KYAUNNEE RICHARDSON
SOPRANO

Kyaunnee made her professional debut as Papagena in The Arts Boca in 2016. Recently, Kyaunnee starred as Calpurnia in the world premiere of The Secret River with Opera Orlando and made her debut as Adele in Die Fledermaus.

Other highlights include the roles of Monica in The Medium with First Coast Opera, Despina in Così fan tutte with Opera in Williamsburg, Sister 2 in the world premiere of Why Live in the P.O. with Urban Arias, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette and Maria in West Side Story with Gulfshore Opera’s Gala Concert, Frasquita in Carmen, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Clara in Porgy and Bess with the South Florida Symphony; Alice Allegretto and Dr. Marigold in The Amazing Adventures of Alvin Allegretto with Orchestra Miami, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Monica in The Medium, Pamina in The Magic Flute with Orchestra Miami, Esther in the concert premiere of Ginsberg’s Esther, Sweet Esther at the National Press Club in Washington DC; the roles of Najade in Ariadne auf Naxos, Gilda in Rigoletto, Lisette in La rondine, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Despina in Così fan tutte and Adele in Die Fledermaus with Opera Fusion’s Emerging Artist Project series.

Upcoming engagements for the 2022/23 season include her return with Opera in Williamsburg in the role of Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. In the summer, Kyaunnee joins Teatro Nuovo as a Studio Artist then returns to the Savannah VOICE Festival in the roles of Kate Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni… READ MORE

BERNARD HOLCOMB
TENOR

Tenor Bernard Holcomb has “already made a name for himself in the world of opera” with his “delicate and flexible” voice (Opera Wire) and the “appealing sweetness and clarity [of] his tone” (New York Times). Katy Walsh of Chicago Theater Beat said it best: “Although everyone [at Lyric Opera of Chicago] can sing, Holcomb reminds us why we come to the Lyric.”

This season, Mr. Holcomb makes his Metropolitan Opera debut in Terence Blanchard’s Champion, and his house debut at Opera Omaha in X, the Life and Times of Malcolm X. In addition, Holcomb will perform with On Site Opera as Harlekin in Der Kaiser von Atlantis, and take part in the workshop for The Pigeon Keeper, a new commission from Santa Fe Opera. In concert, Bernard performs… READ MORE

MICHAEL PREACELY
BARITONE

American baritone, Michael Preacely, has proven himself a rising star on the operatic stage. Mr. Preacely has demonstrated his versatility as a performer, having firmly established a reputation for a vocal ability and style that allows him to seamlessly cross between genres. Beyond classical repertoire, Mr. Preacely’s well-developed vocal skill set also allows him to excel in the performance of pop, contemporary, and Broadway repertoire. 
Over the course of his burgeoning career, Michael has worked with numerous major and regional opera houses and orchestras in the United States and abroad and has consistently garnered critical acclaim. His performances of such roles as the title role inRigoletto; Scarpia in Tosca; Ford in Falstaff; Marcello in La Boheme; the High Priest in Samson and Delilah, and Porgy, Crown, and Jake in Porgy and Bess have earned him both significant recognition and rave reviews. Mr. Preacely’s international career has spanned the globe, having featured performances in Europe, Asia, Russia, and Canada. Domestically, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Company Philadelphia, Opera Memphis, Kentucky Opera, and Cleveland Opera rank among the multitude of reputable opera companies with whom Michael has been featured as a performer. Likewise, he has performed alongside many of the nation’s top leading orchestras… READ MORE

SANDRA SHAFER
DIRECTOR
HARMONIA

Sandra Shafer is the Director of Choirs at her alma mater Apopka High School and has twice been named “Teacher of the Year” at Liberty Middle School (2014) and Apopka High School (2022). Student choirs under her direction have consistently received Superior Ratings at District Music Performance Assessment as well as toured throughout the United States. Most recently, Apopka High School’s Treble Choir “Belles” was invited to perform at the 2021 Florida Conference of the American Choral Directors Association.

As a performer, Mrs. Shafer serves as section leader and soloist at Winter Park Presbyterian Church and sings with the Orlando Sings Symphonic Chorus and Solaria Singers. She is an active conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout Florida, and has presented sessions at conferences of the Florida Music Educators Association and the Florida Vocal Association. Mrs. Shafer serves as the social media chair for both FL ACDA and Southern ACDA and is an active member of ACDA, FMEA and FVA. Mrs. Shafer holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education from Stetson University in DeLand, FL.

CHEVALIER LOVETT
GUEST CONDUCTOR

Chevalier Lovett – conductor/baritone/pianist, is a native of Winter Park, FL – and has been a lifelong lover of the classical art form. As an active vocal recitalist & stage performer, in the past some of the leading roles that Chevalier has performed has been: Prince Danilo in The Merry Widow, Aristeus/Pluto in Orpheus in the Underworld, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Colehouse Walker, Jr. in Ragtime, Aneas in Dido & Aneas, Peter/Father in Hansel and Gretel and Trio Baritone in Trouble in Tahitiprompting one critic to write that Chevalier “…possesses an attractive light baritone voice and dispatched his roles…with verve. His easy way with Bernstein’s syncopations was especially enjoyable.” Chevalier has been heard as the baritone and tenor soloist in several major works including: Handel’s Messiah, Schubert’s Mass in G, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore & Coronation Mass, Faure’s Requiem and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass to name a few. He has performed on stages all around the world, most recently Carnegie Hall in New York and the newly renowned Steinmetz Hall in Orlando.

For his role as Colehouse Walker, Jr. he gained attention for his “riveting stage performance” which prompted one critic to write that “…Chevalier displayed superb and solid singing [with] stunning musical numbers and a stellar performance.”

In 2017, Chevalier made his stage debut with Opera Orlando as... READ MORE

ANDREW MINEAR
PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR
SYMPHONIC CHORUS

With appearances across the United States, Dr. Andrew Minear is an active conductor, music educator, and choir leader. Dr. Minear is the founding Artistic and Executive Director of Orlando Sings (orlandosings.org) where he conducts the Orlando Sings Symphonic Chorus and the professional vocal ensemble Solaria. He also serves as Interim Director of Music Ministry at All Saints Episcopal Church of Winter Park. Recent or upcoming engagements include Opera Orlando’s production of All is Calm, the National Concert Chorus at Carnegie Hall, the National Youth Chorus at Carnegie Hall, the Seoul Oratorio Festival in South Korea, the American Choral Directors Association Southern Region SSAA Honor Choir, Music and Worship Arts weeks in Lake Junaluska and Montreat, and ten all-state choirs. He has conducted multiple summers at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan and led the Florida Ambassadors of Music on performance tours of Europe. Before it was cancelled due to the pandemic, Minear was one of only 40 choral leaders in the world selected to present at the 12th World Symposium on Choral Music in Auckland, New Zealand. Dr. Minear’s passion for expressive music-making has been cultivated through over two decades of experience in children’s, church, community, middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional choral settings.

Previously, Dr. Minear was… READ MORE