Lyric Soprano Rebecca Davis is fast becoming known for her rich,”brassy”, and brilliant vocal timbre, as well as dynamic vocal versatility, and remarkable vocal extension. Rebecca recently made her Carnegie Hall debut last May singing Schubert’s Mass in G, Imant Raminsh’s Missa Brevis, and Mozart’s Laudate Dominum.

Ms. Davis has been ravely reviewed not only for her singing, but also her acting and stage deportment. The Pioneer Press heralded her Musetta as being “portrayed with full force and fire”.

In her blossoming career, Rebecca has appeared in the roles of many heroines including Violetta, Fiordiligi, Leonora, Poppea, Abigail Williams, Mimi, Musetta, Micaela, and Magda in La Rondine. Supporting roles have included the Strawberry Seller in Britten’s Death in Venice, Ida in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, Frasquita in Carmen, Marenaten in Akhnaten, and the Seamstress in the Happy Prince.

Ms. Davis has appeared with such companies as Chicago Opera Theater, the Sarasota Opera, the Kentucky Opera, Opera North, American Opera Group, Intimate Opera, the Wagon Wheel Theater, Music by the Lake, and Opera Theatre North. Rebecca has earned numerous singing awards, including the Grand Prize of the Chicago Bel Canto, and finalist of the Tri-State Region in the Metropolitan Opera National Council’s Competition.

Rebecca’s future engagements include Tosca with American Opera Group in March of 2007 and also in concert with the Italian Opera Theater of Chicago.

Source: http://www.ovationmanagement.org/Davis_bio.html

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Barbara Landis, mezzo - soprano, recently covered and studied the role of Baba in The Medium with Gian Carlo Menotti at the Spoleto Festival in Italy. She has sung the title role in Carmen with the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, in a modern adaptation at Pegasus Playhouse of Chicago, with the American Opera Group, Highland Park Opera Studio, Illinois, and with other operatic companies in the Chicago area and San Francisco.

She has received critical praise for her portrayal of Carmen. “Ms. Landis as Carmen, wasn't afraid to play the role with the seductiveness and even raunchiness it requires. She was outstanding...” (Wheaton Daily Journal, IL). “Miss Landis can weave a spell over the audience.” “...a dynamic mezzo soprano voice.” (Naperville Sun, IL). Last year, she sang Carmen with the Golden Gate Opera in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

Barbara specializes in music and drama with a Spanish flair. Besides Carmen, she has portrayed the role of Aldonza in Man of LaMancha in the Midwest with Whitewater Opera, Sorg Opera, and in the Colorado Lyric Theatre Festival. Barbara has also portrayed Carmen in La Tragedie de Carmen.

Barbara has been active in the art of Zarzuela with Opera Factory of Chicago. She has performed the gypsy La Cantadora in La Verbena de la Paloma with Jarvis Conservatory Zarzuela Festival in Napa, CA. She has been a dance student of Pascual Olivera and Angela Del Moral and has danced in local theater and on NBC and WELD television.

Barbara has also studied and sung in Europe. At the Britten Pears School in England, she was a student of Nancy Evans. There she sang the role of Lucretia in concert excerpts from Britten's The Rape of Lucretia, which was taped for broadcast by the BBC. She has studied in Italy and has received critical praise in Brescia, Italy “Barbara Landis' skill was put forth in the dramatic aria ‘Acerba voluttá’ from Adriana Lecouvreur of Cilea, (Giornale di Brescia). Barbara has performed the role of Fidalma in The Secret Marriage with Kommishe Kammer Oper Munchen in Germany and was invited back the next season.

Locally, she has received critical acclaim as a comedienne for her portrayal of Mad Margaret in Gilbert & Sullivan's Ruddigore with Light Opera Works. She has also been praised for leading roles in Hansel and Gretel, The Italian Girl in Algiers and Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial by Jury. Other roles include: Amneris in Aida, Princess Eboli in Don Carlo and Orsini in Lucretia Borgia, with da Corneto Opera Ensemble (Chicago), and Eleanor, the young understudy, in Vaudeville Fantasy, an original work by Mae Cohen . Barbara can be heard on Cedille Record's The Medium with Chicago Opera Theater and has sung live on Chicago WFMT/FM radio.

Source: http://www.ovationmanagement.org/Landis_bio.html

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This former child actor Simon Kyung Lee appeared in two major motion pictures in his native Korea (as "Kyung Jae Lee") before the idea of singing opera ever entered his mind.

He began his musical training in his hometown of Busan, Korea. He spent the summer of 2003 studying in Italy, where it was discovered that he had a natural affinity for the verismo style. In 2004 Mr. Lee performed in recital at the first annual Festival Notte Musicali Modenesi in July and then proceeded to Orlando in August to participate in called Voicexperience master classes.

His recent engagements include Tenor Solo for Haydn’s Paukenmesse with New England Symphony Orchestra & Ensemble, MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall, Giles (Crucible), Luigi (Il Tabarro) with Chicago Chamber Opera, Cavaradossi (Tosca) with Kansas Puccini Festival, 3rd Jew (Salome) with Opera Company of North Carolina and Luigi (Il Tabarro), Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi) with Kansas City Puccini Festival. He had rave reviews from critics as Calaf (Turandot) with Kansas City Puccini Festival and Utah Festival Opera in 2005. Upcoming engagements include Dick Johnson (La fanciulla del west) with Kansas Puccini Festival, Goya (Goya) for Menotti Memorial Gala Concert with Chicago Chamber Opera and Manrico (Il Trovatore) with Chicago Festival Opera.

Additional roles in this versatile Tenor's repertoire include Alfredo (La Traviata), Radames (Aida), Manrico (Il Trovatore), Riccardo (Un Ballo in Maschera), Cavaradossi (Tosca) and even rarely heard Verdi works of I Lombardi (Chicago Premiere with da Corneto Opera as Arvino). A two time recipient of awards from the National Bel Canto Foundation (in 1999 and 2000), Mr. Lee has utilized his flair with Italian music to his advantage in scores of solo concerts and recitals throughout the Midwest, including a 1996 gala concert in which the musical artists of North and South Korea performed together on the same Chicago stage for the first time in History!

In addition to his stage and concert work, this rare performer has been a frequent guest on many Chicago radio and TV programs. Simon Kyung Lee is a great singing actor who will soon be charming audiences worldwide!

More info at Simon Kyung Lee's Official Website: http://simonkyunglee.com/

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Korean Baritone GhiBong Kim attended the Seoul National University on scholarship. After receiving his Bachelor of Music degree he went to Parma, Italy. Mr. Kim selected Parma because of its international reputation of the “Arrigo Boito” Conservatory which Renata Tebaldi and Claudio Abbado had attended. He graduated with the highest academic points from this conservatory. Following his graduation he was a winner of the 10th International Competition “Rocca delle Macìe” in Siena, finalist of the 9th Tito Schipa Competition in Lecce and 6th in the Flaviano Lavó competition in Piacenza.

His first operatic role was Papageno in The Magic Flute. Mr. Kim’s first professional performance was as Cola in Paër’s Camilla at Teatro Regio di Parma. Due to the success of his first appearance he was engaged to perform Belcore (Elisir d’amore), Marcello (La Boheme) and Rigoletto (Rigoletto) with the same company. His beautiful timbre and powerful voice fits the belcanto repertoire. Other repertoire includes Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Germont (La Traviata), Renato (Un Ballo in maschera) and Valentine (Faust).

As winner of the prestigious competition “Rocca delle Macìe” in Siena he was invited to perform at the Grosser Rathaussaal, in Passau, Germany. Then he was invited to sing at Verdi’s 185th Anniversary Opera Gala at Teatro Regio in Parma and Millstatt Opera Gala presented by the Dante Alighieri Association in Millstatt, Austria.

Since moving to Chicago he has performed several benefit and memorial concerts. Elijah is a signature oratorio role which GhiBong has performed extensively in the United States. He is music director and choir conductor of Alliance Fellowship Church of Chicago. He currently studies with Sherrill Milnes.

Source: http://www.ovationmanagement.org/Kim_bio.html

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