Susannah

Cast Bios

**Michael Vavases (Sam Polk) | ACO Debut 2024, Tannhauser**
Michael Vavases is a native of North Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from Reinhardt University in Waleska, GA. He performs regularly with churches around Atlanta and can be seen singing with Capitol City Opera a few months out of the year. All performances are dedicated to his wonderful fiancée/Physical Therapist.

**August Bair (Elder McLean) | ACO Debut 2019, Le Nozze di Figaro**
August Bair is an Atlanta native and graduated with a BA from Bard College’s undergraduate voice program in New York and went on to complete his masters in voice at Manhattan School of Music (MSM) in New York City where he sang the role of Count Carnero in Johann Strauss’s *Der Ziguenerbaron*. He sang in the Atlanta Opera’s 2019 productions of *Dead Man Walking, Eugene Onegin*, and *La Traviata*. With Brevard Music Center’s Janiec Opera Company, he has performed the role of Doctor Malatesta in Donizetti’s *Don Pasquale*, covered the roles of Papageno in Mozart’s *The Magic Flute* and Starveling in Benjamin Britten’s *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, and debuted a major role in J. Mark Scearce’s new opera, *Falling Angel*. In the summer of 2015, August starred in Jonathan Sheffer’s contemporary opera *Blood on the Dining Room Floor* at the Napa Valley Music Festival. He was Mercutio in Capitol City Opera’s 2020 production of *Roméo et Juliette.*

Allison Nance (Mrs. Ott) | ACO Debut

Allison Nance, mezzo soprano, is a performer of opera, oratorio, recital, and musical theatre. Allison holds a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in vocal performance and psychology from Stetson University where she was a student of both Stephen Ng and Mollie Rich and was awarded the William E. Duckwitz Talent Scholarship.

Allison is excited to make her role debut with Atlanta Concert Opera. She previously sang with Atlanta Concert Opera in their 2022 production of Berlioz’s Beatrice et Benedict. She is a member of the Atlanta Opera Chorus and most recently performed in their January 2024 production of La Boheme. Other recent productions Allison has performed in include Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette with Capitol City Opera. With Capitol City Opera, she was also featured in their Dinner and a Diva series in October 2015 performing the role of Alisa in scenes from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and was a regular member of the Madrigal Singers from 2015-2021.

Other notable roles Allison has performed on stage include Cousin Hebe in Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Selene in Handel’s Berenice, and Mistress of the Novices in Puccini’s Suor Angelica.

As a soloist, Allison was most recently featured in September 2019 in a recital featuring American art song, opera, and spirituals titled Made in America: A Concert of American Art Song & Opera through the Capitol City in Concert Series. In July 2019, she was also a soloist with the Cobb Summer Singers in the Feel the Spirit: Spirituals, Gospel, and Jazz concert through the William Baker Choral Foundation. Other notable performances include performing Vivaldi’s Gloria, parts 2 and 3 of Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Durufle’s Requiem with the Marietta FUMC Chancel Choir, performing the alto solos for Bach’s Ascension Oratorio with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, and performing alongside the Meridian Herald Chorale as a guest soloist in the concert Higher Ground: Campmeeting Service.

Allison is currently on staff as an alto section leader at Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Sandy Springs. In June 2024, she will be traveling to Scotland on a pilgrimage tour with the Holy Innocents Choir.

Victoria Kerr (Mrs. Gleaton) | ACO Debut

Victoria Kerr is a soprano from Knoxville, Tennessee. She completed her graduate studies at the University of North Texas with Dr. Stephen Morscheck in 2019 following her undergraduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Dr. Mary Schiller. Her operatic roles include Lauretta and Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Vixen (The Cunning Little Vixen), Rose (Street Scene), Mrs. Hildebrand (Street Scene), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Servilia (La clemenza di Tito), Spirit (Dido and Aeneas), Second Spirit (Die Zauberflöte), and La libellule (L’enfant et les sortileges). Performances in scenes productions include Musetta (La bohème), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Adina (L’elisir d’amore), and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro). Her musical theatre roles include Christine (The Phantom of the Opera), Maria (The Sound of Music), Rapunzel (Into the Woods), Rizzo (Grease), and Lady Thiang (The King and I). She attended the “Summer Vocal Institute” with guest master class artist, Marilyn Horne, at the American Institute of Rome, where she also performed in a scenes production as Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro). While a graduate student at UNT, she performed Verdi’s Requiem under the tutelage of Dr. Allen Hightower. She went on to perform frequently with Dallas Chamber Choir. This is her first engagement with Atlanta Concert Opera. She was recently in her second “On the Light Side” program with Capitol City Opera as well as CCO’s “Dinner and a Diva: The Phantom of the Opera.” She currently holds the choral scholar position at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church. In addition to performing, she also has experience stage directing, play writing, and teaching both piano and voice lessons.

**Ibukun Babalola (Mrs. Hayes) | ACO Debut**
Ibukun Babalola is a Nigerian-American soprano, educator, and production artist currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. Ibukun is an alumna of The University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree and was a principal performer with The University of Alabama Opera Theatre. She also holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and frequently appeared on stages throughout the state of Mississippi, including performances with Mississippi Opera, Natchez Festival of Music, FestivalSouth, and Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company.
Ibukun is a dynamic and versatile performer, and she shines in light lyric opera roles such as Zerlina in *Don Giovanni* and Yum-Yum in *The Mikado*, and in art song literature, especially modern, contemporary, and new works. In 2019, she made her hometown debut with Capitol City Opera and has since performed the role of Gretel in *Hansel and Gretel*, covered the role of Juliette in *Roméo et Juliette*, and has been featured several concert productions, most notably in the title roles in concert productions of *La fille du régiment* and *Treemonisha*.
Ibukun also has extensive experience in production, direction, and management, beginning as a production assistant, then as an assistant director and apprentice to several nationally acclaimed opera stage directors. Her solo directing work is intimate and engaging, and has been featured by The University of Alabama Opera Theatre and Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company. In May 2023, Ibukun co-produced Wants & Wishes, a recital in collaboration with pianist and co-producer Jack W. Wagner featuring works by Benjamin Britten, Libby Larsen, B.E. Boykin, and William Grant Still.
As a voice teacher and performance coach, Ibukun is known for her holistic pedagogical approach that integrates historical classical technique with contemporary and culturally relevant performance practice. She is currently on faculty at the Atlanta Music Project Academy.

John Arnold (Olin Blitch) | ACO Debut 2024, Tannhauser

John Arnold is an Atlanta-based singer, actor, writer, podcast host, and multi-instrumentalist. John has performed to great acclaim with opera companies and associated emerging and resident artist programs across the United States, including the Atlanta Opera, Boston Opera Collaborative, Des Moines Metro Opera, Detroit Opera, Kentucky Opera, Knoxville Opera, Madison Opera, the Merola Opera Program, and Opera New Jersey. He is also in demand as a concert and oratorio soloist and has built a reputation for delivering performances imbued with a unique combination of vocal clarity, elegant musicality, and dramatic sophistication. John lives in the Kirkwood neighborhood of Atlanta with his partner, the writer Drew Dotson (drewdotson.com), and their three beagles (threagles).

Adriel Baralt Jimenez (Little Bat) | ACO Debut

“Jimenez’ lyric tenor was simply beautiful.” - Arts Knoxville, 2022. A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tenor Adriel Baralt Jimenez has performed and competed at many different levels, placing first in SERNATS auditions, and first in the Georgia Southern Concerto Aria Competition. Adriel has recently performed as; the title role in Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, Ruggero in Puccini's La rondine, Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Alfred in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. He is a vivid actor, and involves himself fully within his work. In his free time he is a freelance fashion coach, teacher, and hosts a weekly podcast.

**Laurie Tossing (Mrs. McLean) | ACO Debut 2019, Le Nozze di Figaro**
A transplant from Phoenix, AZ, mezzo-soprano Laurie Tossing has called Atlanta home since 2000. She is a regular long-time member of The Atlanta Opera, having performed in more than fifty of their productions. She is also a familiar face on the Capitol City Opera stage, most notably as Gertrude in Gounod’s *Roméo et Juliette*, and Katisha in *The Mikado* by Gilbert and Sullivan. Other recent roles include Marcellina in Atlanta Concert Opera’s production of Mozart’s *Le nozze di Figaro*, and L’enfant in Ravel’s *L'enfant et les sortilèges* with ATLVocalite. She has also performed as Jenny Reefer in Virgil Thompson’s *The Mother of Us All*, Bellina in Arthur Benjamin’s *The Prima Donna*, and Hippolyta in Britten’s *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*. She is occasionally dragged against her will to join the irreverent opera improv troupe, ImprOper, based out of Dad's Garage in Atlanta.

**Michael O’Hearn (Elder Ott) | ACO Debut 2024, Tannhauser**
Atlanta native Michael Blake O'Hearn has been hailed by critics for his abundance of personality, his authoritative singing and acting, and his wide impressive range and rich low tones.
Enjoying a full and busy performing career, Michael has appeared in 89 roles to date and greatly anticipates adding to this total in coming seasons. Favorite roles include Pooh Bah in *The Mikado*, Dr. Bartolo in both *Le Nozze di Figaro* and *II Barbiere di Siviglia*, Dr. Dulcamara in *L'elisir D'amore*, Sulpice in *La Fille du Regimen*t and the title roles of *Don Pasquale* and *Gianni Schicchi*; as well as the Oratorios Elijah, Messiah, Creation and the Requiems of Faure, Mozart, Brahams and Verdi. Mr. O'Hearn has previously been featured with the Amarillo Opera, Atlanta Opera, Augusta Opera, Bronx Opera, Chelsea Opera. DiCapo Opera Theater, Little Orchestra Society of New York, Long Island Choral Society, Mississippi Opera, National Lyric Opera, NYCO National Company, Opera Carolina, Opera Orchestra of New York, Oswego Opera, Piedmont Opera, Sarasota Opera Association and Tulsa Opera. He currently holds the Bass Staff Singer position at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church and formerly at Christ Church Bronxville, NY (with Philip Stopford.)
Michael pursued a Vocal Performance Degree at Georgia State University and continued his studies with the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria and has been a finalist and prize winner in the AIMS Meistersinger Competition. Michael studied privately in Atlanta with Elizabeth Nohe Colson and participated in the Sarasota Opera Association Apprentice Program. He has also served as Artist in Residence for the Long Island Choral Society and received the Choral Guild of Atlanta Fellowship for 8 consecutive seasons.

**Raj Das (Elder Gleaton) | ACO Debut**
Sounak “Raj” Das is a tenor with significant opera, choral, and oratorio experience. Raj has won several National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) awards, including a first-place finish in the 2021 Indiana and 2021 Great Lakes Region competitions. Roles from major works that Raj has performed include Miles from Missy Mazzoli’s modern opera *Proving Up*, Ferrando from Mozart’s *Cosi fan Tutte*, and the tenor solo in Handel’s *Messiah*. His choral experience includes singing with the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, and Concordia Choir at the University of Notre Dame. Raj is a proud alumnus of the University of Notre Dame’s Sacred Music program and the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. He currently resides in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

**Matthew Boatwright (Elder Hayes) | ACO Debut**
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Matthew Boatwright is an aspiring tenor whose experience spans a variety of styles, including opera, musical theater, sacred, rock, and metal. Recently he has performed with the Atlanta Opera Chorus in their 2021-2022 season, with appearances in their production *Il barbiere di Siviglia.* Matthew has been a member of the Atlanta Opera Chorus since 2017, collaborating in previous shows such as *Carmen* & *Turandot*. In 2019, he performed Sam in *Trouble in Tahiti* at Kennesaw State University’s Opera Theater Company. Mr. Boatwright holds a degree from Kennesaw State University and is currently looking towards his next step of attending graduate school

Antonio Ruiz-Nokes (Townsperson & Elder McLean Cover) | ACO Debut

Baritone Antonio Ruiz-Nokes hails from Boston, MA and is excited to return to Atlanta Concert Opera after his company debut with Tannhäuser! Ruiz-Nokes has also performed in productions of The Pirates of Penzance, La bohème, L’Orfeo, and Les aventures du roi Pausole and served as choirmaster for El barberillo del Lavapiés. He earned his Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University where he sang with both the Bienen Contemporary Ensemble and the University Chorale. He currently serves as the bass staff singer for St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Toco Hills.