Celebrating Chautauqua Opera’s Former Young Artists
Every week, Chautauqua Opera is sharing the incredible work of our former Young Artists. Make sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date.
Teresa Perrotta
This week we’re highlighting Young Artist alumna, Teresa Perrotta! In 2018, Teresa began her professional opera journey with Chautauqua Opera as a Studio Artist, where her assignments included singing Ensemble in Don Giovanni, performing a raucous cast of characters as an ensemble member in Candide, and singing the title role in our Opera Scenes’ presentation of Susannah.
Teresa’s time as a Studio Artist also gave her the opportunity to cover major roles, including Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, which she has now just performed as a mainstage artist in Opera Omaha’s October 2024 production!
“Chautauqua was my first professional job in opera and where I learned my first Mozart role, which was pivotal to my career. The lessons from that summer still shape the artist I am today.”
What’s next for Teresa? She’s set to make her Metropolitan Opera debut this Friday, December 13th, as First Lady in The Magic Flute!
“I first heard Teresa when she was still a student at CCM, and was thrilled that we snagged her as a Studio Artist in 2018,” says General and Artistic Director Steven Osgood. “It was exciting to watch her dig into her cover assignment and see how perfect a fit Donna Anna was for her voice. Her steady climb through the Young Artist programs at Santa Fe, Washington National Opera and Glimmerglass has not been surprising. I got to spend an exciting week working with her in 2023 when she won the Met competition, and count myself lucky to have been in the audience when she brought down the house with arias by Massenet and Mozart.”
Be sure to check out Teresa’s website to follow all of her amazing accomplishments!
Brian Jeffers
It’s time to shine a spotlight on another exceptional Young Artist Alumna! With his impressive range, tenor Brian Jeffers has been captivating Chautauqua audiences since 2019. Brian first joined Chautauqua Opera as a Studio Artist, where he took on roles in Il barbiere di Siviglia, ¡Figaro 90210!, and The Ghosts of Versailles. In 2023, Brian returned as an Apprentice Artist, delivering standout performances as Beadle in Sweeney Todd and Lillas Pastia in La tragédie de Carmen.
Recently, Brian showcased his talents as Count Barigoule in Viardot’s Cendrillon with Knoxville Opera, earning praise for his performance: “the right mix of comic boldness to go with a fine voice in the role of Barigoule.” (Arts Knoxville).
Looking ahead, Brian has several exciting engagements on the horizon. This February, he will make his debut with Opera Omaha as Sellem in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. This summer, he will return to the stage in Opera Omaha’s production of Fantastic Mr. Fox, portraying the Burrowing Mole alongside fellow Young Artist Alumni Kelly Guerra.
Reflecting on his time at Chautauqua, Brian shares:
“Being a young artist at Chautauqua has been so formative for my artistic growth. I was able to learn and solidify career roles and techniques in such a supportive and professional environment. I now get to work as a solo artist with so many tools that have made me a confident performer. And it has been such an honor to still work with so many CHQ friends and colleagues today.”
Don’t miss the chance to see Brian live – visit brianjefferstenor.com for upcoming performances!
Yazid Gray
It’s time for another Young Artist Alumni highlight! This week, we’re featuring baritone Yazid Gray! Described as a “force of nature” by The Chautauqua Daily, Yazid spent three summers as a Young Artist at Chautauqua Opera, leaving an indelible mark.
Yazid’s first summer spent at Chautauqua was in 2019 as a Studio Artist, where he took on a full slate of assignments. He sang chorus in Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles and covered Paul Conti in ¡Figaro! (90210). Yazid also performed in two renditions of Il Barbiere di Siviglia: singing Fiorello in Rossini’s well-known classic, and also performing Figaro in a bilingual adaptation for young audiences, The Barber of Seville in California, as part of our Arts Education and Family Entertainment Series.
In 2020, Yazid returned as an Apprentice Artist, contributing as a collaborator and performer in our virtual production of In Our Silence, a collection of songs composed after conducting interviews with each of the 2020 Chautauqua Opera Young Artists. Listen to Yazid perform “This is not the end” by composer Frances Pollock and playwright and librettist Jerre Dye:
In 2021, Yazid was back at Chautauqua for a final season as a Young Artist, performing in our popular production of As the Così Crumbles.
Reflecting on his tine in the program, Yazid shares, “my time at CHQ really taught me how to step into my own as an artist and gave me the room to take risks.”
Catch Yazid’s this holiday season as the bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the South Dakota Symphony!
“It has been thrilling to watch Yazid’s growth as a singer since he first joined us in 2019,” says General and Artistic Director Steven Osgood. “The adaptation of “Caro nome” that he and composer Jasmine Barnes created was a highlight of our 2021 season. And we were extremely grateful when Yazid returned last summer to appear at the Chautauqua Opera Guild’s Gala Benefit. His performances, once again in the Athenaeum Parlor, brought tears to everyone’s eyes.”
Alexis Peart
Today, we’re thrilled to highlight Alexis Peart, an extraordinary talent whose journey from Chautauqua Opera’s Young Artist Program to stages and leadership roles across the country exemplifies the remarkable growth and artistry fostered within Chautauqua Institution!
As a 2023 Studio Artist at Chautauqua Opera, Alexis captivated audiences with her powerful and expressive performances. Along with covering Carmen in La tragédie de Carmen and singing Ensemble in Sweeney Todd, she also shared her voice in our Afternoon of Song recital series and our popular Opera Invasions.
Reflecting on her time at Chautauqua, Alexis shares, “Chautauqua was a beautiful and inspiring place that allowed me to focus deeply on my craft and elevate my career. I’m grateful for the kindness and support I received and for the incredible colleagues I met, including collaborators from the audition process whom I continue to work with today. I’ll always cherish the memories made there.”
Since her time at Chautauqua, Alexis’s career has blossomed with notable performances and leadership roles. This weekend, she takes the stage as the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Columbus Symphony, under the baton of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra’s own Rossen Milanov! Currently, she is an Emerging Artist with the Boston Lyric Opera, where she performed the role of Arbate in Mozart’s Mitridate, re di Ponto, and will originate the role of The Choreographer in Anthony Roth Costanzo and Sarah Ruhl’s visionary interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Seasons. Additional roles this season include Hansel in Opera Stores: Hansel and Gretel and Mrs. Noah in Britten’s Noah’s Flood.
Beyond her remarkable performances, Alexis has also taken on significant leadership roles in the field. She serves as the Director of Administration for the Beth Morrison Project Producer Academy and is an Associate Producer for Beth Morrison Projects, contributing to the development of new and innovative works in the operatic landscape.
Her impressive career trajectory continues next year as she joins the prestigious Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the 2025–2026 season.
To follow her upcoming engagements, be sure to visit alexispeart.com.
Chelsea Friedlander
It’s time for another Young Artist Alumni Highlight! This week, we’re saluting 2017 Apprentice Artist Staff Sergeant Chelsea Friedlander! A talented soprano (who clearly took her role study as Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment seriously), SSG Friedlander joined The U.S. Army Chorus in 2023 and has since performed at incredible venues like The White House, The Pentagon, Solo July 4th National Anthem at National Stadium, and The Supreme Court, singing for leaders such as President Biden and Vice President Harris! She also recently debuted with Pershing’s Own Klezmer Band on mission in West Point, NY.
As a Chautauqua Opera Young Artist, Chelsea’s role assignments included Euridice in Respighi/Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo (as seen above with Guest Artist Danny Belcher) and Soprano 1 in Glass’ Hydroden Jukebox. Says Chelsea, “Looking back, singing at Chautauqua Opera was a true highlight of my operatic career! Working alongside Steven Osgood and such esteemed Young Artists was a thrill! Singing the role of Soprano 1 in Hydrogen Jukebox was one of the most challenging roles I have sung to date and extremely rewarding. Having learned and performed such a difficult piece, it truly showed me I can achieve anything! When I had difficult days in Basic Training, I did think many times of the complexity of the role and, if I could sing that, I could accomplish anything!”
“Chelsea was an Apprentice Artist in my second season as General and Artistic Director, and played critical roles in the summer’s two biggest adventures– Philip Glass’ Hydrogen Jukebox, and Respighi’s radical realization of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo,” says Steven Osgood. “Throughout the summer she showed the strong drive, focus and determination which I am sure have carried her through the past 18 months with the US Army Chorus. It has been a thrill to watch from afar as she finished basic training and stepped into a year of extraordinary performing opportunities!”
With a versatile range, Chelsea’s has dazzled audiences in opera, operetta, musical theater, and choral works. Recent role highlights include Cunégonde in Candide (Light Opera of NJ, Angels Vocal Arts), Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment (Light Opera of NJ), Adele in Die Fledermaus (Opera in the Ozarks), Mabel in Pirates of Penzance (Winter Opera St. Louis, Ohio Light Opera), Olympia in Tales of Hoffmann (Nashville Opera), Monica in The Medium (Pacific Opera Project, CA), and Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Dayton Opera).
Angela Yam
It’s time for another Young Artist Alumni shoutout! This week we’re highlighting 2023 Apprentice Artist Angela Yam, who stole the hearts of Anthony and our audiences as Johanna in our mainstage production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. Bringing Johanna to life over our six-week production period, Angela took the stage with guest artists Kevin Burdette (Sweeney Todd) and Eve Gigliotti (Mrs. Lovett): “It was such a fulfilling experience to work alongside world-renowned artists….I learned a lot about the industry and what a professional career can look like.”
Angela also showcased her remarkable talent at our annual “Opera & Pops” concert with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. This beloved Chautauqua event takes place in our historic Amphitheater, which seats over 3,000 people, and features our Young Artists performing hits from both musical theater and the operatic canon.
Angela mesmerized the audience with her poignant rendition of “The Beauty Is” from Adam Guettel’s The Light in the Piazza. She also dazzled with her impressive high notes, singing selections from Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore and Verdi’s Rigoletto. Angela expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “It was a thrilling experience to join the amazing players of the CSO and be inspired by their artistry.”
In 2025, Angela is set to lend her voice to a variety of exciting roles. Her upcoming engagements include Rabbit/Horse in The Big Swim at Asia Society Texas with Houston Grand Opera (February 2025), Orsia in The Pigeon Keeper with Opera Parallèle (March 2025), and Calisto in La Calisto with Opera Memphis (May 2025).
Emily Michiko Jensen
Exciting news from the Chautauqua Opera Company! We’re thrilled to celebrate our incredible Young Artist alum, Emily Michiko Jensen, who just made her debut as Mimì in La Bohème with Hawai’i Opera Theatre and as Musetta with Borderland Arts Foundation!
No stranger to Puccini, Emily spent the summer of 2022 as an Apprentice Artist covering Tosca on our mainstage. She shares, “Getting to try out various roles each season and learn from the guest artists has been an incredible experience.” That same season, Emily also sang Angel More and covered Susan B. Anthony in Thomson/Stein’s The Mother of Us All.
Having spent three summers at the Institution as a Studio and Apprentice Young Artist, Emily reflects on her continued connections with the Chautauqua community, which leaves her “always feeling supported and encouraged” wherever her work takes her. A recent performer on our Moschel Memorial Recital, Emily notes of her return to the grounds that she’s “always grateful for the warm welcome from the entire Opera Company & Guild.”
Emily’s trajectory with Chautauqua Opera Company is a wonderful picture of how a young singer’s career can grow, and how our company can play a recurring role” reflects Steven Osgood. “She was a Studio Artist in my first two seasons as General and Artistic Director, and did consistently terrific work in her cover and ensemble assignments, recitals, and masterclasses. Then for several years she would sing for us, but we did not have the right opportunity to invite her back to Chautauqua. I remember vividly how exciting it was to reach the end of our 2022 Young Artist audition cycle and find that Emily was the perfect singer for an Apprentice Artist position, covering the leading roles of Tosca and Susan B. Anthony, and singing Angel More. It was a very happy day when I got to call her and offer the contract, and then a thrilling summer to watch her excel in everything!
Kelly Guerra
Congratulations to ‘20 and ‘21 Young Artist and ‘22 Guest Artist Kelly Guerra, who will make her debut at The Metropolitan Opera on October 15th in Osvaldo Golijov and David Henry Hwang’s Ainadama.
Of the program, Guerra shared “Summer of 2021 was my first in-person summer at Chautauqua, and I had the immense honor of singing the role of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg. I felt extremely lucky to be singing anything, especially a leading lady, considering the year we had all just had in lockdown. For me, that summer was magical. I had the most incredible colleagues, and the admin team and musical staff were amazing. I was invited to return as a guest the following summer to perform a concert with the Diversity Fellows and workshop Derek Bermel’s beautiful opera, The House on Mango Street. Thanks to my time at CHQ, I was also able to meet the conductor of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Rossen Milanov, and reprise the role of Ruth Bader Ginsburg as well as sing my first Rosina at the Princeton Festival under his baton. I am eternally thankful for my time there.”
She continued, “When I ran into Steve Osgood on the first day of rehearsal at the Metropolitan Opera for Ainadamar, I shared my gratitude for his belief in me as a young singer. It takes a village to have a career in the arts and I count the incredible folks at Chautauqua as part of my team.”
Additional 2024-25 engagements include Jo March in Mark Adamo’s Little Women with Fort Worth Opera, the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Glacier Symphony, Isabella in L’italiana in Algeri with Anchorage Opera and Opera in the Heights, María in María de Buenos Aires with Madison Opera and Mrs. Fox in Fantastic Mr. Fox with Opera Omaha.
Listen to Guerra perform “I Moved Here During All Of This” by composer Frances Pollock and playwright and librettist Jerre Dye, after conducting interviews with each of the 2020 Chautauqua Opera Young Artists.
“I Moved Here During All of This” (Chautauqua Opera Song Cycle) – Kelly Guerra