2025 Young Artists
Joel Balzun, Baritone
Apprentice Artist
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Marcello in La bohème
Lincoln in Lincoln in the Bardo
Praised for his “voluminous sound” and “imposing, ringing baritone,” Canadian baritone and composer Joel Balzun was recently an award-winner in the Wagner Society of New York Singers Competition and winner of the Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial Verdi Prize. Recent engagements include a world premiere by Kurt Erickson, Don Marco Bomba (Don Bucefalo) with Pacific Opera Project and an important debut as the bass soloist in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem with San Luis Obispo Master Chorale. Recent performance highlights include his debut at Los Angeles Opera (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Giorgio Germont (La traviata) with Opera Santa Barbara, Escamillo (Carmen) with Union Avenue Opera, and numerous recitals featuring the premiere performances of Black Dog by Tom Cipullo throughout the US., including at the Ravinia Music Festival and Cincinnati Song Initiative.
Cara Bender, Soprano
Apprentice Artist
Hometown: Corning, New York
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Mimì in La bohème
Reverend (Cover) and Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Cara Bender is a soprano hailing from Corning, New York. She was a finalist in the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition this season and received an honorable mention for The American Prize Chamber Music Award. Last summer, Cara won The Songfest Graham Johnson Art Song Prize, and performed a recital curated and coached by Graham Johnson. Cara recently performed as Contessa Almaviva and Donna Anna in abridged versions of Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni with The Florentine Opera Company. She covered Masha in The Queen of Spades with Des Moines Metro Opera. Other recent performances include Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Lady with a Cake Box (Postcard from Morocco), The Mother and Witch (Hansel and Gretel), and Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw).
Eric Botto, Tenor
Apprentice Artist
Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist, 2020/2022; Apprentice Artist, 2024
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Rodolfo in La bohème
Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Praised for his “warm-voiced” tenor (Stage and Cinema), Italian American tenor Eric Botto is quickly establishing a name for himself in the lyric opera repertoire. Eric’s 2024/25 season includes multiple debuts, starting with Opera Southwest as Federico in Carlo Coccia’s Matilde, ossia una fatale supposizione, followed by Pacific Opera Project as Il Conte di Belprato in Don Bucefalo, and closing out 2024 with Opera in the Heights as the Lamplighter in The Little Prince. In 2025, Eric joins Sarasota Opera’s studio artist roster, portraying Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro. In May he makes his highly anticipated West Side Story debut as Tony with Indianapolis Opera. Eric has been recognized and awarded in the Lotte Lenya Competition, the Dorothy Lincoln-Smith Voice Awards, the Lyra New York International Vocal Competition, and others. Eric holds an artist diploma from the University of Colorado, and music degrees from Colorado State University and the University of Mobile.
Robert Feng, Bass
Apprentice Artist
Hometown: Kailua, Hawai’i
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Benoît, Alcindoro and Colline (Cover) in La bohème
Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Ensemble in Sitcom
Hailed as “a booming, well-crafted bass” (Opera News) with a “strong presence” (S. Fairbank), Chinese American singer and librettist Robert Ellsworth Feng creates powerful performances from coast to coast. Performance highlights include Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress and Giove in La Calisto with Opera Memphis, Colline (La bohème), Papa (An American Dream), Betto (Gianni Schicchi), and Bonze/Yamadori ( Madama Butterfly) with Hawai’i Opera Theatre, Ensemble/Corp Cover (Sensorium Ex) a co-production with Washington National Opera/Vision Into Art/Beth Morrison Projects, Shou Zi Chew (Chew On This) with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Frère Laurent (Roméo et Juliette) and Rev. Twichell (Harmony) with Seagle Festival, and Commendatore (Don Giovanni) with Kor Productions. Robert placed first in the Dorothy Lincoln-Smith Regional Voice Competition, first in the Mozart International Competition Vienna, and second in the NYCMS International Voice Competition. He is a recipient of the Peabody Career Development Award. Robert holds degrees from Peabody Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music.
Victoria Lawal, Soprano
Apprentice Artist
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Musetta in La bohème
Mrs. Hodge and Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Mrs. Talbot in Ida by Lamplight
Hailed as “smooth-voiced, yet strong” (The New York Times), Nigerian American soprano Victoria Lawal’s recent engagements include debuts at Detroit Opera as the Rooster in The Cunning Little Vixen and Mary Johnson in Opera Parallèle’s Fellow Travelers. In recent seasons, Lawal covered Norina in Don Pasquale at Festival Napa Valley, debuted as the High Priestess in Aida with Tulsa Opera, and stepped in on short notice for Heartbeat Opera’s critically acclaimed Lady M. in the title role. At Opera Theatre of St. Louis, she covered Despina (Così fan tutte), Mrs. Hayes (Susannah), and the title role in Treemonisha. This spring, Victoria debuts with Opera Saratoga as Mariana in Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl en el Mundo, celebrating the life and work of the influential artist. Victoria has been featured in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Renée Fleming, Lisette Oropesa, and the late Sanford Sylvan. Victoria is a proud alumna of young artist programs at the Aspen Music Festival, The Glimmerglass Festival, The Banff Centre, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
Seoyong Lee, Bass-Baritone
Apprentice Artist
Chautauqua Opera Apprentice Artist, 2024
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Colline in La bohème
Vollman in Lincoln in the Bardo
Vincent in Ida by Lamplight
Seoyong Lee, a bass-baritone from South Korea, will be returning to Chautauqua Opera for his second year as an Apprentice Artist. In the 2023 season, he sang Pepito in Pepito, covered Father in Hansel and Gretel, and was featured as Bass soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.
Recent roles include Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro), Nick Bottom (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Death (Der Kaiser von Atlantis), and Colline (La bohème). One of Mr. Lee’s greatest passions is advocating for operas by living composers. He was involved in the first workshop of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Lincoln in the Bardo at Cincinnati Opera. Mr. Lee is excited to return to this wonderful piece at Chautauqua and sing the role of Vollman.
Chuanyuan Liu, Countertenor
Apprentice Artist
Chautauqua Opera Conservatory, 2020/2021
Hometown: Changchun, Jilin, China
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Chorus in La bohème
Elise Traynor in Lincoln in the Bardo
Max in Sitcom
Praised for his “otherworldly flourish” (The Wall Street Journal) and “intense stage presence” (Classical Voice North America), Chinese countertenor Chuanyuan Liu is emerging as a leading voice among his generation. Highlights of his 2024–25 season include major debuts: alto soloist in Messiah (Kansas City Symphony), The Priest/The Medium in In a Grove (Prototype Festival), Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare (Hudson Hall), and The Painter (Cover) in The Seasons (Boston Lyric Opera). Previous credits include Polinesso in Ariodante (Pittsburgh Opera), Song Liling (Cover) in M. Butterfly (Santa Fe Opera), the title role in Monkey (White Snake Projects), and Man Under the Arch/Hotel Clerk in The Hours (The Philadelphia Orchestra). Chuanyuan is a 2024 winner of the prestigious Sullivan Foundation Award, and a two-time National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. He is a member of the Victory Hall Opera Troupe, and features in their upcoming documentary film, “YAPs.”
Erik Tofte, Baritone
Apprentice Artist
Hometown: Binghamton, NY
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Schaunard and Marcello (Cover) in La bohème
Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Ensemble in Sitcom
Erik Tofte is a baritone from Binghamton, NY. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Mannes School of Music, and SUNY Binghamton. Erik was a 2024 Festival Artist with Opera Saratoga, performing in Guys and Dolls as Calvin and Sky Masterson (Cover). In July 2024, Erik appeared as a Vassal with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Act III of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, conducted by Andris Nelsons. Last spring, Erik performed as Le Mari in Les Mamelles de Tirésias with Curtis Opera Theater. Other roles with Curtis include Harlekin in excerpts from Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin (2023), and Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore (2023). Other companies include Delaware Valley Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, Beth Morrison Projects, Mannes Opera, Arcadia Chorale and Binghamton University. Shows include: La bohème, Die Zauberflöte, The Pirates of Penzance, The Gift of The Magi, The Telephone, The Medium, and H.M.S. Pinafore.
Carlos Ahrens, Tenor
Studio Artist
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Chorus in La bohème
Bevins in Lincoln in the Bardo
Ensemble in Sitcom
Carlos Ahrens is a promising young tenor from Orlando, Florida. In March 2025, Carlos sings the title role of Justice Antonin Scalia in Scalia/Ginsberg with Charlottesville Opera. In the summer of 2024 he played the role of Tommy Djilas in The Music Man with Charlottesville Opera. In 2023, Carlos performed in the Glimmerglass Opera Festival as a Young Artist, playing the roles of the Baron and the King of Eldorado in Candide.
Carlos graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2022 and holds a master’s degree of music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He is in year one of the two-year Artist Diploma program at CCM. Carlos is an accomplished oratorio singer, having sung the tenor solos in Handel’s Messiah, Hayden’s The Creation, and Mozart’s Requiem. Carlos’s role credits include The Mayor in Albert Herring, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Carlos is a recent prizewinner of the Orpheus and Corbett Competitions. At CCM, Carlos has performed the roles of Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia, Dr. Baglioni in La Hija de Rappaccini, Rinnucio in Gianni Schicchi, Count Belfiore in La Finta Giardiniera, and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This summer, Carlos will be working at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis as a Gerdine Young Artist, where he will cover the role of Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Joel Clemens, Baritone
Studio Artist
Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Schaunard (Cover), Benoît (Cover), Alcindoro (Cover) and Chorus in La bohème
Ginger Chap and Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Ensemble in Sitcom
Hailed as a “smooth, thrilling baritone” and “strong dramatic actor” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), baritone Joel Clemens is quickly becoming known across the East Coast for his exemplary musicianship and dynamic characterization across a broad range of challenging repertoire. This Spring, Joel returns to Chautauqua Institution for his third year as a teaching artist in the Opera in the Schools Program. In 2023, Joel was featured as a baritone soloist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops, where he made his Boston Symphony Hall Debut under the direction of Keith Lockhart. He enjoys frequent performances with Boston companies such as White Snake Projects, where he recently premiered a new opera, Is This America?. Joel is a winner of the Boston District of the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
Kathiana Dargenson, Soprano
Studio Artist
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Mimì (Cover) and Chorus in La bohème
Litzie and Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Bettina in Sitcom
Kate in Ida by Lamplight
Haitian American soprano Kathiana Dargenson is a recipient of the Encouragement Award from the Florida District of the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She is also a 2024–2025 mentee in the inaugural cohort of the Black Leadership and Arts Collective. Previously, she served as a Fellow in Castleton Festival’s Vocal Immersion Program and as a Smith Young Artist with Cedar Rapids Opera, where she sang the role of Nella and covered Lauretta in their production of Gianni Schicchi. Ms. Dargenson has performed the roles of Margarita Xirgu in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar; Mary in William Grant Still’s Highway 1, USA; and several operatic scenes, including Elettra (Idomeneo), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), and the Countess (Le nozze di Figaro). She has also performed in Carmen with Opera Orlando. Ms. Dargenson was the soprano soloist in Ballad of the Brown King with the Indiana University Symphony Orchestra and sang the role of the Marschallin in the Der Rosenkavalier trio in concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Dargenson holds a Performance Diploma and a master of music degree from Indiana University, where she studied with Michelle DeYoung. She also holds a bachelor of arts in Music Studies and Psychology from the University of South Florida. Ms. Dargenson has been featured in several master classes, working with Paul Groves, Karen Slack, Julia Faulkner, Kevin Murphy, Jane Dutton and others.
Antonio Domino, Tenor
Studio Artist
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Chorus in La bohème
Doodling Pennsylvanian and Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Ensemble in Sitcom
Antonio Domino, tenor, has recently finished as a Resident Artist at Portland Opera. During that time, he performed the roles of Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro and Jasper in The Snowy Day. This past summer, Mr. Domino participated in Des Moines Metro Opera’s Apprentice Artist program and was featured as Walter in the world premiere of American Apollo. While in Iowa, he also covered the role of Second Jew in Salome and performed in a scenes program as Tonio from La fille du régiment and Ramiro in La Cenerentola. In 2023, Mr. Domino received his master’s degree at Rice University where he studied with Dr. Robin Rice. At the Shepherd School of Music, he performed the role of Dick McGann in Street Scene and in a scenes program as Count Almaviva from The Barber of Seville, Tonio from La fille du régiment and Remendado from Carmen. A proud native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Domino received his bachelor of music from Loyola University where he studied with Dreux Montegut. He is also an alumni of Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artist Vocal Academy.
Rosamund Dyer, Mezzo-Soprano
Studio Artist
Hometown: Bellingham, Washington
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Chorus in La bohème
Mrs. Baron and Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Ensemble in Sitcom
Mrs. McNeil in Ida by Lamplight
Mezzo-soprano Rosamund Dyer has a deep passion for connecting with audiences through the dramatic landscape of operatic storytelling. Hailing from Bellingham Washington, Rosamund received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, graduating with highest honors from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. At Oberlin, Rosamund’s vivid expressivity shone in Mendelsohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah, and with the Oberlin Opera Theater as Dorabella (Così fan tutte). Upon graduation, Rosamund moved to New York City, where she nurtured emerging composers and librettists in the creation of meaningful contemporary operas with American Opera Projects and Beth Morrison Projects. Recently, Rosamund won third Place in the Seattle Opera Guild’s annual Singers’ Development Competition. Currently she is a Studio Artist at the Pacific Northwest Opera, covering Dame Quickly (Falstaff) and Ježibaba (Rusalka), and will debut with the Puget Sound Concert Opera as Nourabad in Les Pêcheurs de Perles. She is thrilled to be joining the exemplary Chautauqua Opera for their 2025 season!
Emily Finke, Soprano
Studio Artist
Hometown: Los Altos, California
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Musetta (Cover) and Chorus in La bohème
Willie in Lincoln in the Bardo
Joan in Sitcom
Praised for her “rich color palette” and “deft high range,” soprano Emily Finke is committed to storytelling with the utmost artistry and authenticity. Emily recently performed the role of Eurydice in Orphée aux enfers with the Bard Conservatory Graduate Vocal Arts Program and appeared with The Orchestra Now (TŌN) as Sophie in excerpts from Der Rosenkavalier. She has also sung the roles of Young Juana in With Blood, With Ink; Lucy in Fellow Travelers; and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi at the Seagle Festival. She has performed as the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Palm Beach Symphony and Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium with the Albany Symphony. Emily earned a master of music degree from Bard College Conservatory of Music and a bachelor of music degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music.
Lwazi Hlati, Tenor
Studio Artist
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Rodolfo (Cover) and Chorus in La bohème
Havens and Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Ensemble in Sitcom
Tenor Lwazi Hlati hails from Johannesburg, South Africa. He earned a master’s degree and a Performer’s Diploma from Southern Methodist University, a Graduate Artistic Certificate in Opera Performance from the University of North Texas, and a bachelor’s in vocal art from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. His accolades include winning first place, along with the award for the best art song presentation, in the inaugural Duncan Williams Voice Competition, held by the New York City Opera and Manhattan School of Music; and being named the 2024 “Opera Idol” by Connecticut Opera. Mr. Hlati has received recognition for his performances in various operas, including Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Fenton in Falstaff, Don José in Carmen, Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire, Prunier in La Rondine, and Miguel in Offenbach’s opera Pépito. Additionally, he sang Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Porgy in Porgy and Bess, and Gastone in La Traviata with Fort Worth Opera. His collaborations extend to Dallas Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Opera North, and the Lewisville Lake Symphony, among others. He is thrilled to be joining Chautauqua Opera Company for their 2025 season.
Lindsay Weissman, Mezzo-Soprano
Studio Artist
Hometown: Latham, New York
Chautauqua Opera Company 2025:
Chorus in La bohème
Ensemble in Lincoln in the Bardo
Vendetta in Sitcom
Ida in Ida by Lamplight
Lindsey Weissman is a mezzo-soprano from Latham, New York. She holds a bachelor of music from Ithaca College and is pursuing a master of music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston. Past credits: Jo (Little Women); Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse (The Crucible); L’enfant, Maman/La tasse chinoise (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Sylviane (The Merry Widow); Ježibaba (Rusalka), Baba (The Medium); La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica); Tisbe cover (Cenerentola); Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas); Angelina (scenes from Cenerentola); Arsace (Semiramide); Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia); and Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). She has worked with Opera in the Ozarks (Martha Mack award), Oswego Opera Theatre, Utah Vocal Arts, and Opera Company of Middlebury. She served as choir director at South Seneca Middle/High School in Ovid, NY (2022–2023) and as voice faculty at Ithaca College Summer Music Academy. Lindsey has an extensive background in ballet. Upcoming: La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica)/Zita (Gianni Schicchi).
