Through an audition process, regionally-based professional opera singers are chosen to be members of the WGO Resident Artist Program. Designed by WGO Foudner and Artistic Director Margaret Ann Pent, the purpose of the WGO Resident Artists Program is to offer significant professional opportunities to regionally-based professional artists, close to where they work and live. These artists may be contracted throughout the season to perform leading and secondary roles, to understudy or cover roles, to serve as assistant stage directors or music coaches, or to assist with choral preparation. They may also be given the opportunity to participate in professional development classes offered by WGO. This program provides its chosen singers with advanced professional experience and gives them opportunities to perform and/or work with seasoned international opera singers, directors, coaches, conductors and composers. The program is named after Mrs. Ann Ross in recognition of her extensive contributions toward the success of this program since its establishment.

Mrs. Ann Ross

Resident Artists  ~  2009-2010 Season
Will Browning, baritone           Performs: Morales (Carmen) Last season, as a WGO Resident Artist, native Kansan Will Browning performed the lead roles of Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore, Zurga in Pearl Fishers, and Figaro in The Barber of Seville. Will has performed with WGO as both a Resident Artist and a Young Artist, with roles including Samuel in A Masked Ball, Benoit and Alcindoro in La Bohème, Marquis D’Obigny in La Traviata, and Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, just to name a few. In 2007, Will sang with San Francisco Opera’s prestigious Merola Opera Program. He is a graduate of Wichita State University and recipient of the Sam Ramey Scholarship.
	Mirko D’Angelo, tenor Performs: Le Dancaire (Carmen) Covers: Pish-Tush (The Mikado)           Mirko D’Angelo is a native of Bolivia and a graduate of WSU. Last season, as a WGO Resident Artist, he appeared as Ambrogio in Barber of Seville and served as a chorus section leader. In previous seasons, he performed as Amelia’s Servant in A Masked Ball, Parpignol in La Bohème, and sang in WGO’s chorus. He has performed as tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and J.S. Bach’s Magnificat. Previous roles include the title role in Candide at WSU, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado with Cimarron Circuit Opera, Monostatos in The Magic Flute with Opera North, and Giuseppe in The Most Happy Fella with Music Theater of Wichita.
Jim Ellis, tenor           Performs: Andres (Carmen) Jim Ellis has worked with WGO for several years as a tenor section leader in the chorus. He has also served as Chorusmaster for past productions including Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore. Previous performing experience comes from 22 years of singing, directing and coaching both choruses and quartets of the Barbershop Harmony Society. A graduate of Wichita State University with a degree in Criminal Justice, he currently works as an Industrial Security Specialist with The Boeing Company.
	Patrick Greene, tenor Performs: Nanki-Poo (The Mikado) Covers: Nemorino (Elixir of Love), Don Jose (Carmen)          As a WGO Resident Artist last season, Kansas native Patrick Greene performed the lead roles of Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore and Almaviva in The Barber of Seville. Previous WGO performances include Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance and the Judge in A Masked Ball. He made his European debut as Rodolfo in La Bohème at the Heidelberg Opera where he also starred as Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville. During the 1999-2000 season, Mr. Greene was the resident lyric tenor at the Staatstheater Braunschweig where he performed numerous roles. His America opera debut was the role of Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Sarasota Opera.
Mark Laycock           conductor for The Mikado Dr. Mark Laycock is Director of Orchestras and Director of Conducting at Wichita State University, where he holds the Ann Walenta Faculty of Distinction Endowed Professorship. Under his direction, the WSU Symphony Orchestra performed at the 2008 International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Zaragoza, Spain. He has conducted professional orchestras in Europe and Canada. He served as Director of Orchestras and Instrumental Music at Chapman University in Orange, California, where he led invited performances for the California Music Educators Association and at Disneyland.
	Terry McManis, baritone Performs: A Gypsy (Carmen)           Wichita native Terry McManis is in hes fourth season wih WGO, having prefiously performed as a Resident Artist in the role of Samuel in Pirates of Penzance and as a member of the chorus in several other productions. He graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor’s in Music Education and a Master’s in Vocal Performance. He has taught vocal music at Kensler Elementary in Wichita for the past twenty years. He has sung with the Wichita Chamber Chorale, the Master Arts Chorale, and is baritone soloist at First Presbyterian Church of Wichita.
Rodney Miller, bass           Performs: The Mikado (The Mikado) Dr. Rodney Miller made his WGO debut in 2006 as the King in Aida. His career has taken him throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. His repertoire of nearly fifty roles includes, among others, Mephistopheles, Figaro, Emil de Becque (South Pacific), and Don Basilio, his first professional role, which was hailed by critics as “magnificent.” Dr. Miller currently serves as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Wichita State University, and was previously the Director of Vocal Studies at New York University. Wichita combines his experience in metropolitan settings with his love for the people and culture of the great American plains.
	Michael Nansel, baritone Performs: Zuniga (Carmen) Covers: Escamillo (Carmen)           Michael Nansel, a former resident of Wichita, returns to the Wichita Grand Opera after singing the roles of Fiorello and the Sergeant in The Barber of Seville last season. Since 2004, he has performed with the Washington National Opera in roles ranging from the Major Domo in Andrea Chénier, the Bartender in the North American premiere of Sophie’s Choice, and Alcindoro in La Bohème. As comfortable with musical theatre as with the classical stage, Michael has performed as the title role in Sweeney Todd, Gaylord Ravenal in Show Boat, and Captain Von Trapp in Sound of Music. He has also sung with Wolf Trap Opera and The Washington Savoyards.
Cory Neal Schantz, baritone            Performs: Pooh-Bah (The Mikado) Cory Neal Schantz made his professional operatic debut with Baltimore Opera as Wagner in Gounod’s Faust, and returned to sing Guglielmo in a studio artist performance of Cosí Fan Tutte. With Oklahoma Opera Theatre, he appeared as Frank in Die Fledermaus. In 2007, Mr. Schantz made his Springfield Regional Opera debut as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. Additional credits include the title role in Gianni Schicchi at Austin Peay State University and the Count in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at the University of North Texas. Upcoming performances include Cimarron Opera’s production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Mr. Schantz recently completed his DMA in voice at the University of Oklahoma.
	Paul Smith, tenor Chorusmaster           Dr. Paul Smith has performed in 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 leading roles as Romeo, the Duke, Faust, Almaviva, Pinkerton, Lensky, Belmonte, Ferrando, and Tamino. He performed Piangi in both the London and Hamburg productions of The Phantom of the Opera. With WGO last season, he appeared as the Messenger in Aida. He is a member of the voice faculty at Wichita State University.
Mary Ellen Swords, soprano           Performs: Frasquita (Carmen) A longtime participant with Wichita Grand Opera as a Young Artist, Mary Ellen Swords performed the roles of Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Mimì in La Bohème, and Micaëla in Carmen. As a WGO Resident Artist she performed the roles of A Prima Donna in Die Fledermaus and the Shepherd in Tosca. Originally from Garden City, KS, she holds degrees from Bethany College and WSU.