Tenor ROBERT CHAFIN is internationally acclaimed for his versatility in over 70 roles on opera and concert stages in Germany and other international opera houses. A Virginia native, Rob’s roles range from Mozart and Rossini to heroic parts in Carmen, Der Fliegende Holländer, Les Troyens, and title roles in Don Carlo and Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Rob has won renown at New York City Opera, Carnegie Hall, Salzburg Summer Festival, London’s Covent Garden, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Zurich. Recordings include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Bernstein’s Candide, and Richard Strauss’ Die Liebe der Danae; in September 2021, Rob recorded all five Benjamin Britten Canticles with the IN Series Opera of Washington, D.C. In demand as a voice instructor in a variety of genres, Rob held a residency in spring 2021 as Visiting Guest Professor of Voice at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and in 2022 served as master teacher at the prestigious Brevard Music Center program. Most recently, Rob was on the voice faculty of Virginia Tech and West Virginia University, and is currently working with the Young Artist Program at Opera Roanoke.
A versatile singer and musician, soprano, JULIA PEDIGO has performed in many different genres – contemporary chamber music, oratorio, recital, opera, musical theatre, as well as traditional chamber music. She has performed a great deal of contemporary chamber music, including Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children, Carter's Syringa with composer in residence, and Ginastera's Cantata para America Magica as well as Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire. Her operatic roles have included Alice Ford in Verdi's Falstaff, Pamina in Mozart's The Magic Flute, Cherubino in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Baba the Turk in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress under the direction of Robert Altman. In addition to her many recitals, performances have included Orff’s Carmina Burana at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte with the North Carolina Dance Theatre, Mozart's Great c minor Mass under the direction of Carl St. Clair with the Cuyuga Chamber Orchestra (NY) and Handel's Messiah with the Naples Philharmonic (FL). She has received fellowships and scholarships to attend Aspen Music Festival, Banff Center’s Academy of Singing as well as Banff’s Opera Program, and Blossom Music Festival. She also received the prestigious Rackham Fellowship during her tenure at The University of Michigan. Pedigo's teachers and coaches include Leslie Guinn, Martin Katz, Elly Ameling, Håkan Hagegård, Dalton Baldwin and Martin Isepp. Dr. Pedigo earned the Bachelor of Music degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, Master's of Music from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati and Doctor of Musical Arts in voice performance from The University of Michigan. She has been on the faculty of the Appalachian State University School of Music since 1985. Dr. Pedigo teaches applied voice, Vocal Pedagogy, and Survey of Song Literature at Appalachian State University, as well as coordinates Quintessential! (the graduate vocal quintet), the graduate vocal program, and APPropos!, the voice faculty vocal ensemble.
Praised for her "gorgeous and colorful soprano" (American Record Guide), TINA MILHORN STALLARD has performed in Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, China, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and throughout the United States. She made her Carnegie Hall debut as soprano soloist in Mozart’s Missa Brevis and her Lincoln Center debut in Timothy Powell’s Incarnation Mysteria, both under the auspices of Distinguished Concerts International. Recent engagements include George Walker’s Lilacs with the USC Symphony Orchestra and the premiere of Will Todd’s Requiem Gravare. Stallard is featured on the recordings of Robert Bradshaw's chamber operas .Gabriel and Plastic: The Death of Beauty (Beauport Classical). She is the recipient of the Encore Award, presented to an outstanding alumnus of the Belmont University School of Music. Stallard holds the DMA from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is an alumnus of the University of Kentucky and Belmont University. Tina joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina School of Music in 2004, where she currently serves as Associate Dean, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Voice.
“It’s not often that an operagoer is fortunate enough to witness the birth of a star!” noted of soprano, DANIELLE TALAMANTES’ recent turn as Violetta in La traviata with Hawaii Opera Theatre. The 2023-24 season includes a five-city Alaska recital tour, Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileras No 5 with the Pensacola Symphony, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle with the Washington Master Chorale, and the Mahler Symphony No 4 with the National Philharmonic. Recent season performances include Verdi’s Requiem with Pensacola Symphony and the NC Master Chorale, Britten’s War Requiem with Opera Roanoke, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with Choral Arts of Washington, a world premier with Washington National Opera’s production of Written in Stone, a turn as Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème with Jacksonville Symphony and the Northern Lights Festival, Frasquita in Carmen and Anna in Verdi’s Nabucco with The Metropolitan Opera, Beatrice in Catán’s Il postino with VA Opera, and the title role of Susannah with Opera Roanoke. Professional recordings include At That Hour: Art Songs by Henry Dehlinger on the Avie Record Label; Canciones españolas and Heaven and Earth: A Duke Ellington Songbook on the MSR Classics label.
Tenor, JOHN WESLEY WRIGHT, D. M. A., is known for his soulful interpretations of music from Bach to Broadway. Holding degrees from Maryville College and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Wright has performed as a soloist and in professional ensembles throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. In addition, he has garnered top prizes from the National Federation of Music Clubs, the Metropolitan Opera National Council, and the American Traditions Competition. Dr. Wright is a native of Rome, Georgia and coordinates the voice and opera programs at Salisbury University on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Recently, he received a citation from the State Senate of Maryland lauding his scholarship, teaching, and performance of African American spirituals and the Board of Regents’ Award for Excellence in Creative Activity, respectively.