J. Ernest Green

J. Ernest Green is the Artistic Director of Live Arts Maryland and the Music Director of the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and Annapolis Chorale. He served as a Cover Conductor with the National Symphony Orchestra, where he worked with Denyce Graves, Sir James Galway, Pinchas Zuckerman, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Osmo Vanska, among others. As a Pops Conductor, he conducted for the late Marvin Hamlisch, where he worked with artists such as: Idina Menzel, Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz, Maria Friedman, Brian D’Arcy James and Klea Blackhurst, Mike Nichols, Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Chris Botti, Kevin Cole, Maria Friedman, Lang Lang, and Barbra Streisand. Mr. Green is the conductor for “Late Night” Music Director Paul Shaffer and Valerie Simpson for his symphony show, appearing with the Vancouver Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, and the Long Beach Symphony. Mr. Green has appeared with many orchestras including: The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, The Tuscia Festival Orchestra (Italy), Annapolis Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Lincoln Symphony, Orquestra Sinfonica Nacional (Santo Domingo), and the Trinity Chamber Orchestra. J. Ernest Green is a graduate of the University of Toledo and the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he studied with Frederik Prausnitz. An avid advocate for the arts, he has served as a music panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council and an advisor on its Strategic Planning Committee. Maestro Green conducted last season’s very successful Ragtime and 2023’s The Merry Widow for Toledo Opera.

James M. Norman

James M. Norman has been active in the Northwest Ohio arts community for many decades.  In his 30+ years in the business, Mr. Norman has directed, costumed, and stage-managed plays, musicals, and operas. Last season, he directed the audience favorite Ragtime and in 2023 The Merry Widow for Toledo Opera. For the Opera On Wheels education program of Toledo Opera, he has designed and directed Beauty and the Beast, The Pirates of Penzance, Cinderella, The Stylist of Seville, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel vs. the Witch, Romeo and Juliet, Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?, The Magic Flute, and The Billy Goats Gruff. Favorite musical theatre pieces he has directed include: The Full Monty, Victor/Victoria, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, All Shook Up, and Evil Dead: The Musical.  Mr. Norman is an accomplished singer and actor as well having sung comprimario roles and in the chorus for Toledo Opera for many years. He began singing with Toledo Opera in 1982 and has sung with Renee Fleming, Robert Merrill, Lili Chookasian, Irina Mishura, Diana Soviero, and many more. His favorite roles include Remendado (Carmen), Harold Hill (The Music Man), Anthony (Sweeney Todd), and Algernon (The Importance of Being Earnest). In 2023, Mr. Norman returned to the stage playing Barry Glickman in the Croswell Opera House’s production of The Prom. He serves as General Director for Toledo Opera.

Domonique Glover

Domonique Glover began his dance career as a senior at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia while studying mathematics. He took classes in ballet, modern, and contemporary and was a member of the Spelman Dance Theater student company. He received his Bachelor of Science in math and moved back to Toledo where he continued studying dance locally. Since 2009, Mr. Glover has choreographed several local performances throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Among these include Hairspray, Heathers: The Musical, and West Side Story with the Toledo Repertoire teen productions; Ragtime, Violet: The Musical, and Joseph ATATDC produced at The Croswell Opera House in Adrian, Michigan. Mr. Glover made his Toledo Opera debut in the 2018 production of I Dream as a feature dancer. He has performed on various stages, including The Valentine Theater, The Stranahan Theater, The Toledo Repertoire, The Ohio Theater, The Maumee Indoor Theater, The Croswell in Adrian, Michigan, The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan, The Breen Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and The Knight Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina. He currently performs with and teaches multiple levels of contemporary and ballet with T.H.E. Modern Dance Company - Toledo’s Human Experience. Mr. Glover choreographed last season’s Ragtime and 2023's The Merry Widow for Toledo Opera.

Claire Leyden

Commended for her “magnetic stage presence” and “crystalline soprano,” Claire Leyden is a New York-based singer and actress with an extensive background in musical theater, concert, and operatic performance.  Ms. Leyden feels equally at home in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary opera, and the diversity of her recent performances speaks to her love of, and versatility in, the “crossover” repertoire.  “Shapeshifting and likeable” (NYTimes), Ms. Leyden was most recently seen as Sibella (A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder) at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, in the Extinctionist with Heartbeat Opera, and in Ragtime at the Tony – Award winning Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. Ms. Leyden’s other recent projects include:  the soprano soloist in Strictly Gershwin with the Tulsa Ballet, the national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Mrs. Bucket), the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players production of The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel), and the title role in the New York revival of Victor Herbert’s Madeline. She has received several awards form the Kurt Weill’s Foundation prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition and is a proud graduate of Williams College. Ms. Leyden is delighted to make her Toledo Opera debut with South Pacific.

Keith Phares

For over 20 years, in repertoire from Baroque through present day, Keith Phares has appeared in leading roles with Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera, the New York City Opera, Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, São Paolo Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and elsewhere; in collaboration with Hal Prince, Francesca Zambello, Frank Corsaro, Richard Hickox, Marin Alsop, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Thomas Allen, among others; and in recital with the Marilyn Horne Foundation, The Mostly Modern Festival, WordSong, Illuminarts, LyricFest and Brooklyn Art Song Society. Recent highlights include Ty in the premiere of Kuster’s and Campbell’s A Thousand Acres with Des Moines Metro Opera marking the company’s 50^th Anniversary season, Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls) with Charlottesville Opera, Fredrik Egerman opposite Patricia Racette in Arizona Opera’s A Little Night Music, Robert Cohen’s Alzheimer’s Stories at Carnegie Hall, the premiere of Herschel Garfein’s King of the River with the American Modern Ensemble, and Daddy Lowell/Mr. Floyd in Borzoni’s and de los Santos’s The Copper Queen film (premiere) with Arizona Opera.  An ardent exponent of contemporary American opera, Mr. Phares sang Kynaston on the Grammy-nominated recording of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players, Charlie in the premiere and recording of Heggie's and Scheer’s​ Three Decembers with Houston Grand Opera and San Francisco Opera, the Father in the premiere and recording of Spears’s and Walat’s ​Paul's Case​ with UrbanArias, Dr. Ludwig Binswanger in the premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's ​Ellen West​, Hurstwood in the premiere of Aldridge's and Garfein’s Sister Carrie and the title role in the premiere and live, Grammy-winning recording of Aldridge's and Garfein’s  ​Elmer Gantry. Mr. Phares is an Assistant Professor of Voice at BGSU and appeared as Dandini in last season’s Cinderella and as Count Danilo in the previous season’s The Merry Widow.

Mike Schwitter

Mike Schwitter is thrilled to make his Toledo Opera debut with this iconic show, and to revisit the role of Cable, which he last performed at Opera de Toulon in France. Broadway: Pippin (Lewis, u/s Pippin). National Tours: The Book of Mormon (u/s Elder Price), Les Misérables (u/s Marius and Enjolras). Off-Broadway:  Stardust Road (Wallace). Regional: West Side Story (Tony), South Pacific (Lt. Cable), Next to Normal (Gabe), A Little Night Music, Beautiful, Unsinkable Molly Brown, Jesus Christ Superstar. Film/TV: BROS, Holly Jolly. Mr. Schwitter has also performed with dozens of symphonies both domestically and internationally, including Cirque Musica and West Side Story at the Hollywood Bowl and Opera du Rhin in Strasbourg. For more information, visit www.MikeSchwitter.com.

Kamryn Loy

Kamryn Loy made her Broadway debut as Kim in the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon. Other Broadway credits include: Tuptim (The King and I) with Lou Diamond Phillips and in Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway adaptation of La Bohème. Ms. Loy has made quite a name for herself with pops appearances all over the U.S., including with the National Symphony, Symphony of the Americas, Chicago Pops, Boca Pops, Oregon Symphony, Tucson Symphony, Spokane Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, Memphis Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, San Antonio Philharmonic, and Columbus Symphony. Regional opera and concert credits include: Nedda (Pagliacci) with Dicapo Opera, The Rose (The Little Prince) with Tulsa Opera, Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Academy of Vocal Arts, and Strauss’ Four Last Songs at The Players Club in Gramercy Park, NYC.

Robbie Raso

Phil Skeldon

Phil Skeldon has performed in most of the theatres in NW Ohio and SE Michigan but is thrilled to make his debut performance with Toledo Opera at the Valentine. He is on the board at the Croswell Opera House in Michigan, and after a hiatus of a decade or so, has performed most recently there in Something Rotten, Kinky Boots, Jekyll and Hyde, and last summer portrayed the role of Joseph Pulitzer (Newsies). A veteran of over 50 productions, the process of theater still brings great excitment to him and he is overjoyed to be working with an amazing and talented group of performers. Mr. Skeldon worked for 35 years at St. John's Jesuit HS as Director of Christian Service and retired four years ago and is the proud father to Lily. He is excited to perform in South Pacific to honor his father who was a marine in all of the battles in the South Pacific Theatre of WWII.

Kurt Elfering

Kurt Elfering is very excited to make his Toledo Opera debut with South Pacific. After high school, he pursued a Music Theatre degree at Baldwin Wallace University before returning to his hometown to earn a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Toledo. At the University of Toledo, Mr. Elfering performed in plays and musicals such as The Internationalist (Nicol), The Tempest (Prospero), and Into the Woods (The Baker). Recent credits include Next to Normal (Gabe) and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Anthony), both with Perrysburg Musical Theatre Company. He is currently a social studies teacher at his alma mater, St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo. Mr. Elfering is honored to share the stage with such skilled performers, and can’t wait to bring this incredible production to life!

Sarah Rachel Bacani

Filipino-American soprano Sarah Rachel Bacani is currently the soprano Resident Artist at Toledo Opera where she performs the role of Adèle/Spirit of the Rose in their touring outreach production of Grétry’s Beauty and the Beast. Her 2023-2024 season included covering the role of Juliette (Roméo et Juliette) at Central City Opera, where she also performed the role in their Family Matinee production as a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program Apprentice Artist. In 2022, also with Central City Opera, she made her professional debut performing the role of Mariola in Heggie’s Two Remain. On the Indiana University Opera Theater stage, she performed the roles of Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte). There, she also performed in scenes as Leïla (Les Pécheurs de Perles), Micaëla (Carmen), and Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte). An accomplished competitor, this year, she placed in the Top 12 of the Inaugural Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition and is a semi-finalist in Fort Worth Opera’s McCammon Voice Competition. She previously competed as a finalist for the 2024 Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera National Voice Competition, placing sixth (Kay Carpenter Memorial Award) and winning the Irene Patti Swartz Memorial Award to a Soprano. She was also a semi-finalist for the 2024 Shreveport Opera Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition. In concert, Ms. Bacani has performed the soprano solo in Britten's Les Illuminations, Mozart’s Requiem, and Getty’s The White Election. Hailing from Toms River, NJ, Ms. Bacani received her Performer Diploma and Master of Music in voice at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she studied under the tutelage of Jane Dutton. She received her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Cynthia Hoffmann.

Mia Snyder

Mia Snyder is stepping into the world of theater for the first time as Ngana in South Pacific at Toledo Opera.  At 10 years old, she is a dedicated straight-A student who brings enthusiasm and commitment to everything she does.  In her free time, Ms. Snyder enjoys a variety of hobbies including horseback riding, volleyball, softball and anything creative.  She is thrilled for this first opportunity to perform and hopes it will mark the beginning of a lifelong journey in theater.

Nico Perez de Tagle

Nico Perez de Tagle is excited to make his Toledo Opera debut as Jerome in South Pacific. While this is his first musical performance, he is no stranger to the stage. As a competitive dancer in the genres of Jazz and Hip Hop, Mr. Perez de Tagle can be seen with the High Voltage Dance Company at many venues both locally and nationally. When at his home away from home, the Daryl Jervis Dance Studio, he can also be seen studying ballet and tap. His dance accolades include, 2024 Mini Elite REVELER Runner Up and 2023 Starquest NOVA Emerging Artist Title. Mr. Perez de Tagle attends Elmhurst Elementary where he has been Bulldog of the Month in October 2024, November 2023, November 2022, and November 2021. When not at school or dance, he enjoys building Legos, playing soccer, Roblox/video games with friends, and annoying his sister. Mr. Perez de Tagle wishes to dedicate this performance to his guardian angel, Lolo Freddie Perez de Tagle.

Michael James Vanderpool

Originally from the small town of Willard, Ohio, Michael James Vanderpool is happy to be returning to the Toledo Opera Stage for South Pacific. Michael is a bass-baritone who received a Bachelor of Arts in theater performance with a vocal performance minor. He has been performing with the Toledo Opera chorus regularly since 2018 and has also performed with the University of Toledo in various plays and musicals, as well as sung the role of Fiorello in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the International Young Artist Program in Italy. This will be the second role outside of the chorus that Mr. Vanderpool has performed; the first being the Conductor (Ragtime) and now Stewpot (South Pacific).

Brady DelVecchio

Tenor, Brady DelVecchio is known for his versatility on stage and screen. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his career has brought him international acclaim for his portrayals of engaging romantic leads. Mr. DelVecchio attended The Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University and New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Since then, he has had the pleasure of portraying Le Prince Charmant (Cendrillon), Mercurio (La Calisto), Rektor, Komár, and Pasek (The Cunning Little Vixen), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Tony (West Side Story), Nanki Poo (The Mikado) and Timothy Harper (Strike Up the Band). While performing traditional operatic, musical theater, and recital repertoire, he has had the privilege of premiering staged new works by Melissa Dunphy (The Gonzales Cantata) with the American Opera Theater, Richard Allan White (Hester) with the Center for Contemporary Opera and Felix Jarrar (Fall of the House of Usher). Mr. DelVecchio’s upcoming work includes an Untitled Colin Mochrie Film by Nicola Rose, and a recital series at First Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he serves as tenor soloist. Mr. DelVecchio is incredibly thankful and excited to be the tenor resident artist at Toledo Opera for their 2024-2025 season.

Nicholas Kottman

Tenor Nicholas Kottman is an Ohio Native originally from the village of Bellbrook, Ohio. He has been praised for his vibrant, lyric tenor sound. He holds a Bachelor of Music in choral music education and his Master of Vocal Performance degree specializing in vocal pedagogy and vocal science both from Bowling Green State University. When not performing, Mr. Kottman works as an adult education teacher at Toledo Correctional Institution, assisting incarcerated persons earning their GED. He has been a member of the Toledo Opera chorus since 2019 having performed in Macbeth, La Bohème, La Traviata, Il Trovatore, Cavalleria Rusticana, La Cenerentola, and Tosca. Mr. Kottman has performed the roles of Benvolio (Romeo et Julliette), Archie Beaton (Brigadoon), Orpheus (Orpheus in the Underworld), Father (Nuclear world premiere), Don Alfonso (Cosi Fan Tutti), Tony Esposito (The Most Happy Fella), and Carl Olsen (Street Scene). He has also sung several recitals throughout the greater Toledo area. Notably, Mr. Kottman has won first place in the undergraduate division of the Dr. Marjorie Conrad art song competition at Bowling Green State University along with collaborative pianist Emily Morin. He studied under baritone Lance Ashmore and baritone Keith Phares during his university studies and has since studied with tenor Shawn Mathey and soprano Sujin Lee. He last appeared as Younger Brother in Ragtime.

Noah Smith

Hailing from the small town of Glasgow, Kentucky, tenor Noah Smith is thrilled to be joining Toledo Opera in their production of South Pacific! A current student of Mr. George Shirley, Mr. Smith additionally studied voice performance at St. Olaf College under Dr. Allison Feldt and Dr. Anton Armstrong. He is also a private voice instructor, having several students across the states of Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky! With this being his second season with Toledo Opera, you may recognize him from his roles as Roberti (Tosca) or Admiral Peary/Policeman (Ragtime).

Christopher Stack

Chris Stack is thrilled to be returning for his second production with Toledo Opera! He appeared last season as Willie Conklin (Ragtime). He’s had the privilege of working with a number of community theatres throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Some of his favorite roles include Max/Cecil/Arthur (The Play That Goes Wrong), Don Kirshner (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), The Cowardly Lion (The Wizard of Oz), The Actor (The Woman in Black), Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), Trent Oliver (The Prom), Ernst Ludwig (Cabaret), and Ethan Girard (The Full Monty). Mr. Stack graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Tourism, Leisure, and Event Planning and currently works for Double A Solutions. Throughout his school career, he competed for the National Forensics Association, Pi Kappa Delta Society, and National Speech & Debate Association. He holds numerous national and state champion titles in Poetry Interpretation, After Dinner Speaking, Humorous Interpretation, Reader’s Theatre, and Duo Interpretation. Mr. Stack would like to thank the cast and crew for this wonderful opportunity and plans to savor every second he shares the stage with these extraordinary artists!

Emily Cotten

Mezzo-soprano Emily Cotten graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with her masters in vocal performance in 2022. While at Loyola, she performed as La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Mistress of the Novices (Suor Angelica), and Belinda (Dido and Aeneas). During the pandemic, she participated in Loyola's "Cura Personalis" project- premiering songs with words by librettist Jerre Dye and music by Dylan Trần. She received her Bachelor of Music at the University of Michigan, where she was an EXCEL grant recipient and performed in Bolcolm's Dinner at Eight and Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. She spent two summers as an Apprentice Artist with Opera in the Ozarks, where she performed roles such as Despina (Così Fan Tutte), Desiree Armfeldt (A Little Night Music), and Public Opinion (Orfee aux Enfers). Ms. Cotten is a member of the St. Thomas Bach Project, the May Festival Chorus, and has performed with Coro Volante. She is an avid believer that all people should have access to live music performance and music education and has worked in an administrative capacity with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ella Green

Ella Green is so excited to be returning to Toledo for South Pacific in her second production with Toledo Opera. She was born and raised in Annapolis, MD and is currently based in Nashville, TN. Some of her favorite recent theater credits include: Jerusha Abbott (Daddy Long Legs) with Live Arts Maryland, Ensemble (Ragtime) with Toledo Opera, Female Swing (5 tracks) (Godspell) with Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Miss Honey (Matilda) with Off The Square Theatre Co., Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls) with Live Arts Maryland, and Alice Murphy (Bright Star) with Belmont University. Ms. Green has participated in many new musical workshops including Johnny and the Devil's Box (feat. Ensemble) and Hamlet Remix (Rosencrantz). Her recording credits include: Disney’s Descendants: The Musical (Grimhilde), Hamlet Remix (Original Cast Recording), and Summer Storm - EP by Alec Green. Ms. Green's concert credits include: Paul Shaffer with Live Arts Maryland (Soloist, BGVs), Bernard Dotson’s: Unexpected Songs music dir. Tracy Stark (Soloist, BGVs) as well as numerous Marvin Hamlisch tribute concerts including performing at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway with the American Cancer Society, the Caroga Lake Music Festival and with the The Mid-Atlantic Symphony. Ms. Green attended Belmont University where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre.  Biggest thanks to Jim and Kevin for inviting me back to join Toledo Opera again, I am so grateful to be here! Thank you to Austin, Mom, Dad, and Alec for your unwavering love and support. www.ellagreenmusic.com