One of the oldest and most prominent operatic training programs anywhere, San Francisco's Merola Opera Program, announced on Monday the selection of 23 singers, five apprentice coaches, and one apprentice stage director for its 2016 season.
Of the 800 applicants, artists from 12 states, Canada, Italy, Ukraine, and New Zealand were chosen to participate in coaching, training, and performances from June 6 through Aug. 20. (It is a rare selection in recent years not including anyone from Asia, especially from China and Korea where opera has been blossoming lately.)
The 2016 Merolini are:
• Sopranos Adelaide Boedecker (Sarasota, FL), returning to the program, Sarah Cambidge (Vancouver, BC, Canada), Teresa Castillo (Denver, CO), Yelena Dyachek (Vinnytsya, Ukraine), Mary Evelyn Hangley (Long Beach, NY), Shannon Jennings (Orlando, FL), Jana McIntyre (Santa Barbara, CA)
• Mezzo-sopranos Tara Curtis (Kansas City, MO), returning to the program, Chelsey Geeting (Portland, ME), Taylor Raven (Fayetteville, NC), Alexandra Schenck (Long Beach, CA)
• Countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen (Brooklyn, NY)
• Tenors Isaac Frishman (Omaha, NE), Josh Lovell (Victoria, BC, Canada), Brian Michael Moore (Cincinnati, OH), Amitai Pati (Auckland, NZ), Boris Van Druff (Olean, NY), Kyle van Schoonhoven (Lockport, NY)
• Baritone Andrew G. Manea (Troy, MI)
• Bass-baritones Nicholas Boragno (Newport Beach, CA), Cody Quattlebaum (Ellicott City, MD), Josh Quinn (Tampa, FL)
• Bass Matthew Anchel (New York, NY)
Apprentice Coaches Jonathan Brandani (Lucca, Italy), John Elam (Cleburne, TX), Noah Palmer (Baltimore, MD), Nicolò Sbuelz (Udine, Italy), Jennifer Szeto (Calgary, AB, Canada); and Apprentice Stage Director Aria Umezawa (Toronto, ON, Canada.)
The Merola Summer Festival includes the Schwabacher Summer Concert, staged performances of Conrad Susa’s Tranformations and Mozart’s Così fan tutte, the Merola Grand Finale. As part of the program’s performance training, the public is invited to attend the 2016 Merola Summer Festival. All performances take place at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall except the Merola Grand Finale, which takes place at the War Memorial Opera House.
Master classes will be provided by Vinson Cole, Jane Eaglen, Warren Jones, Martin Katz, and Rory Macdonald. Guest teachers include Richard Battle, Steven Blier, Deborah Birnbaum, Alessandra Cattani, Alan Darling, Peter Grunberg, Chuck Hudson, Bruce Lamott, Patricia Kristof Moy, Kevin Murphy, Barbara Scott, César Ulloa, and Christopher Verdosci, who will provide training in voice, foreign languages, operatic repertory, diction, acting, career management, and stage movement.
Named for Gaetano Merola, San Francisco Opera's first general director, the program began during the 1954-55 season and established its full training program in 1957; it is now an independent organization. Merola's 2014 tax return indicates net assets of $27.8 million, total revenue of $3.9 million, expenses of $2.9 million for 2013. Tax form 990 (for nonprofit organizations) also shows $1.6 million paid to the San Francisco Opera Association as "highest compensated independent contractor."
Asked about the organization's current situation, Merola Executive Director Jean Kellogg said the 2016 budget is $3 million; "contributions are expected to total $1.2 million, with earned income, endowment draw (5% which is standard practice), and reserves making up the difference."