Meet the Merolini 2012

The young artists in this summer's Merola Opera Program were introduced at an event for the program's sponsors this Thursday afternoon. The 23 singers, 5 apprentice coaches & 1 apprentice stage director were selected from nearly 900 applicants. Each took turns sitting on a small stage with General Director Sheri Greenawald, President Donna L. Blacker, & Chairman Jayne C. Davis to answer a couple of questions. We learned that tenor Joshua Baum creates custom Lego minifigs & that soprano Jennifer Cherest is a horseback riding & dressage trainer. If I understood correctly, soprano Aviva Fortunata knits lucha libre masks. Tenor Andrew Stenson described eating a fancy egg dish as if he were a commentator on the Food Network.

The all-women panel asked bass-baritone Hadleigh Adams (pictured) who he likes to eat with & were excited that bass-baritone Seth Mease Carico is a licensed massage therapist. Mr. Carico described ultimate frisbee as "something for hippies to do to pretend they're athletes." The interview format of the event is cruel to participants who are not absolutely fluent in English, & tenor Chuanyue Wang answered one question by singing in Chinese. When asked about food in the US he replied, "I like Whole Foods Market, but I can't afford it!"

The panel interviewed all 29 Merolini in an efficient 70 minutes, & a reception followed. The 1st chance to hear the Merolini in public performance will be at the Schwabacher Summer Concert in Herbst Theatre on July 5th & a free outdoor performance at Yerba Buena Gardens on July 7th. Additional events are available to Merola members.

§ Meet the Merolini
Merola Opera Program 2012
Thursday, June 7, 5:30-8:30 PM     
Herbst Theatre Green Room

§ Merola Artists for 2012

ELIZABETH BALDWIN soprano
JENNIFER CHEREST soprano
AVIVA FORTUNATA soprano
JACQUELINE PICCOLINO soprano
SUZANNE RIGDEN soprano
ROSE SAWVEL soprano
MELINDA WHITTINGTON soprano

ERIN JOHNSON mezzo-soprano
SARAH MESKO mezzo-soprano
CAROLYN SPROULE mezzo-soprano

JOSHUA BAUM tenor
CASEY CANDEBAT tenor
AJ GLUECKERT tenor
THEO LEBOW tenor
YI LI tenor
ANDREW STENSON tenor
CHUANYUE WANG tenor

JOSEPH LATTANZI baritone

HADLEIGH ADAMS bass-baritone
GORDON BINTNER bass-baritone
SETH MEASE CARICO bass-baritone
MATTHEW SCOLLIN bass-baritone

ANDREW KROES bass

FRANCESCO FRABONI apprentice coach
ARTEM GRISHAEV apprentice coach
ELENA LACHEVA apprentice coach
KEVIN MILLER apprentice coach
SUN HA YOON apprentice coach

JENNIFER WILLIAMS apprentice stage director