Sacramento State Opera Theatre

We're just TWO WEEKS away from being back at the best! Who's excited to return back to school?! 🎼🐝

Today we feature another recent and beloved alum, Gia Battista!

'Gia Battista, soprano, received her MM degree from Sac State this past May. While she part of the opera program at Sac State she performed as well as stage directed multiple scenes and one-act operas including Menotti's Amelia Goes to the Ball, Barab's Game of Chance, and Salieri's Little Harliquinade. While at Sac State, she also taught acting workshops for opera singers as well as instrumentalists. Gia is a founding Artistic Director of Davis Shakespeare Festival, a theater company based in Davis. Gia has directed and performed in numerous productions for DSF. This summer she directed the Tony-award winning musical comedy, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder running now until August 4th, get your tickets at Shakespearedavis.ord and don't miss Gia's work!'

Make sure to stay in the know of Gia's work by following & supporting her! We love you, Gia!

Today Sac State Opera Theatre features a recent and beloved alum, Angela Yam!

Angela Yam, soprano received a Master of Music degree from CSU Sacramento in 2019, where she performed with CSUS Opera Theatre as the title role in Menotti's Amelia Goes to the Ball, Sylvie in Petit's Le jeu de l'amour, and Serafina in Donizetti's Il Campanello. During her time at CSUS, she also performed as the Concerto Competition winner with the CSUS Symphony Orchestra and as a soloist with Camerata Capistrano and Camerata California. Awards include 1st prize and two-time Audience Favorite winner at the Robert S. Dinsmore Opera Scholarship Competition, Honorable Mention at the 2018 Festival of New American Music: Student Artists Competition, and 1st place in the 2018 NATS: California Capital Chapter Student Auditions. She attended the Miami Music Festival Opera Institute as an Apprentice Artist, performing the role of Nuria in Golijov's Ainadamar, and is enrolling in the Graduate Diploma program at the New England Conservatory of Music this coming Fall. She will join Opera Modesto as a contracted singer in January 2020, performing the role of Mary Crawford in Dove's Mansfield Park.

Angela, we wish you all the best as you continue onward in your journey as an artist -- we are proud you are a !

Our next featured artist is mezzo-soprano Julie Miller!

'Hailed for the 'arresting color' (Cincinnati Enquirer) of her voice, Julie Millet has appeared as a soloist with orchestras and opera companies throughout the USA. As a member of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago she appeared on stage as Emilia in Otello, Annina (La Traviata), Ida (Die Fledermaus), and Krystina (The Passenger). She recently performed the title role in Handel's Ariodante which Chicago Classical Review described as an 'admirable and professional performance' and the Chicago Tribune called 'deeply musical'.
Elsewhere, she has appeared with Madison Opera and in London with Hackney Empire as Baroness Nica, Vero Beach Opera as Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Sugar Creek Opera as Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Opera Idaho as Charlotte in Werther and Sacramento Opera as Maddalene in Rigoletto. Other notable roles she has performed include Jo (Little Women), Annio (La clemenza), Stephano (Roméo et Juliette), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Ottavia (L'incoronazione di Poppea) and the Mother (Amahl and the Night Vistors).

Ms. Miller is the recipient of the Jerome and Elaine Nerenberg Foundation Scholarship and the Rose McGilvray Award (American Opera Society of Chicago), the Richard F. Gold Career Grant, the Edith Newfield Scholarship Award (Musicians Club of Women). She earned her Master's Degree as a member of the inaugural class if Dawn Upshaw Graduate Program in Vocal Arts at the Bard Collehe Conservatory of Music.

Congratulations on all your achievements Julie!

We hope everyone enjoyed their Fourth of July! Stay safe tonight Hornets!

Hoping all the are enjoying the Summer and experiencing some zen like our Maestro Ryan Murray was here! Except this was tech week....so....we're not sure if it was legitimate zen.....

Our second alumni in our series is Liisa Dávila! 'Liisa Dávila, soprano, has traveled the world with her singing after graduating from Sac State. Her travels have taken her from Greece, Finland, and New York, including singing in the Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center as the soprano soloist for Schubert's Mass in G. She was heard recently with Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera in Beethoven's Mass in C and in the role of Micaëla for Opera Modesto's recent production of Carmen. As a versatile performer her range of roles traverses from the light-hearted Merry Widow, to the dramatic portrayal of Liu (Turandot). Easily at home with both opera and concert work, Ms. Dávila works with both opera companies and symphonies throughout the region including Stockton Symphony, Stockton Chorale, Auburn Symphony, Folsom Symphony, Music in the Mountain, Stockton Opera, Opera Modesto, West Bay Opera, and Livermore Valley Opera.
This season brings performances with the Stockton chorale as soprano soloist for Auburn Symphony's Messiah Sing-Along, and Nella in Livermore Valley's Gianni Schichi. Liisa serves as Chorus Director and Assistant Conductor for Opera Modesto and is on the faculty for their Summer Opera Institute for Teens. She is an active member of Synergy Chamber Players, performing throughout the Central Vallet. Above all these accomplishments, Liisa's proudest work is being the mother to four beautiful children.' Sac State Opera Theatre supports Liisa Dávila and all her achievements! 📸 by David Schroeder.

We believe that love is love is love.

We're kicking off our Alumni Series with Taylor Haines!

'Taylor Haines, soprano, has displayed the reach of her talent in a wide range of roles, including Alice Ford (Falstaff), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze), and Older Alyce (Glory Denied). Taylor has participated in prestigious music festivals such as Music Academy of the West and the Renatta Scotto Opera Program. Awards include Second Prizes at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Regional Finals, New York Lyric Opera Theater Competition, and Robert S. Dinsmore Opera Competition; and Third Prize at the Palm Springs Opera Guild Vocal Competition. Taylor will be joining Opera San Jose in their upcoming season covering Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus.

Congratulations on all your hard earned successes Taylor! Our Hornets are so talented! Follow Taylor Haines on social media to support her on her journey!

Thank you for 100 followers on Instagram!
To celebrate we're launching a short series featuring Sacramento State Vocal Performance alumni. Where are they? What are they doing? Who are they?
We never forget who has graced the humble Capistrano stage, and we want you to meet them and support them as well! Stay tuned, and if you're not following us -- you should!

Congratulations to our Vocal Performance graduates who were a part of the Sacramento State Opera Theatre! We wish you all the best as you continue onward in pursuing your dreams and goals! Stingers up! Graduates are: Angela Yam, M.M in Vocal Performance, Margie Curler-Kohl, M.M. in Vocal Performance, and Justin Ramm-Damron, B.M in Vocal Performance.