Marty Beard, bass-baritone
Performs: Customs Guard (La Bohème)

He is a Kansas native and a graduate of WSU in vocal music. He previously sang the role of Customs Guard in WGO’s 2005 La Bohème and the Second Armed Guard in WGO’s 2006 Magic Flute. He has made numerous appearances in WGO’s chorus over the past five seasons.

William Browning, baritone
Performs: Samuel (Masked Ball),
___________Valentin (Faust)

He spent the summer of 2007 in San Francisco Opera’s prestigious Merola Opera Program. As a member of WGO’s Young Artist Program for three seasons, he performed the roles of Marquis D’Obigny in La Traviata, Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, Yakaside in Madama Butterfly, 3rd Priest in Die Zauberflöte, and 1st Man in I Pagliacci. This will be his first season as a Resident Artist.

Mirko D’Angelo, tenor
Performs: Amelia’s Servant (Masked Ball),
Parpignol (La Bohème)____________

He is a native of Bolivia and a graduate of WSU. 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.

Kevin Eckard, baritone
Performs: Schaunard (La Bohème), _____________Wagner (Faust)

He has performed frequently throughout the U.S., Italy, Austria and Great Britain. His opera credits include the title role in Boris Godunov, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Blitch in Susannah, Monterone in Rigoletto, and Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte. He returns to Wichita Grand Opera after his successful debut as Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni in 2004. He is Director of Opera and Assistant Professor of Voice at University of Central Oklahoma.

Patrick Greene, tenor
Chorusmaster
Performs: Judge (Masked Ball),
Frederic (Pirates)___________

He made his European debut at Heidelberg Opera in Germany. During the 1999-2000 season he was a resident lyric tenor at the Staatstheater Braunschweig where he performed numerous roles. Mr. Greene holds a Bachelor’s degree from Friends University and is WGO’s chorusmaster for this season’s productions of A Masked Ball, La Bohème, and Faust.

Denise Knowlton, mezzo-soprano
___Performs: Ulrica (Masked Ball)

She debuted with WGO in 2004 as Katisha in The Mikado. She has also been seen as the Duchess of Krakenthorpe in Daughter of the Regiment at Lyric Opera Cleveland; and Mrs. Pompton in The Glass Blowers and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana at Glimmerglass Opera. She has several concert credits with the Cleveland Orchestra and Kansas City Chamber Orchestra.

Terry McManis, baritone
Performs: Samuel (Pirates)_______

He is a Wichita native in his second season with WGO. He graduated from WSU with a Bachelor’s in Music Education and a Master’s in Vocal Performance. For the past 18 years he has taught vocal music at Kensler Elementary in Wichita. He has sung with the Wichita Chamber Chorale, the Master Arts Chorale, and is baritone soloist at First Presbyterian Church of Wichita.

Dale Morehouse, bass
Stage Director: La Bohème
Performs: Benoît and
_____Alcindoro (La Bohème)

He has sung more than 75 roles in opera, operetta, and musical theatre throughout the United States. He has served as stage director for Opera Memphis, South Florida Opera, Treasure Coast Opera, Sarasota Opera, and last season for Wichita Grand Opera’s La Traviata. Mr. Morehouse is Associate Professor of Voice and Opera at UMKC, and teacher of stage artistry at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.

Rebecca Robbearts, mezzo-soprano

This is her fifth season as a Resident Artist with WGO. Her previous roles with WGO include Mercedes in Carmen, Cio-Cio-San’s Mother in Madama Butterfly, Giovanna in Rigoletto, Berta in Barber of Seville, 3rd Genii in The Magic Flute, and Stephano in Romeo & Juliet. She is currently on the faculty of Mueller Elementary in Wichita.

John Stephens, bass
Stage Director: Pirates of Penzance
____Performs: Pirate King (Pirates)

Mr. Stephens directed and sang in WGO’s 2004 production of The Mikado, and appeared as Sarastro WGO’s Magic Flute in 2006. He has sung with major opera companies and symphonies for over 30 years. He is particularly fond of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, having directed or sung in hundreds of productions. As director of the voice program at the University of Kansas, he has taught voice and directed operas for the past 26 years.

Mary Ellen Swords, soprano

This is her fifth season with WGO. As a Young Artist she performed the roles of Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Mimì in La Bohème, and Micaela in Carmen. As a WGO Resident Artist she performed the roles of A Prima Donna in Die Fledermaus and the Shepherd in Tosca. She holds degrees from Bethany College and WSU, and teaches music at Rose Hill Elementary in Wichita.

Stacey Uthe, soprano
____Performs: Musetta (La Bohème)

She has performed the leading roles of Hanna in The Merry Widow, Magda in La rondine, Mimì in La Bohème, and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte with Lyric Opera San Diego and Union Avenue Opera. She performed the role of Donna Elvira in Wichita Grand Opera’s 2004 Don Giovanni and returns this season for her second term as a WGO Resident Artist.