' Featured Singers for The Sorcerer Sierra Rode - Aline Sangazure Debuting as a principal with High Desert Opera last New Years' Eve, Sierra graduated last May from Central High School where she was very active in both music and theater - appearing in The Mikado, Pride and Prejudice and Oklahoma! She is "incredibly excited to be in The Sorcerer, and would like to thank her family for supporting her in everything she does and her voice teacher, James Werner, for giving her this fantastic opportunity". This fall she plans to attend Mesa State. Tyson Repke - Alexis Pointdextre Tyson is a US Navy veteran who served six years as a submarine Nuclear Reactor Operator before deciding to return to music. He received a Bachelor of Music Education from UNC in Greeley where he performed often in their operatic productions. He's also appeared in numerous musicals along the Front Range. Currently, he is the Director of Choral Music and Drama Productions at Fruita Monument High School. Thom King - John Wellington Wells, Production Director Thom has an impressive and varied list of roles to his credit, including Baron Scarpia in TOSCA for High Desert opera last summer. He has performed with such companies as the Chautauqua Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, The Florida Grand Opera and the Connecticut Opera. He has served at the Cantor of Beth El Congregation, the largest synagogue in Maryland, for the past 11 years. His directing credits include productions of BARBER OF SEVILLE and RIGOLETTO with the Connecticut Lyric Opera, James Werner - Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre Before moving to Grand Junction 10 years ago, James had an extensive career as an actor on Broadway & singing lead tenor roles in opera across the U.S. and Europe, and a concert soloist appearing with many regional symphonies. James has acted and directed extensively in the Grand Valley. He conducts the Messiah Society, First United Methodist Church and the Grand Mesa Chorus of Sweet Adelines International. He's also the founder & artistic director of High Desert Opera. Shazy King - Lady Sangazure Shazy King has appeared with such companies as the Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Carolina, Connecticut Opera, Greater Miami Opera, and with the Mississippi Opera as Amneris in Aida. Mrs. King has appeared in three Gilbert & Sullivan productions with Baltimore's Young Victorian Theatre Company, as Katisha in The Mikado, as Little Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, and as Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance. Debra McVicker - Mrs. Partlet Debra marks her debut with High Desert Opera as Mrs. Partlett. She recently performed Marcellina in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with Mission City Opera in Santa Clara, California, and Julia Child in Hoiby's Bon Appetit for WCTE-TV. She has been a featured soloist with the Denver Pops Orchestra, Musica Sacra, the Confluence String Quartet, the Greeley Chamber Orchestra, Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Loveland Opera Theatre and the Empire Lyric Players. Jayme Mazon - Constance Partlet Jayme is currently student at Mesa State College seeking a degree in Vocal Performance. Previous stage experience includes, performing The First Lady in Mozart's The Magic Flute at MSC in 2009, several choral performances with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra and a Choral performance on the stage of Carnegie Hall in January 2008. I will be returning in January for a second performance on the Carnegie Hall stage. Dr. Christopher McKim - Dr. Daly has recently moved to Grand Junction from Tacoma, Washington. He has enjoyed numerous leading role performances of both Classical and Musical Theatre repertoire. Chris has also been an active director, producing shows such as the Mikado, Die Fledermaus, and Threepenny Opera. Chris, his wife Heather, and son Cailan enjoy living here in Grand Junction, as well as their positions teaching at Mesa State. Joe Graham - The Notary Retiring from marine biology, Joe and his wife moved from coastal Maine to the Western Slope. After beginning voice lessons with James Werner, Joe's love of singing found himself in the realm of in many of the productions of the High Desert Opera. Because of his advanced age he appreciates the kindness and consideration shown to him by other members of the casts. Joe is also the founder of a Celtic Singers, who entertain those in need about the valley. Guest Singers for Tosca Josh Shaw - Tenor Josh Shaw is happy to be singing Cavaradossi for High Desert Opera. The young tenor has performed all over the western United States stretching from southern California to Fairbanks, Alaska. Mr. Shaw's recent credits include Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Rodolfo in La Boheme, Alfredo in La Traviata. Mr. Shaw has a Master's of Music degree in Opera and Music Theatre Performance from Southern Illinois University and is also a Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions District Winner. Maria Cicciaglione Maria Ciccaglione, lirico spinto, has sung Opera and Oratorio in Canada, USA and in Europe. After winning First Prize in the Concurso Internacional de Canto de Bilbao in Spain, she made her European operatic debut with the Teatro Arriaga in Bilbao. She has been a Finalist in many international competitions, including the Luciano Pavarotti International Competition. She earned her Licentiate Diploma in Music/Performance at McGill University, as well as a B.A. in Drama & Theatre. Thom King - Baritone Thom King has an impressive and varied list of roles to his credit, including Baron Scarpia in TOSCA, Escamillo in CARMEN, Enrico in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, and Carlo Gerard in ANDREA CHENIER. He has performed with such companies as the Chautauqua Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, The Florida Grand Opera and the Connecticut Opera. High Desert Opera Featured Singers and Guest Artists James Werner - Tenor Before moving to Grand Junction 10 years ago, James had an extensive career as an actor performing on Broadway & a operatic singer in lead tenor roles across the U.S. and Europe, and a concert soloist appearing with many regional symphonies. James has acted and directed musicals and operas extensively in the Grand Valley. He is the conductor for the Messiah performance, The Schumann Singers and the Grand Mesa Chorus Jeff Ayres - Baritone With a Masters degree from the University of Denver in 2007. Jeff performed eight leading roles during his undergraduate and graduate years there, including, Papageno in ""Ihe Magic: Flute" and the Count in "The Marriage of Figaro." He performed the leading role of Silvio for High Desert Opera in 2006, and also has sung leading roles for the Maud-Powell Festival in Illinois. Jeremy Franklin - Baritone Holds a BA in Vocal Performance from Ouachita Baptist University. He is currently a adjunct instructor at Mesa State. You may remember him as Tonio from HDO's Pagliacci. Jeremy has been a frequent performer at the Cabaret. Some of his other favorite roles are Horton in Seussical the Musical, Pikering in My Fair Lady and Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast. Terri Metcalf-Peterson - Soprano A recitalisl and frequent soloist with local opera companies, symphonies, and choral groups on the Eastern Slope. Recent roles with the Colorado Opera Troupe include "Musetta" in La Boherne, and "Nella" in Gianni Schicci. In 2005, she was selected for the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium in Italy where she performed and mentored with such greats as Knza Ferrari, Maria Callas' teacher. Terri resides in Westminster, Colorado. Tarasina Compagni - Soprano Tarasina is no stranger to the High Desert Opera stage. She has been a principal performer for 4 years and now serves as High Desert Opera's Board President. Megan Beauregard Megan sings with the Schumann Singers and was a featured soprano soloist for the Messiah Society's performance. She has sung in many High Desert Opera's New Years Eve Galas. Phaelen French Phaelen is the daughter of Beth and Don French. A senior at Delta High School, She has taken private voice lessons since age 8. "I appreciate the outlet to grow in my performing experience, and the friends that I have made by participating High Desert Opera." Riana Kettle Singing in the cathedral of Siena Italy's Duomo, a decade after she had embarked upon formal operatic training, Riana is inspired by the spirit of musicians from the past who had performed in that very spot. A lyric sopranist, she hopes to impart to the audience the same sense of connection to the past that the language of music elicits. Harmony Ludlam Graduating from Mesa State with a BS in Biology. Harmony has been singing since she was twelve. She currently sings with the Schumann Singers and has been part of High Desert Opera since it's beginings. Brandon Motz Happy to return and perfrom for his hometown audience. He is currently finishing his senior year at Otter-bein College in Westerville, Ohio where he's had many performance opportunities including singing a mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with the Concert Choir. The Elias Duo Formed by Carlos Klias, Concertmaster of the Grand Junction Symphony and his wife, concert pianist Andrea Arese-Elias in 1994. The Elias Duo has performed throughout the United States as well as in countries such as Argentina, Japan, Italy and HI Salvador. Their New York debut at Carnegie Hall in 2002 was received with great acclaim. The duo released a new CD of Argentinean Tangos. Their new album, Let's Tango features tangos by Carlos Gardel, Astor Piazzolla, Angel Villoldo and more.