Wichita Grand Opera
Wichita Grand Opera
Century II Concert Hall
225 W. Douglas Ave.
Wichita , Kansas 67202
316.683.3444 Admin Office
316.262.8054 Box Office
The Jacqueline Nagel Young Artists Program

Through an audition process, young Kansas-based opera singers in pursuit of a professional opera career are chosen to participate in the WGO Young Artists Program. Designed by WGO Founder and Artistic Director Margaret Ann Pent, its purpose is to offer significant opportunity to highly motivated singers, nurturing and polishing their performance skills while making the transition from student to professional. This program provides its chosen singers with entry-level to advanced professional experience and gives them opportunities to perform with and learn from international opera singers, directors, coaches, conductors and composers. The program is named after Mrs. Jacqueline Nagel in recognition of her extensive contributions toward the success of this program since its establishment.

 Young Artists 2009-2010 Season

Mrs. Jacqueline Nagel

     
Nicole Birkland, mezzo-soprano
Performs: Pitti-Sing (The Mikado)
Covers: Katisha (The Mikado)               

A native of Moorland, Iowa, Nicole has recently performed the roles of Inez in Il Trovatore and Isabel in The Pirates of Penzance with Chautauqua Opera, and previously worked as a young artist with the Merola Opera Program, Sarasota Opera, and Des Moines Metro Opera. During her studies at the University of Northern Iowa and Indiana University, she also appeared as Giulietta in Les contes d’Hoffman, Maddalena in Rigoletto, and as a soloist in Verdi’s Requiem.

Victoria Botero,
Performs: Yum-Yum (The Mikado)
               Covers: Adina (Elixir of Love)

A native of Kansas City, Victoria’s most recent performances include the role of Adina in L’elisir d’amore with both Union Avenue Opera and Muddy River Opera and the Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 with the Washburn Symphony. She also performs with the educational outreach program of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, taking part in such classics as Little Red Riding Hood and Pinocchio. As a Young Artist, she has performed with Des Moines Metro Opera, Tulsa Opera and Light Opera Oklahoma.
Joanie Brittingham, soprano
Performs: Peep-Bo (The Mikado)
Understudies: Yum-Yum (The Mikado), Gianetta (Elixir of Love), Frasquita (Carmen)                 

Originally from Pennsylvania, Joanie’s recent roles include Musetta in La Bohéme with Opera Ischia in Italy, and student performances at Baylor University including Anna Reich in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Erisbe in L’Ormindo, and the starring role in the world premiere of The Face in the Wall. She has performed professionally with West Virginia Public Theatre in Hello, Dolly, Evita, The Sound of Music, and Cinderella as the title role. Joanie is also a frequent contributor to Classical Singer Magazine. Joanie also spent time on the WGO staff this season as a Production Intern.

Aubrey Chapin, soprano
              Cover: Gianetta (Elixir of Love)

Aubrey, From Norman, OK, is in her second year as a WGO Young Artist. She has performed in student productions singing the roles of Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, the title role in Louise, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, Second Lady in Die Zauberflote, Annchen in Der Freischutz, Adina in L'elisir d'amore, and Woodsprite in Rusalka. Aubrey is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and the University of Oklahoma.

Christina Hager, mezzo-soprano
Performs: Katisha (The Mikado)         

Christina, a native of Leawood, Kansas, returns for a second season as a WGO Young Artist, having performed in both H.M.S. Pinafore and Aida. Given the opportunity to understudy the role of Amneris in Aida, within weeks of the WGO performance she was able to step in for an ill singer and perform this same role on short notice with Center City Opera. Other recent roles include Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Jefferson Performing Arts Society, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte with The Living Opera, the Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos with Seagle Music Colony, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro and Despina in Cosi fan tutte with Shreveport Opera. Of her recent performance as the latter, the Shreveport Times reported “Christina Hager knocked it out of the park blindfolded.”

Suzanne Hendrix, contralto
Performs: Mercedes (Carmen)
          Covers: Carmen (Carmen)

Originally from Iowa, Suzanne spent the summer of 2009 as a participant in the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program where she performed the role of Baba in The Medium. During the summer of 2008, she was likewise an apprentice artist with Des Moines Metro Opera. She is currently completing doctoral studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she has appeared as Zita in Gianni Schicchi, the Princess in Suor Angelica, and Florence Pike in Albert Herring.

Lane Johnson, baritone
Covers: Morales (Carmen)
Understudies: Ko-Ko (The Mikado)
Belcore (Elixir of Love)         

From Lawrence, Kansas, Lane performed Ko-Ko in The Mikado, Raul Perez in Thomas Pasatieri's Hotel Casablanca, and Paul Massai in Joseph Illick's Bliss as a Young Artist with the Seagle Music Colony. He has also performed with Kansas Concert Opera, singing the roles of Dancairo in Carmen and Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly. He has performed the Second Philistine in Samson et Dalila with New Opera St. Louis, and will return to New Opera St. Louis in 2010 to perform as Johann in Massenet's Werther. Lane holds degrees from both the University of Kansas and Louisiana State University.

Dustin Peterson, tenor
Performs: Le Remendado (Carmen)
     Understudy: Nemorino (Elixir of Love)

From Douglass, Kansas, Dustin has performed with Lyric Opera Kansas City both in the chorus of several productions and as the First Slave in Die Zauberflöte. He also appeared as the First Philistine in Samson et Delila with New Opera St. Louis. As a student, his roles included the Duke of Dunstable in Patience, Hal Carter in the world premiere of Picnic, and E.T.A. Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. He has also performed in concert with Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra.  

Dru Rutledge, soprano
Performs: Gianetta (Elixir of Love)         

A Wichita native, this is Dru’s second year as a WGO Young Artist. Last season, she performed the role of Josephine in one performance of H.M.S. Pinafore. As a student she has performed the roles of Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Yum Yum in The Mikado, and Gretel in Hansel and Gretel. Dru recently completed her Master’s degree at Wichita State University. She holds a Bachelors Degree from Emporia State University.

Jennifer Weiman, mezzo-soprano
Covers: Pitti-Sing (The Mikado)
Understudies: Katisha (The Mikado),
          Carmen (Carmen)

Jennifer, a native of Davenport, Iowa, had the pleasure of performing the roles of Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore and Bertha in The Barber of Seville as a Young Artist with Wichita Grand Opera last season. As a student at Wichita State University, Jennifer performed many operatic roles including Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mere Marie in Dialogues des Carmelites and Jo in Mark Adamo’s Little Women. In addition to her work with the WGO this season, she currently sings with Wichita Chamber Chorale.