The Studio Artists program provides a platform for emerging singers to gain performance experience, cover MainStage roles, work with special guest artists in masterclass settings and receive acting, movement, and vocal training. Studio Artists also engage with the Central Florida community through in-school programs, retirement center concerts, and other outreach events.
Opera Orlando is currently accepting applications for its 2026-27 Studio Artists.
2025-26 STUDIO ARTISTS
soprano ALEXANDRA KZESKI
American soprano Alexandra Kzeski, known for her "larger-than-life voice and flawless stage presence" (OperaWire), shines in a broad-ranging repertoire of classic to contemporary operatic roles. In May 2024, she graduated with her master's degree from The New School: Mannes School of Music. For the 2025-2026 season, she returned to The Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center to sing Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. Previously, she sang with Sarasota Opera as an apprentice artist, debuting the role of Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia. In October 2024, she sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Mannes Opera. Other roles include Musetta in La bohème with The Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center, the title role in Lysistrata, produced by Mannes Opera, and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, also with Mannes Opera. Other accolades include winning an Encouragement Award from The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, 1st prize in The National Society of Arts and Letters Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarship Competition, and 2nd place in the Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Vocal Competition.
mezzo-soprano RUOXI BIAN
baritone LOGAN TARWATER
Chinese mezzo-soprano Ruoxi Bian recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Michigan State University. She also holds a Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor’s degree from Minzu University of China. The operatic roles she has performed include Minskwoman in Flight, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Ramiro in La Finta Giardiniera, and Amastre in Serse. She has also performed staged scenes as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, the title role in Carmen, Mallika in Lakmé, and Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. In the 2024–25 season, Ruoxi was a winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Idaho-Montana District. She was also named a winner of the MSU Honors Competition. Her previous awards include First Prize at the Singapore Zhongsin International Music Competition and First Prize at the San Jose International Music Festival Competition.
Hailing from Rockville, Maryland, in the Washington, DC, region, baritone Logan Tarwater was most recently a Studio Artist in Central City Opera’s Bonfils-Stanton Young Artist Program, covering roles in il Barbiere di Siviglia and Once Upon a Mattress. Tarwater is a recent Master’s recipient at Wichita State University, where he appeared as John Sorel in Menotti’s The Consul, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, and created the role of Bishop Latour in the world premiere of Lance Hulme’s December Night. He remained active while in Kansas, appearing as the Hunter in Rusalka with Wichita Grand Opera, as a featured soloist with Wichita Symphony Orchestra, and performing notable roles with Opera Kansas. Other credits include Masetto and Leporello in Don Giovanni, King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Sam in Trouble in Tahiti.
To book Studio Artists to perform at your school, community center, or special event, email education director and Studio Artists program director Sarah Purser at SPurser@OperaOrlando.org or call (407) 512-1900.
2024-2025 STUDIO ARTISTS
Kristen Marie Gillis, soprano
Erika Vasallo, mezzo-soprano
Pedro Valdez, tenor
Thandolwethu Mamba, baritone
2023-2024 STUDIO ARTISTS
Laura Corina Sanders, soprano
Linda Collazo, mezzo-soprano
David Soto Zambrana, tenor
Jose Cuartas, baritone
2022-2023 STUDIO ARTISTS
Sara Lucille Law, soprano
Raphaella Medina, mezzo-soprano
Robert Hartfield, tenor
Geoffrey Peterson, baritone
2021-2022 STUDIO ARTISTS
Rachel Querreveld, soprano
Laura Zahn, mezzo-soprano
Logan Webber, tenor
Geoffrey Peterson, baritone
2020-2021 STUDIO ARTISTS
Kyaunnee Richardson, soprano
Gloria Palermo, mezzo-soprano
Brent Doucette, tenor
Andrew Thomas Pardini, baritone
2019-2020 STUDIO ARTISTS
Adriana Nieves, soprano
Anna Eschbach, soprano
Gloria Palermo, mezzo-soprano
Brent Doucette, tenor
Sean Stork, baritone
2018-2019 STUDIO ARTISTS
Courtney Ruckman, soprano
Kelly Kim, soprano
Emily Heumann, mezzo-soprano
Jonathan Iverson, tenor
Benjamin Ludwig, baritone
2017-2018 STUDIO ARTISTS
Kenneithia Mitchell, soprano
Arleen Ramirez, soprano
Samantha Barnes Daniel, soprano
Jillian Marini, soprano
Sarah Purser, mezzo-soprano
John Murray, tenor
Colton Brooks, tenor
Justin Morrison, baritone
Harrison Bumgardner, baritone
2016-2017 STUDIO ARTISTS
Elizabeth Ingram, soprano
Sara Stead, soprano
Taylor Alexis DuPont, soprano
Sarah Purser, mezzo-soprano
Morgan Davis Peckles, mezzo-soprano
Ralph Pugh, tenor
Justin Morrison, baritone