“gave a moving performance…he sang with attention to expressive details and completely embodied the role.” -Opera News Arthur Woodley has appeared with prestigious opera companies all over the U.S. including the San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Dallas Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Pittsburgh, Opera, New Orleans Opera, and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis.  His many roles have included Varlaam in Boris Godunov, Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro, the Four Villains in Les Contes d'Hoffman, Kuno in Die Freischütz, Banquo in Macbeth, Nick Shadow in The Rake's Progress, Sulpice in La Fille du Régiment, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Rocco in Fidelio, Publio in La Clemenza di Tito, Angelotti in Tosca, Achillas in Guilio Cesare, and Dansker in Billy Budd. He also recently created the role of Dick Hallorann in Paul Moravec's The Shining at the Minnesota Opera and Emile Griffith in Terence Blanchard's Champion at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Mr. Woodley was born in New York City and raised in Saint Croix. He current resides in Montclair, NJ. He recently named joined the faculty for Vocal Performance at NYU.

"She is almost too good to be true..a vital artist, a beautiful woman, a regal presence." -The Washington Post  "Put simply: if the human voice has the power to move you, you will be touched by Denyce Graves." -Atlanta Journal Constitution Recognized worldwide as one of today's most exciting vocal stars, Denyce Graves continues to gather unparalleled popular and critical acclaim in performances on four continents. Her career has taken her to the world's great opera houses and concert halls. The combination of her expressive, rich vocalism, elegant stage presence, and exciting theatrical abilities allows her to pursue a wide breadth of operatic portrayals as well as delight audiences in concert and recital appearances.

“Baritone Aubrey Allicock could make his career on the vocal, dramatic and physical strength of his portrayal of Young Emile, a very human mixture of sunshine and darkness.” -Sara Bryan Miller, Champion, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Hailed by the New York Times as "sturdy", "dynamic", and "excellent", Aubrey Allicock continues to make his mark among important opera companies and symphonies both at home and abroad. A Grammy nominee for his participation in John Adams's Doctor Atomic as General Groves, Mr. Allicock adds to that nominee list a BBC Music Magazine Award for Opera. He debuted at the Concertgebouw in John Adams’s El Niño this past December and made his Washington National Opera debut in a reprise of Terence Blanchard’s Champion as the Young Emile in the spring of 2017. He returned to Europe to make his BBC debut as General Groves in Doctor Atomic and recorded the work for Nonesuch Records. Mr. Allicock returned to Bard Music Festival as Janusz in Stanislaw Moniuszko's opera Halka, sung in Polish; made his Opera Philadelphia debut in the fall of 2017 in We Shall Not Be Moved, music by Daniel Bernard Roumain with Bill T. Jones directing and a reprise at the Apollo Theater in New York and Dutch National Opera. He made his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel in works by Mozart; debuted with New Orleans Opera in Champion and reprised the title role in Le nozze di Figaro with the Salzburger-landestheater in 2018. Upcoming engagements include Bernstein Songfest in Carnegie Hall conducted by Marin Alsop; a debut with Opera de Montréal in Champion; a reprise of Figaro with Opera Theater of Saint Louis and a return to Glyndebourne as Argante in Rinaldo.

American soprano Kimwana Doner has been described as “absolutely luminous” as well as “mesmerizing to watch and thrilling to hear.” A product of the distinguished young artist training programs of San Francisco Opera (Merola and Adler Fellowship), Seattle Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Opera North, Ms. Doner is establishing a career that includes the full breadth of the lyric to dramatic soprano repertoire. With acclaimed performances on the mainstages of the San Francisco Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Boston Lyric Opera, and Opera North, the statuesque Ms. Doner is becoming increasingly seen as an important young talent. Her repertoire already encompasses many of the Mozart heroines including Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Pamina and Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), and the Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro) as well as Puccini's Liu (Turandot) and Musetta (La Bohème) and Bizet's Michaëla (Carmen). In recent years, she is excited to have expanded her repertoire into Verdi and Strauss with Leonora (Il Trovatore), Alice (Falstaff) and a title role in Ariadne auf Naxos. Also an avid concert performer, she has appeared with the Saint Louis Symphony, Modesto Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Napa Valley Opera House, and Rackham Symphony as well as several prominent concert series including the Music at Meyer Concert Series in the acoustically superb Meyer Sanctuary in San Francisco, CA and the Eureka Chamber Music Concert Series which brings together prominent artists from the US and abroad. Ms. Doner is the proud recipient of the Best Performance Leading Female Award 2006 from Opera Online and the Emily Gaddes Memorial Award 2002 from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

American tenor Brian Arreola is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where he studied voice and cello. In 2013 he created the role of Luis Rodrigo Griffith in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s world-premiere of Champion, receiving accolades from Opera Today, which praised his “well-schooled tenor and his impassioned way with several high-flying phrases,” and Opera News, which said that, “as Luis, the older Griffith's adopted son and caretaker, Brian Arreola was tenderness personified.” Mr. Arreola performs regularly with opera companies across the USA. He has been described as a “robust Italian tenor” by the Washington Post, and his singing was called “fiery” by the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He has been featured with The Minnesota Opera, Opera Carolina, American Opera Theater, Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Ente Concerti (Sardinia, Italy), and others. While a student at St. Olaf College, Brian co-founded the professional touring male vocal ensemble Cantus, described by Fanfare Magazine as “the premier men’s vocal ensemble in the United States.” He spent several years touring the USA, Canada and France with Cantus, as well as serving as its Co-Artistic Director.

“Victor as Nadir, has an aria, really a scene in which he completely captivated the audience. His performance nearly stopped the show!” -Burt Sailed American tenor Victor Ryan Robertson offers a versatile singing ability and style allowing him to cross seamlessly across genres. He recent enjoyed critically success with  Sarasota Opera’s Il barbiere di Siviglia as The Count Almaviva. “…Victor Ryan Robertson is a case in point. Vocally the star of the show, singing a very fine Count.” – Talkingbroadway.  Last season Victor made his Met debut in The Merry Widow with famed director Susan Stroman and Made his Broadway debut in the longest running show on Broadway, Phantom of the Opera. Victor starred in the World premiere of multiple grammy-award winning trumpeter and composer Terrence Blanchard’s Champion, creating the role of Benny “Kid” Peret in a landmark production with Washington National Opera. He will reprise the role of Benny with Opera Montreal. He recently enjoyed a successful run as Hosea Williams in Douglas Tappin’s I Dream with Kennedy Center, Toledo Opera and Opera Carolina.

Wayne Tigges presented Olin Blitch through an effective amalgam of vocal velvet, sex appeal and vainglorious smarm, all cut with a surprisingly moving splash of vulnerability in his final scene. -Opera News

American contralto Meredith Arwady Kahrl studied at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan and at Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center. She received a Master of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music where she studied voice with Marlena Kleinman Malas. Hailed by critics as a “rarity” and “a genuine contralto,” Meredith Arwady delights audiences in the USA and abroad with rich vocal intensity and captivatingx stage presence. She is a 2012 Grammy Award winner for Best Opera Recording (John Adams’s Dr. Atomic). In the 2016-2017 season, she will debut at Washington National Opera reprising her acclaimed performance as Kathy Hagen in Terence Blanchard’s Champion. She also will be seen at the Dallas Opera as Filippyevna in Eugene Onegin and Houston Grand Opera as the 1st Norn in Götterdämmerung. In the summer of 2017, she will return to Santa Fe Opera as Amelfa in Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Le coq d’or.

At 9 years old, playing Little Emile in Terence Blanchard’s Champion is John’s debut operatic performance. Prior roles in local children’s productions include Captain Hook in Peter Pan (2017), Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (2018), and Bert in Mary Poppins (2019). John studies voice under the direction of Marcus Peterson, sings solos at his church, and takes cello and piano lessons. In addition to his musical interests, John plays offense for a 10U ice hockey team and is working toward his orange belt in Taekwondo. He is excited and grateful for the opportunity to perform with Michigan Opera Theatre.

David Moan is ecstatic to return to performing with MOT. Originally from Pittsburgh, David received a BA in Vocal Performance from Manchester University before becoming a Detroit local in 2012. Previously, David has been seen around MOT as Edward G. Robinson and a Calveras in Frida, Mike in a View from the Bridge, and St. Brioche in The Merry Widow, as well as countless productions as a member of the MOT chorus. Other notable local credits include John Wilkes Booth in Assassins (Wilde Award Winning), Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd, and Ash in Evil Dead: The Musical. David can be seen this May as Val in The Grapes of Wrath and this summer as God in An Act of God at The Dio Theatre. David would like to thank “his MOT family for this incredible opportunity, Monica for all the love and support, and Batman for being the Hero we should all strive to be.”

Maverick Lemons was born in Brooklyn, NY, and began studying dance at the age of 16 at the Harlem School of the Arts. Shortly after his initial training, Lemons received a scholarship to the Martha Graham School and performed with Opus Dance Theatre and LaRocque Bey. He furthered his training with The Ailey School and Philadelphia Dance Company’s Philadanco pre-professional training program. In 2000, Lemons joined Philadanco, where he toured nationally and internationally for seven years as a principal dancer, master teacher, and tour manager. While with Philadanco, Lemons performed with Eleone Dance Theater and the Pennsylvania Civic Ballet Company. He gained other professional experieince by dancing in music videos with artists such as 702 and Aaliyah, and working with MTV Video Music Award winning choreographer Laurieann Gibson. Additionally, he danced original ballets under noted choreographers Christopher Huggins, Ronald K. Brown, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Lynn Taylor Corbett, Geoffrey Holder, Trey McIntyre, and Danny Ezrelow. Lemon’s musical theater credits include Dream Girls and 42nd Street.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michael Teasley began his dance training under the direction of Jeri Sterrett at Jazz and Spirit Dance Theater. In 2009 he enrolled in the Dance Program at Oakland University where he performed with Oakland Dance Theatre and OU Repertory Dance Company. Since then he has appeared as an apprentice and guest dancer with Eisenhower Dance Detroit, touring Poland in 2014. In 2015 Mr. Teasley he was promoted to Senior Company Member.

Originally from Thomasboro, Illinois, Andrew Cribbett began his dance training at the age of six. He studied with Christine Rich and Luciana Rezende at the Christine Rich Studio Dance Academy and Performing Arts Center in Savoy, Illinois. At the age of 16, he received a full scholarship to The Washington School of Ballet in Washington D. C. He attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts to finish his senior year of High School. Andrew has received scholarships to attend summer intensives at Washington School of Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Rock School of Ballet in Philadelphia, and Faubourg Ballet Chicago. Andrew is a Senior Company Member of Eisenhower Dance Detroit.

Rebecca Arends was a dancer in the original cast of Champion in St. Louis, and served as Dance Captain during Washington National Opera's production of the work. Based out of New York, Ms. Arends has been a member of the Seán Curran Company for nine seasons. Chosen to perform and teach throughout Central Asia as cultural ambassadors of the U.S. State Department, the company toured Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, through DanceMotion USA (produced by the Brooklyn Academy of Music). In 2014, Rebecca founded RAREdancework, a non-profit organization, dedicated to the production of collaborative & innovative performing arts projects. 

Originally from Buffalo New York, Emily Bezbatchenko began training at age three. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Point Park University in 2018. During her years at university she performed the works by Larry Keigwin, Matthew Powell, Helen Simoneau, David Morse, and Garfield Lemonius. Emily has attended various intensives such as AXIS Connect, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Movement Invention Project, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Chautauqua Ballet. She has studied works of Crystal Pite, Alejandro Cerrudo, William Forsythe, Kyle Abraham, and Alex Ketley. Emily joined Eisenhower Dance Detroit as an apprentice in 2018, since performing works by Laurie Eisenhower, Stephanie Pizzo, Christian Denice, and Darrell Moultrie. Emily was promoted to full company member in 2019.

Zaire Polk is 11 years old and in the sixth grade. His theatre experience includes performing with the Detroit Opera House’s Children’s Chorus in The Summer King. In addition to performing, Zaire enjoys playing the piano, writing, singing in the choir, and playing basketball. He’s excited to have this opportunity.

American conductor Kazem Abdullah currently lives in Nürnberg, Germany. He was Music and Artistic Director of the City of Aachen, Germany from 2012 to 2017. During his tenure, he succeeded in reaching newer and diverse audiences through innovative programming and moving out of the concert hall, and into atypical venues. In addition to exploring new venues to bring concerts to audiences and experimenting with juxtapositions of styles in non-traditional concert formats, he also performed over 25 operas and collaborated with musicians such as Johannes Moser, Lise de la Salle, Angela Gheorghiu, Augustin Haedelich, and Midori. A passionate advocate of new music as well as established repertoire, Mr. Abdullah continues to develop relationships with national and international orchestras and opera houses. Among his recent orchestral credits are the symphony orchestras of Oregon, Indianapolis, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. In addition to his symphony engagements, he recently conducted an opera Gala for the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the American premiere of Charles Wuorinen’s opera Brokeback Mountain with the New York City Opera, and Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda for Cape Town Opera.

American stage director James Robinson is Artistic Director at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where he has mounted productions including Chin’s Alice in Wonderland (American premiere), Ash’s The Golden Ticket (world premiere), Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles (also presented at the Wexford Festival), and Adams’ The Death of Klinghoffer and Nixon in China (a production seen throughout the United States and Canada). Elsewhere, Robinson has directed new productions for Houston Grand Opera (Lucia di Lammermoor, Giulio Cesare and Abduction from the Seraglio), San Francisco Opera (Norma, Il Trittico and L’Elisir d’amore) and the Canadian Opera Company (Norma, Elektra and Nixon in China). For the Santa Fe Opera, he has directed new productions of Capriccio, Così fan tutte and The Rake’s Progress, and numerous productions for the New York City Opera (La bohème, Hansel and Gretel and Il viaggio a Reims). His work has also been seen at the Australian Opera, the Washington Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, the Seattle Opera, the Royal Swedish Opera, the Dallas Opera, the Minnesota Opera and Chicago Opera Theater. Additionally, he has created productions for the London Symphony Orchestra (Bernstein’s Mass and Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher), the Hollywood Bowl (Amadeus), Carnegie Hall, and the Minnesota Orchestra.