David Lindsey - Gianni Schicchi
David Lindsey has 25 years of teaching experience, including the Trenton Conservatory of Music in Trenton, NJ. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint (Bachelors in Music Education), and Westminster Choir College of Rider University (Master’s Degree in Voice Pedagogy and Performance).
In addition to teaching at Flint School of Performing Arts, he has stage directed (Mikado scenes), and performed (The Telephone and Trial by Jury). His local choral conducting experience includes Court Street United Methodist Church chancel choir and the choirs of St. John Vianney Catholic School. He is an active vocal music director for many theater troupes including Swartz Creek Center Stage, Clio High School, Flint Light Opera, The Lyric in Kansas City, MO, and Professional Theater Workshop in Manteo, NC.
He is a member of the Carolyn Mawby Chorale, and Flint Festival Chorus. Locally, he has worked under the direction of Carolyn Mawby, Mary Alice Stollak, Fred DeHaven, Mary Nieuwenhuis, Dr. Matthew Thompson, and Wendy Bloom. As a choral member, David has sung with the Flint Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and The Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
Email: davlind00@comcast.net
Pia Broden Williams - Lauretta
Pia Broden Williams is a member of the Voice Department faculty at the Flint School of Performing Arts. She is an active performer lending her soprano voice to numerous concert and theater stages. A frequent soloist with the Flint Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Williams was featured at the Holiday Pops Concert TV broadcasts in the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons. She has also been featured on the international broadcast of the Emmy-Award winning Huckleberry Radio Show. August, 2009, brought Ms. Williams to Arlington, VA, where she essayed the role of Adina in Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore. Also in 2009, Ms. Williams performed Madame Silberklang in Mozart’s The Impressario under the baton of David Mairs with the Flint Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, she made her European debut in concert appearances in Limonest, France where she sang highlights from Bernstein’s Westside Story, and the Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Villa-Lobos.
Williams captivated audiences in Graz, Austria with, among others, performances of Olympia from Les Contes D’Hoffman, Giulietta’s aria from Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi, and as a semi-finalist in the annual Meistersinger Vocal Competition. In the 2010-11 season, she sang soprano solos for Mahler's Fourth Symphony with the Flint Symphony Orchestra. She made her debut in New York with the Regina Opera in Brooklyn in Les Contes d'Hoffman, appearing as Olympia. Ms. Williams holds a Master of Music degree from Michigan State University and dual Baccalaureate degrees from the University of Michigan.
Email: pbwilliams@thefim.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/piabrodenwilliams
Sylvia Pittman - Zita
Sylvia Pittman holds a BMED from Northern Michigan University and MM in performance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is a lyric soprano and has sung professionally in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Sylvia is greatly sought after as a studio musician and vocal coach for recording artists.
She teaches private piano and voice. She enjoys singing an eclectic mix of music ranging from classical to jazz!
Phone number below = ext. 254
Email: spittman@thefim.org
Phone: (810) 238-1350
Dr. Joshua May - Rinuccio
Dr. Joshua May is currently a lecturer at the University of Michigan-Flint where he teaches vocal arts courses, coordinates the opera outreach program, and directs the opera workshop. Prior to sharing his talent with the Flint community, he taught voice, lyric diction, piano and choir at the Community School of the Arts at the University of Connecticut.
A lyric tenor, Dr. May has performed and premiered works at venues throughout the nation. He is an avid recitalist and oratorio singer, recently performing Schubert’s Mass in G, Mozart's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, and Dubois' Seven Last Words of Christ. An operatic artist in high demand, he has enchanted audiences with his portrayal of Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, a member of the Male Chorus in Britten's Rape of Lucretia, as Prince Paul in Offenbach's La Grande-Duchesse de Gerolstein, and as Ferrando in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte.
His credentials include: D.M.A. Candidate Voice Performance, University of Connecticut; M.M. Vocal Performance, New England Conservatory of Music; M.M. Vocal Pedagogy, New England Conservatory of Music; B.A. French, Grand Valley State University; B.M. Voice Performance, University of Florida.
Email: 1joshuamay@gmail.com
Website: www.joshuamaytenor.com
Phone: 6164026314
Ethan Rodgers - Gherardo
While this his first performance on a professional level, Ethan has been singing and performing his entire life with choirs and other performance groups throughout high school and in college at Central Michigan University. More recently, he can be seen performing with Nada Radakovich in the Flint Opera Workshop and with the Flint Festival Chorus
Email: rodge1ec@gmail.com
Amy Alberto - Gherardino
Amy Alberto, a 10th grade student at the Swartz Creek Global Learning Hub, studies voice, flute, and piano at the Flint School of Performing Arts. A former student of the Flint Light Opera Workshop, she served in the chorus for several productions of Amahl and the Night Visitors as well as scenes programs that featured the works of Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi. This year she has especially relished her role in the University of Michigan’s Youth Ensemble, Women’s Chorale directed by Dr. Julie Skadsem. Amy has also participated in the National Associate of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Student Auditions and placed third in 2012. She is an active member of the Swartz Creek Center Stage children’s productions and has appeared in Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr., Phantom Tollbooth Jr., and Peter Pan Jr.
In addition to her interest in music, she studies American Sign Language (ASL) and hopes to pursue a career as an interpreter and advocate for the deaf community.
Mrs. Shelly Gillett-Behrens - Nella
Shelly Gillett-Behrens is owner and voice teacher at G.B. Music Studio of Linden. She was the soprano soloist for Grand Blanc Arts Council’s Community “Messiah” in 2014, the Saint-Saens “Christmas Oratorio” at Court Street United Methodist Church of Flint, Michigan Opera Theatre’s Community Programs Players, several area churches, and Gilbert & Sullivan productions at Michigan State University and Virginia Tech. She was a member of the MOT chorus for productions of “La Boheme” and “Carmen” as well as the Inaugural Gala of the New Detroit Opera House featuring Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, and Maestro Steven Mercurio. She served as Assistant Director of Marketingat NDOH. As musical director, she has worked with Linden High School, Lake Fenton High School, Fenton Village Players, and Kidz Theatre Kompany. Shelly studies voice with Nada Radakovich (Flint Institute of Music), She has previously studied with Jeannette Dagger, Meredith Zara, David Itkin, and Laurie Frick.
Email: gbmusicstudio@icloud.com
Website: http://www.gbmusicstudio.com
Terrence Stewart - Betto
Baritone Terrence Stewart made his St. Ceceilia debut today, and he continues with the role of Betto in Gianni Schicci this evening. A Philadelphia area native, Mr. Stewart has sung with the Carolyn Mawby Chorale, Flint Festival Chorus, and in several Michigan Opera Theatre productions. The most recent performances were in Turandot, The Flying Dutchman, and Aida. In 2011-12 and 2014, Mr. Stewart performed the role of King Melchior with Flint Light Opera. He is the proud husband of Luciana and father of two-year old Zion. He currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Sociology, Mott Community College.
Email: terrence.stewart@att.net
Mr. Frank Pitts - Simone
Lecturer II at University of Michigan Flint Instructor of Voice Rochester College
Mr. Pitts has performed in several productions with Michigan Opera Theatre. While an apprentice with MOT, he has performed in La Bohème, Salome, and Le Nozze di Figaro. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in southeast Michigan and Canada. Mr. Pitts has also directed more than fifty musical theatre and opera productions at the high school, college, and community level. A native of Detroit, he proudly calls Flint his home.
Email: fpitts@rc.edu
Dr. Matthew Packer - Marco
Matthew J. Packer is a lifelong resident of the Flint area. He received his BME and MM from Central Michigan University and his Doctor of Worship Studies degree from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Matt is a professor in the Music Area at Mott Community College and Choral Director for Mott Middle College. He is also director of the Flint Male Chorus and music director for Swartz Creek Center Stage Community Theater. He accompanies the choirs at Swartz Creek High School and sings with Brother 2 Brother. Matt is happily married to Kristi and father to four wonderful children.
Email: matt@mattpackerlive.com
Website: www.mattpackerlive.com
Twitter: @PackerMatthew
Glen Holcomb - Physician / Spinelloccio
Glen Holcomb is a member of the Voice Department faculty at the Flint School of Performing Arts. He has received numerous accolades in vocal achievement and entertained a plethora of audiences through his work with the Michigan Opera Theatre, Detroit Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Brazeal Dennard Chorale, Hostia and the Flint Jubilee Singers. He also performs regularly in a variety of recitals in Metro Detroit and the Flint community. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and a performing member of the St. Cecilia Society.
His education includes: M.M. (vocal performance) and M.A. (American Culture studies), Bowling Green State University; B.M. (vocal performance and general history), Marygrove College.
Gary Lindell - Lawyer / Mr.Amantio
Gary Lindell has studied voice at the Rochester Conservatory of Music (Suzanne Robb, Cliff Wilkins) and more recently at the Flint Institute of Music (Nada Radakovich). He can be seen and heard with Rackham Symphony Choir,
Flint Festival Chorus, Ann Arbor Comic Opera Guild, MOT, Flint Light Opera and with anyone else in need of an underworked bass/baritone.
Email: gblspike@aol.com
Mrs. Jennifer Curts - La Ciesca
Jennifer Curts, lyric soprano, is under the private direction of Ms. Nada Radakovich. She has had the distinguished honor to perform in master classes for both soprano Indra Thomas and baritone Mark Rucker in 2013. She is principal oboist for the Mott C.C Concert Band, Flint Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Flint Concert Band. She is also a soprano for the Mott C.C. Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.
As a choral member, she has performed with Indra Thomas, Mark Rucker, Sandy Patti, andLarnell and Dino. As an oboist, she has performed with Nancy King (oboe), Dave Bennett (clarinet), John Hill (percussion), and Alexander Zonjic (flute). She was selected for Disney’s World of Color Honor Virtual Choir 2013, presented at Disneyland, California under direction of Eric Whitacre. She is a resident cast member of the Royal Court for the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly, MI.
Prior to moving to the Flint area, she was under the vocal guidance of Mr. Michael Emshwiller. She is a wife and a mother with three sons, dogs, and cats. She enjoys sustainable gardening, exploration of Michigan via long distance bicycling, Renaissance costume creation, and family time.
Email: curtsj01@gmail.com
Victor Galea - Pinellino / Shoemaker
Attorney at Seward, Tally & Piggott
I received a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University in 1980. Since then, along with my day job as a lawyer, I have played with a number of orchestrasand acted and sang in many community theater productions and in some choruses.
Most recently, I have sung with the New Choral Singers (2013) while living in Malta. This past summer, I performed in The Pirates of Penzance with Kearsley Park Players.
It is a great honor and pleasure to sing with this very talented ensemble, and it is so much more fun than I could have hoped.
Email: Vlgalea@gmail.com
Johnny Kantor - Guccio / Dyer
I am a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. The proceeding ten years were involved with being Mr. Band Director in local schools. This career was then followed by another vocation in the field of Public Radio and TV which included production, hosting, studio, and field work. After some station close-downs, there came a third life that is now in marketing. Throughout this time, there has always been great activity with local stage productions. Many times this activity involved being in the orchestral pit, but sometimes I was actually on "the boards" as I am with this present production.
It has been a great pleasure and honor to work on this excellent production with such a talented group. With some old friends and with some new, the experience has been all positive! Special thanks goes to a special person: the beautiful and talented Nada Radakovich of whom I have had the good fortune to know "forever." Thank you for this opportunity!
Email: johnnykantor2501@comcast.net
Richard Kerry Thompson - Buoso Donati
Richard Kerry Thompson is currently the Dean and founder of the Swartz Creek Global Learning Hub. an alternative high school program. He has worked with youth in Ireland, Boston, and Michigan. He has been considered a “charismatic and visionary leader” wherever he has been.
Richard is the father of six children and is pursuing his doctorate in Educational Leadership. He is a church cantor and creative presentation developer. He is a pure Irish tenor and belongs to The Flint Male Chorus as well as the Brother 2 Brother duet.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Nelson Mandela
Email: rthomspon@swcrk.org
Phone: 810-591-4389
Twitter: @RKT_2013
Mr. Jeffrey Walker - Music Director/Piano
Jeffrey Walker holds degrees in organ performance from the Oberlin College Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music. He is a past winner of the prestigious American Guild of Organists National Competition. He is in his tenth season as Organist/Choirmaster of Christ Episcopal Church in Detroit where he directs a semi-professional parish choir. He performs frequently in the Flint Symphony Orchestra, teaches harpsichord and organ and accompanies the Opera Workshop program at Flint School of Performing Arts, and maintains a busy schedule as a piano, organ and harpsichord tuner/technician.
Email: jwalker1118@comcast.net
Nada Radakovich - Director
Nada Radakovich is member of the Voice Department faculty at the Flint School of Performing Arts and serves as musical director for the Kearsley Park Players. She earned her living as a professional singer for 25 years in both the United States and Europe. She co-authored the book, Auditioning in the 21st Century. She completed two National Tours with Columbia Artists' Community Concerts series. A first prize winner of the International Mozart competition, Ms. Radakovich had the honor of studying with world renowned soprano, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf. She has had an extensive singing career, performing on stage, radio and television. Her coaching and teaching experience includes instruction at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, The Pingry School in Martinsville, NJ; the JCC's of Tenafly, Tarrytown and Nyack. Guest Lecturer-Master Classes at Mannes School of Music, New York, NY; Iona College, New Rochelle, NY; Altes Schloss, Grevenbroiche, Germany.
Ms. Radakovich holds an M.A. in Opera Performance and a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan School Of Music.Master of Music in Opera Performance, The University of Michigan School of Music, with
Honors and Distinction
Email: nadaradakovich@yahoo.com
Webpage Creator..
Email: rthomspon@swcrk.org
Website: https://www.smore.com/07x36
Phone: 810-591-4389
Twitter: @RKT_2013