North Park University Opera

So excited to start the semester with a strong sing through this morning. It’s lining up to be an great semester, and we can’t wait to get started refining our scenes and perfecting our sounds!

Meet the Cast! Meganna Miller, soprano, is a first year Masters of Music Vocal Performance student who studies with Dr. Annie Picard. She is excited to be playing her first foreign language role in an opera as the mother in Hansel und Gretel. In her free time she can be seen reading or with a video game controller in hand. She can also be found eating different kinds of sushi.

Meet the Cast! Emily Soule is a 1st year MMVP student who studies with Dr. Samuel Handley. She will be singing Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel and Ann in The Masque of Angels. Emily is beyond excited to open both of these operas! When Emily is not singing she enjoys cooking, spending quality time with her husband, playing with her chihuahua, Pepper, and dancing around her apartment.

Meet the Cast! Nicole M. Rivera, mezzo-soprano, is a first-year graduate student studying under the tutelage of Sam Handley. She is excited to be playing a witch and a spinster. Who says opera isn’t glamorous? In her spare time, Nicole enjoys spending time with her dog, Figaro. If Nicole were a character from the movie Mean Girls, she would be Gretchen Weiners because her hair is big and full of secrets.

Meet the Cast! AJ Buegel, soprano, is in her first year of graduate school at North Park and studies with Dr You-seong Kim. Between two operas and all the running from witches, angels, brothers and other mythical creatures, she's practically worn holes in her shoes! When not in the practice room, she can usually be found somewhere drinking boba or riding her bike, Travis.

Meet the Cast! Allison Keeport, Soprano, is a second year grad student and studies with Annie Picard. This is Alli”s second production in North Park Opera. She will be twirling around the stage and miming as a Sandman in Hansel and Gretel and acting majorly confused and naive as Ann in Masque of Angels. Alli enjoys short walks down wine aisles, long nights blogging (about food), and thinking about (food). She also loves eating (food). Her celebrity crushes include Chris Evans, John Krasinsky, and John Mulaney.

Meet the Cast! Tyler Thress, Baritone extraordinaire, is a 2nd year grad student. This will be Tyler’s second production at North Park, and he will be playing a clueless (neglectful?) parent in Hansel and Gretel and the goofy arch angel, Metatron, in Masque of Angels. Tyler enjoys mockery, cardigans, sweaters, engaging in spirited conversation, and believing he is the smartest person in every room.

Meet the cast! D. Gabriel Knott, Baritone, is a first year Masters of Music Vocal Performance Student who studies with Dr. Sam Handley. Gabe is thrilled to be making his opera debut as Professor in The Masque of Angels and as a chorus member in Hänsel und Gretel. In his free time, he is an avid crocheter, reader, gardner, and collector of bowties. The chamber operas will mark Gabe's 22nd theatrical production!