Central City Opera's Artists Training Program

The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program is a national model for the professional development of young singers. Created by Artistic Director Emeritus John Moriarty in 1978, and now under the direction of Marc Astafan, the rigorous 10-week program integrates daily opera training in diction, movement, stage combat, acting, stage technique, individual coaching and role study; and sessions in career management with rehearsals and opera performance opportunities in the summer's main stage and fringe productions.

The program, which selects 30-32 participants from nearly 1,000 applicants each year, has provided valuable voice training for many of America's most notable young opera professionals, including Denyce Graves, Alan Held, Cynthia Lawrence, Margaret Lattimore, Mary Mills, Emily Pulley, Greg Turay, Latonia Moore, Matthew Polenzani, Jesus Garcia, Chad Shelton, Daniel Belcher, and Celena Shafer.

The application deadline for the 2012 Artists Training Program has now passed.

2012 Artists Training Program Auditions Description (pdf)

Artist Training Program Details

Past Apprentice Artists

Marc Astafan Administrator, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program Central City Opera: (Partial Listing) Director and Choreographer, Orpheus in the Underworld, 2010; Director, Rinaldo, 2009; Cendrillon, 2007 Recently: Director, Apprentice Scenes Showcase, Santa Fe Opera; The Pearl Fishers, Syracuse Opera; La Bohème, Anchorage Opera; Così fan tutte, Temple University; La Traviata, Opera Delaware ; Rigoletto, Virginia Opera

John Moriarty Founder, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program Central City Opera: (Partial Listing) Conductor, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 2006; Vanessa, 2005; Gabriel's Daughter, 2003 Recently: Chairman of Opera Department, New England Conservatory of Music, 1989-2001

2011 Apprentice Artists

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program

	Brad Benoit Tenor Kankakee, IL Recently: Gastone, La Traviata; Almaviva, Il Barbiere di Siviglia; and Lampwick, The Adventures of Pinocchio, Minnesota Opera
	Anthony Bucci Countertenor Greenville, SC Recently: Paris, The Judgement of Paris, Manhattan School of Music; Tolomeo, Giulio Cesare in Egitto, The Centre for Opera Studies in Italy; Oberon, A Midsummer Night's Dream, University of Michigan
	Jonathan Cole+ Baritone Dallas, TX Mercutio, Roméo et Juliette, and Guglielmo, Così fan tutte, Boston University Opera Institute; Doctor/Servant, Macbeth, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra
	Kaitlyn Costello+ Mezzo-Soprano Atlanta, GA Recently: Meg Page, Falstaff, Manhattan School of Music; Featured Singer, 2010 Christmas Concert/All Saints Concert Series, The Atlanta Opera; Nicklausse, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Georgia State Productions
	Bridgette Gan* Soprano Harrisburg, PA Recently: Eurydice (cover), Orpheus in the Underworld, and Isabel/Madeline, Face on the Barroom Floor, Central City Opera; Konstanze, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Maryland Opera Studio
	Andrew Harris+ Bass Kingwood, WV Recently: Don Basilio, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Theater of the Rockies; Colline, La Bohème, Opera North; Il Commendatore, Don Giovanni, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
	Alexandra Loutsion* Soprano Canonsburg, PA Cio-Cio-San (cover), Madama Butterfly, Central City Opera; Berta, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Armida, Rinaldo, Pittsburgh Opera
	Jonathan Matthews Tenor Sandy, UT Recently: Faust, Faust, and Ruggero, La Rondine, Indiana University; Tamino, Die Zauberflöte, Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute
	Timothy J. McDevitt+ Baritone Reading, PA Le Mari, Les Mamelle de Tirésias, Juilliard Opera; Aaron Copland's America, Albany Symphony; New York Festival of Song, Alice Tully Hall
	Patrick McNally Baritone Boston, MA Masetto, Don Giovanni, Sarasota Opera; Wagner, Faust, Opera New Jersey; Fiorello, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Des Moines Metro Opera
	Kaileen Erin Miller* Soprano San Francisco, CA Recently: Soprano Soloist, Dvorak's Mass in D Major, San Francisco Choral Society; Cupid, Orpheus in the Underworld, and Clara, Signor Deluso, Central City Opera; Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, Berkeley Opera
	Philippe Pierce* Tenor Paris, FR Recently: Jaquino, Fidelio, Dayton Opera; Beppe, I Pagliacci, Opera Cleveland; Goro, Madama Butterfly (cover), Central City Opera
	Nicole Rodin Mezzo-Soprano Glencoe, IL Recently: Composer, Ariadne auf Naxos, New England Conservatory; Hänsel, Hänsel und Gretel, and Rosina, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Boston Lyric Opera’s Opera for Young Audiences
	Annie Rosen Mezzo-Soprano New Haven, CT Dido, Dido and Aeneas, Yale Opera; Alessandro (cover), Tolomeo, Glimmerglass Opera; Dorabella, Così fan tutte, Mannes Opera
	Brian Wehrle Bass Ottawa, CAN Recently: Don Alfonso (cover), Così fan tutte, Virginia Opera; Oroveso (cover), Norma, Chautauqua Opera; Medico, Macbeth, Opera Lyra Ottawa
	David Williams Baritone Danville, CA Recently: Tancredi, Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, Juilliard; Figaro, The Ghosts of Versailles, Aspen Opera Theater Center; Hermann/Schlemil, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Komische Oper Berlin
	Jonathan Winell Tenor New York, NY Recently: Tamino, Die Zauberflöte, New York Lyric Opera Theatre; Nadir, Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Connecticut Concert Opera; and Percy, Anna Bolena, Academy of Vocal Arts
	Annamarie Zmolek* Soprano Denver, CO Prima Donna, Viva la Mamma!, Rice University; Lucia (cover), Lucia di Lammermoor, Central City Opera; Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, Rice University

2011 Studio Artists

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program

	David Blalock Baritone Burlington, NC Recently: Figaro, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Riolobo, Florencia en el Amazonas, Maryland Opera Studio, Don Giovanni (cover), Don Giovanni, Ash Lawn Opera
	Carla Jablonski Mezzo-Soprano Butler, PA Recently: La Ciesca, Gianni Schicchi, and Mère Jeanne, Les Dialogues des Carmélites, Juilliard Opera; Fileno, Clori, Tirsi, e Fileno, Alice Tully Hall
	John Robert Lindsey Tenor Fort Collins, CO Recently: Don José, Carmen (recital), Boulder, CO; Sam Polk, Susannah; Stage Manager, Our Town, Colorado University Opera Theater
	Jesse Malgieri Baritone Rochester, NY John Brooke, Little Women; Der Sprecher, Die Zauberflöte; Joe, The Most Happy Fella, Indiana University Opera Theater
	Mary Martin Soprano Plymouth, Michigan Recently: Susanna, Le Nozze di Figaro, University of Michigan Opera Theater; Mabel, The Pirates of Penzance; Olympia, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Brevard Music Center
	Andrew McLaughlin+ Baritone Canton, PA Recently: Figaro, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Alvaro, Florencia en el Amazonas, Maryland Opera Studio; Master Class, Joy in Singing 2011 series, Lincoln Center
	Audra Methvin+ Soprano Levelland, TX Recently: Soprano Soloist, Mass in Time of War, Eastern New Mexico University; Soprano Soloist, Elijah, Boulder Symphony; Micaëla, Carmen, University of Denver
	Rachel Milligan Mezzo-Soprano Canton, OH Recently: Siebel, Faust, Indiana University Opera Theater; Moth, A Midsummer Night's Dream; Studio Artist, Wolf Trap Opera Company
	Kevin M. Newell Tenor Edgar, Wisconsin Recently: Laurie, Little Women, University of Michigan; Roméo, Roméo et Juliette, Seagle Music Colony; Albert, Albert Herring, University of Wisconsin
	Amy Oraftik Mezzo-Soprano Piedmont, CA Baroness, Vanessa, Boston University; Stephano (cover), Roméo et Juliette, Boston University; Mezzo-Soprano Soloist, The Son of Man, United Parish Church of Brookline
	Ian José Ramirez Tenor The Woodlands, TX Tamino, The Magic Flute, Cincinnati Opera Outreach; Basilio, Le Nozze di Figaro; The Prologue, The Turn of the Screw, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
	Kelly Elise Smith Soprano St. Louis, MO Fiordiligi, Così fan tutte, and Angelica, Suor Angelica, University of Kansas Opera Theatre; Soprano Soloist, Elijah, University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra
	Rhys Lloyd Talbot Bass Cedar Falls, IA Recently: Colonel Frank, Die Fledermaus; The Count, Prima Donna, and Frère Laurent, Roméo et Juliette (scenes), University of Northern Iowa

* Indicates Past Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Apprentice Artist
+ Indicates Past Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Studio Artist

As a component of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, 13 awards were given to exemplary members at the 2011 Festival’s closing ceremonies on Aug. 7. The young artists are selected based on criteria including the artistic quality of performances given during the Festival, a demonstration of a strong work ethic during training activities and career potential as a performing artist. Award winners were congratulated by General/Artistic Director Pelham G. Pearce, Artistic Director Emeritus John Moriarty, Board President/Chairman Nancy Parker, and Guild President Anne McGonagle. Recipients for 2011 are: Rhys Lloyd Talbot - McGlone Award; David Williams - Apprentice Artist Award; David Blalock - Studio Artist Award; Annie Rosen - Iris Henwood Richards Award; Andrew McLaughlin - In Memory of Joshua Psuik Award; Carla Jablonski - In Memory of Deb Hruby Award; Nicole Rodin - Young Artist Award; Andrew Harris - Adelaide Bishop Award; Kevin M. Newell - Ginney and John Starkey Young Artist Award; Timothy McDevitt - John Moriarty Award; Amy Oraftik - Dorsey Family Award; Jonathan Cole - Judge David R. Gloss Award; and Alexandra Loutsion - Career Grant Award in Memory of Richard F. Gold.