Michele Angelini (tenor), Prelude to Performance participant in 2005, is the current cover at the Metropolitan Opera to Juan Diego Florez for the role of Tonio in La fille du Regiment and to Laurence Brownlee for the role of Rinaldo in Armida.

Sarah Beckman (soprano), Prelude to Performance participant in 2008, made her professional debut with the Amarillo Opera in 2009 as Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte.  In 2010, she will join the Sarasota Opera as a Studio Artist.

Joseph Flaxman (baritone), Prelude to Performance participant in 2007, 2008, and 2009, is a young artist with Sarasota Opera.  Upcoming performances include Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte with Opera Memphis.

Adrian Gans (baritone), Role Preparation Class participant in 2005, made his New York City Opera debut in 2006 as Escamillo in Carmen and reprised the same role during the 2007-2008 season with the Toledo Opera and at the Staatsoper in Stuttgart. 

Rodrigo Garciarroyo (tenor), Prelude to Performance participant in 2007, 2008, and 2009, had his Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center debut in 2009 in The Verdi Requiem.

Eui Jin Kim (bass), Prelude to Performance participant in 2007, was a young artist with Virginia Opera.  

Shu-Ying Li (soprano), Role Preparation Class participant in 2003, made her New York City opera debut as Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly, during the company’s tour to Japan and her house debut in the same role in 2005. 

Robert Mack (tenor), Prelude to Performance participant in 2005 and 2006, has appeared several roles with the New York City Opera, including the Ballad Singer in Of Mice and Men, Pong in Turandot, Arturo in Lucia Di Lammermoor, and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi.

Leandra Ramm (mezzo-soprano), Prelude to Performance participant in 2007, was a young artist with the Toledo Opera.

Rachel Sliker (soprano), Prelude to Performance participant in 2008, was a young artist with Opera St. Louis and Aspen Music Festival.

Taylor Stayton (tenor), Prelude to Performance participant in 2006 and 2007, made his European debut at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma in the role of Fenton in Falstaff in December 2009.

Noah Stewart (tenor), Prelude to Performance participant in 2005, has sung with the Merola program. Upcoming performances with Michigan Opera Theatre include the role debut of Cavaradossi in Tosca and Rodolfo in La boheme.

Martin Woods (baritone), Prelude to Performance participant in 2008, join the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the fall of 2008 for its production of Porgy and Bess.

Victoria Vargas (mezzo-soprano), Prelude to Performance participant in 2008, was a young artist with the Sarasota Opera and will be with the Chataqua Opera in the summer of 2010.

 

Sarah Beckham, Prelude to Performance participant 2008 - “The Martina Arroyo Program teaches an individual what he or she has to do every time they are preparing a role.”

Rodrigo Garciarroyo, Prelude to Performance participant in 2007, 2008, and 2009  - “We need to become good musicians, to train our voices to do the most wonderful things, and to become good actors.  Martina Arroyo and her Prelude to Performance program are devoted to this notion.”

Choong-Hun Lee, Prelude to Performance participant 2007 and 2009 - “This is an opportunity to learn a new role and to sing it in a condition rarely available to many young singers at the early stage of their careers.  This program has helped me launch my professional career.”

Alia Waheed, Prelude to Performance participant 2006 - “Since participating in The Martina Arroyo Prelude to Performance Summer Program 2006, my career has soared!  I am extremely grateful to Ms. Arroyo and the faculty for their shared knowledge and for giving me the opportunity to shine.”

Anonymous Comments from 2009 Prelude to Performance Student Evaluations

“The classes were the best part.  I learned so much from each of the teachers.  Martina is a wealth of knowledge.  The performances were fun, but I gained the most from the work leading up to them.”

“It’s a terrific and valuable pleasure to focus entirely on the performance preparation process; these are the most important tools we need as performers.”

“Everything, from audition process and feedback, to duration of program was Excellent!”

“Best program I’ve been in, hope to be back next year!”

“By the time we got to the performances, I felt very comfortable and prepared.”

“I had a blast!  I feel so much more secure and happy about this profession than ever.  I’m really happy to have taken part in it.  I valued the great camaraderie among everyone.”

“I loved the program, it was exactly working on details that you don’t have time for in school!  Thank you for six amazing weeks!”

“I have to say that I really enjoyed the program!  It gave me a chance to work hard and better my craft.”