Grab your favorite holiday sweater and Santa hat, then join Chicago Fringe Opera for its annual Holiday House Party at Berger Park in Edgewater. A favorite company tradition, attendees will enjoy a program of holiday music favorites (and surprises!) performed by our 2016-17 Ensemble Artists along with food, drink, and holiday merriment.
Cast
Ashley Armstrong
Mezzo-Soprano
Ashley Armstrong
Mezzo-Soprano
Praised for her expressiveness and richly colorful tone, mezzo-soprano Ashley Armstrong is known for her musicianship as well as her scholarship. Driven by the desire to inspire in others a curiosity for more knowledge about music, she seizes every opportunity to share her vocal talents. This motivation has afforded her many unique opportunities to sing for esteemed individuals such as his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, and at such celebrated locations as St. Paul’s Cathedral at Ground Zero, and Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre.
Ms. Armstrong begins the 2016/2017 season as an Artist with Chicago Fringe Opera, performing in Missy Mazzoli’s Song from the Uproar, an opera inspired by the journals of Isabelle Eberhardt, detailing her fantastic seven-year odyssey through the desserts of North Africa; and Ted Rorem’s Our Town, a tongue in cheek commentary on American life, based on the play by Thornton Wilder about the small fictional town of Grover’s Corners and the daily lives of its citizens. Her other engagements include Beethoven 9 with Chicago combined choirs, and a series of concerts in collaboration with Old Capitol Opera.
Ms. Armstrong made her operatic debut in 2011 as Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Art Center, and this last year, she received her Chicago premiere at CCPA where she was featured as The Wife in Thomas Pasatieri’s The Women, Suzette in Milton Granger’s Bluebeard’s Waiting Room, and Ottavia in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea. Other opera credits include Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors and Azucena in a gala presentation of Verdi’s Il trovatore. Additionally, she presented or has been featured in recitals for the Chicago College of Performing Arts, the University of Northern Iowa, and the Chicago Art Institute. In 2012 she won the senior division of the Iowa chapter of NATS student auditions and the next year she took home second place in the graduate division.
Currently a student of Allan Glassman, Ms. Armstrong received her M.M. from the Chicago College of Performing Arts in May of 2016. Before that, she graduated magna cum laude and Pi Kappa Lambda with a B.A. in Music and Theatre from the University of Northern Iowa, where she studied with Jeffrey Brich. During her time as a student she also gave world premieres of many works, including: “Could” by Pete Fernandez, Just Ann by Rebecca Burkhardt and Cynthia Goatley, Joy by John Schwabe, and Festival te Deum by David Childs.
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
Lucrezia
Lucrezia
2017
2016-17 Season Opening Gala
Soloist
2016
Song from the Uproar
Ensemble
2016
2016 Holiday House Party
Soloist
2016
Scott Brunscheen
Tenor
Scott Brunscheen
Tenor
Described as having a “clear, secure, lyric tenor voice” that is “bold and assertive,” Scott Brunscheen is establishing himself as a unique voice in classical music.
For the 2013-14 season, Scott joined Madison Opera as a studio artist, during which he performed as Spoletta in Tosca, the solo inmate in Dead Man Walking, and the understudy for Tonio in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment. Additionally, Scott travelled to Germany and Tunisia to participate with the Bachakademie Stuttgart as a soloist under the direction of Hans-Christoph Rademann. He also returned to Chicago to sing Don Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola with Candid Concert Opera (now Chicago Fringe Opera). For the summer season, he sang with the Caramoor Bel Canto Festival as a soloist in Donizetti’s Miserere and ensemble member.
During previous seasons, Mr. Brunscheen performed Count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola), and covered Roderick in Philip Glass’ The Fall of the House of Usher, First Priest (Die Zauberflöte), Aronne in (Mose in Egitto), Delfa in Cavalli’s Giasone, and Tobias Ragg (Sweeney Todd).
Future performances include Wilhem Grimm in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s outreach and community performances of The Brothers Grimm, Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia with Chicago Fringe Opera, and a return to Bachakademie Stuttgart.
Scott has been a young artist with Chicago Opera Theater, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Caramoor Bel Canto Festival, and Opera New Jersey. His completed his undergraduate studies at University of Utah and received his graduate degree from Roosevelt University. He currently lives in Chicago with his husband.
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
2016 Holiday House Party
Soloist
2016
Fringe’s Holiday House Party
Soloist
2015
The Turn of the Screw
Quint/Prologue
2015
Chicago Fringe Opera’s Lakeside Soiree
Soloist
2015
Far Off Light
Soloist
2015
2014 Christmas Celebration
Soloist
2014
The Rape of Lucretia
Male Chorus
2014
Jared Esguerra
Tenor
Jared Esguerra
Tenor
A Chicago native, Jared received his B.M. from DePaul University in 2012 where he studied with Christopher Lorimer. There, he was cast in a number of leading roles such as Gabriel Von Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus and Luiz in The Gondoliers through DePaul Opera Theater. He recently was an apprentice artist at Sarasota Opera for their 2014 winter season.
Currently, he studies with Julia Faulker while being a chorister for the Lyric Opera of Chicago and for the Chicago Symphony Chorus.
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
2016 Holiday House Party
Solois
2016
Fringe’s Holiday House Party
Soloist
2015
The Turn of the Screw
Miles*
2015
Chicago Fringe Opera’s Lakeside Soiree
Soloist
2015
2014 Christmas Celebration
Soloist
2014
Leigh Folta
Soprano
Leigh Folta
Soprano
Lyric soprano and native New Yorker Leigh Folta was recently named first place winner at the 2016 Chicago Chapter NATS competition. In 2015, she placed first in the Casa Italia Competition and was named a finalist in Chicago Opera Idol, where she sang for famed baritone Sherrill Milnes. Her roles to date include Poppea/L’incoronazione di Poppea, LPN/Bluebeard’s Waiting Room, Pamina, Papagena, and 2nd Spirit/Die Zauberflöte, Anne of the Cross/Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Suor Osmina/Suor Angelica. While at the Astoria Music Festival in June 2015, the Oregon Music News reported; “…with her gorgeous expressive face and gorgeous voice, [Leigh] glowed as Pamina” (goo.gl/IiXsP4). During a 2016 Masterclass, distinguished collaborative pianist and coach Martin Katz said of Leigh’s performance, “That was the best Caro Nome I’ve ever heard.” Leigh holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California and a Master of Music degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
Love Wounds
Echo (All Wounds Bleed)
2019
Song from the Uproar
Ensemble
2016
2016 Holiday House Party
Soloist
2016
Jenny Schuler
Soprano
Jenny Schuler
Soprano
Soprano Jenny Schuler has earned praise in recent seasons for her powerful vocalism and compelling stage artistry. She has been hailed as a “sumptuous soprano,” with a voice “rich in nuance” and “a vivid presence on the stage.” Her 2020/2021 season highlights include a debut with Chicago Opera Theater as Isabela in La Hija de Rappaccini (originally Matilde in Catan’s Il Postino), a debut with Opera Festival of Chicago in the role of Giorgetta in Il Tabarro, in addition to her role as a featured artist in the Dante 700 recital series also with Opera Festival of Chicago..
In the 2019/2020 season Ms Schuler made her Oregon Symphony debut as the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and returned as Mother in their production of Hänsel und Gretel, in addition to debuting the title role of Tosca with New Jersey Festival Orchestra. Productions canceled due to Covid-19 include Louder, Longer, Wagner! (Valerie/Brünhilde) with Lyric Unlimited, Lyric Opera of Chicago & Second City, and Songs from Letters recital with Chicago Fringe Opera.
Recent season highlights include the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos as a guest artist with Indiana University, Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Sugar Creek Opera, Ariadne auf Naxos and Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, both with the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute, and Leonore* in the Princeton Festival’s production of Fidelio.
Ms. Schuler was nominated as finalist for the 2019 Richard Tucker Career Grant, she was the second place winner in the 2019 Classical Singer Competition, first place winner of the 2018 Lyra New York International Vocal Competition, a semi-finalist in the 2017 Premier Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition, a semi-finalist in Shreveport Opera’s 2017 Mary Jacobs Smith Competition, a finalist in the 2017 Marcello Giordani International Voice Competition, and first place winner in the 2016 Heafner–Williams Vocal Competition. Ms. Schuler earned her Artist Diploma from the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute and her Master of Music from Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
Ear Taxi Festival – Spotlight Series Concert: Songs From Letters
Soloist
2020
Dynamic Donuts: A Fundraiser for Love Wounds
Soloist
2019
2016 Holiday House Party
Soloist
2016
Chicago Fringe Opera’s Lakeside Soiree
Soloist
2015
Voices in the Dark, Jazz & Trouble in Tahiti
Girl, Jazz Trio
2015
2014 Christmas Celebration
Soloist
2014
The Rape of Lucretia
Female Chorus
2014
Emma Sorenson
Mezzo-Soprano
Emma Sorenson
Mezzo-Soprano
Lyric mezzo soprano, Emma Sorenson, is currently based in Chicago. Ms. Sorenson was a recent semifinalist in the Lotte Lenya competition hosted by the Kurt Weill Instituted. She also won first place in the Kansas City District Metropolitan Opera Auditions. In the 2019/2020 season, Ms. Sorenson will be featured in her first season as a Chorister at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, associate member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, ensemble at Chicago Opera Theater and will be reprising her role in the ensemble quartet and understudy for Old Lady in The Knight’s Orchestra’s production of Bernstein’s Candide at the Ravinia Music Festival.
In previous Chicago seasons, Emma sang the role of Stasi in her debut with Chicago Folk’s Operetta in their production of The Csardas Princess, covered the role of Laura in Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Iolantha, played Jill All Alone in the Gilbert & Sullivan Company of Chicago’s Merrie England, and Isabelle Eberhardt in Chicago Fringe Opera’s critically acclaimed production of Missy Mazzoli’s Song from the Uproar: the Lives and Deaths of Isabelle Eberhardt. Critics praised Emma as a “striking and graceful presence, [she] sang with an attractive, flexible voice and brought strong dramatic engagement throughout, from Isabelle’s joy at discovering Islam, to her pain and anger at a lover’s betrayal, and solace and resignation at her death.”
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
Song from the Uproar
Isabelle Eberhardt
2016
2016 Holiday House Party
Soloist
2016
Trevor Vanderzee
Baritone
Trevor Vanderzee
Baritone
Trevor Vanderzee graduated from DePaul School of Music where he studied under Marc Embree and David Alt. Trevor was seen as a young artist at Utah Festival Opera where he understudied Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) and various other roles. Other credits include Papageno in The Magic Flute (DePaul Opera Theatre), Belcore in The Elixir of Love (Opera for the Young), and Vater in Hänsel und Gretel (Chicago Summer Opera). Trevor was the recipient of 1st place in the Hal Leonard Competition and the NATS Chicago Musical Theatre Competition, and received an Emerging Artist award through the Lotte Lenya Competition. In 2016, Trevor was granted the Betty Van Andel Scholarship through Opera Grand Rapids.
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
2016 Holiday House Party
Soloist
2016
Tobias Wright
Tenor
Tobias Wright
Tenor
Tobias Wright is a tenor and native Kansan who was most recently seen in the world premiere of Rootabaga Country as Gimme the Ax with Sarasota Opera. Summer of 2017 saw Tobias make his Opera North debut as Goro in Madama Butterfly and Ajax I in Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène.In the spring of 2017 Tobias performed the role of Lorenzo in William Bolcom’s Lucrezia with Chicago Fringe Opera. Early 2017 saw Tobias with Sarasota Opera, where he made his debut as Un Giovanetto in Italo Montemezzi’s rarely performed L’amore dei tre Re. At the conclusion of the season he was awarded the Scheininger-Reznick Apprentice Scholarship for an Outstanding Apprentice Artist. In December of 2016, Mr. Wright was seen in Chicago with Light Opera Works as Alfred in their new production of Die Fledermaus. Summer of 2017 saw the release of the world premiere of Ross Crean’s The Great God Pan, in which Tobias sang the role of Clarke. The Great God Pan was released by Navona Records/Naxos of America.
In the fall of 2015 Tobias sang the role of Juan in the world premiere of Eustasio Rosales’ Andina at the historic Athenauem Theater in Chicago. The performance and production were featured in the documentary film The Way to Andina, premiering at the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival in the Spring of 2017.
Tobias holds a Master’s Degree in Opera Performance from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice from the University of Kansas.
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
The Great God Pan
Clarke
2018
Lucrezia
Lorenzo
2017
2016 Holiday House Party
Soloist
2016
Voices in the Dark, Jazz & Trouble in Tahiti
Baritone, Jazz Trio
2015
Alyssa Arrigo
Pianist
Alyssa Arrigo
Pianist
Alyssa Arrigo is the current artist-in-residence collaborative artist at the Chicago College of Performing Arts and a Young Artist at Chicago Opera Theater. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Moraine Valley Community College where she teaches piano and lecture classes.
A Chicago native, Alyssa is a graduate of the esteemed Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. While completing her masters degree, Alyssa worked as an opera coach and rehearsal pianist for the IU Opera Theater in shows like Albert Herring, Faust, A View From the Bridge, Candide and the world premiere of Bernard Rand’s Vincent. She regularly performs with small opera companies around Chicago.
Ms. Arrigo is an avid collaborator. In 2011 she was seen with tenor Andrew Lunsford at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. She has traveled annually to Las Vegas, Nevada, to perform at the annual Food and Beverage Forum with acclaimed tenor, Carlos Montane.
A veteran of numerous summer festivals, Alyssa was has been a part of the Aspen Music Festival and School, Vladamir Feltsman’s PianoSummer and made her Italian debut while playing for opera singers in Montecatini Terme, Italy as part of the Italian Operatic Experience.
Ms. Arrigo maintains a small private studio and also teaches at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago.
Productions with Chicago Fringe Opera
2016 Holiday House Party
Pianist
2016
The Turn of the Screw
Pianist
2015
Fringe’s Holiday House Party
Pianist
2015
Chicago Fringe Opera’s Lakeside Soiree
Pianist
2015
Voices in the Dark, Jazz & Trouble in Tahiti
Pianist
2015
The Rape of Lucretia
Pianist
2014
Supported by The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, & the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Chicago Fringe Opera is an Opera America Partner.