also received the Elena Obraztsova special prize at the IV International Elena Obraztsova Young Opera Singers’ Competition (2005, St Petersburg) as well as a diploma from the Russian Ministry of Culture for best performance at the Mariinsky Theatre in the 2000-2001 season. In 2006 she was nominated for a Golden Mask, Russia’s highest theatre prize, for “best female role” in Rossini’s opera Il viaggio a Reims (as the Contessa di Folleville). Since 1998 she has been a soloist at Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre, and she has performed throughout Europe and the United States. She previously appeared with WGO in the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor.

GENARO MENDEZ, Nadir.
Genaro Mendez is an accomplished tenor who has performed many roles across the country, including Alfredo in La Traviata, Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte, Tamino in Die Zauberflote, Almaviva in The Barber of Seville, Ramiro in La Cenerentola, and Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro. He also maintains an active concert and recital schedule. In addition to his active performing career, Dr. Mendez serves as an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Kansas. He previously appeared with Wichita Grand Opera as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet.

PAUL SMITH, Nadir (cover)
His performance career has brought him to more than ten countries including engagements with the Deutsches Nationaltheater (Weimar), Deutsche Oper am Rhein (Düsseldorf), the Prague State Opera, Théâtre des Arts Opera de Normandie, and the Cairo Opera. His operatic repertoire includes such important roles as Romeo, the Duke, Faust, Almaviva, Pinkerton, Lensky, Belmonte, Ferrando, and Tamino. Comfortable on the musical stage as well, he performed Piangi in both the London and Hamburg productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. He joined the faculty at Wichita State University in the fall of 2008.

SCOTT CONNER, Nourabad
Scott Conner, from Olathe, Kansas, received his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. In January of 2008, Scott made his professional debut as Colline in La Boheme with the Naples Philharmonic in Naples, Florida. Since then, Scott has sung roles with Mobile Opera, Kansas City Lyric Opera, and Opera New Jersey, among others. Last season Scott appeared with Wichita Grand Opera as Colline in La Boheme and Wagner in Faust. In December 2008, Scott will be making his International debut singing the role of Colline with Lviv State Opera and Odessa National Opera in the Ukraine. This is Scott’s second season as a Wichita Grand Opera Young Artist.