Opera Orlando in partnership with ZORA! Festival presents this special event in anticipation of the Florida premiere of Scott Joplin’s TREEMONISHA.
Thursday | January 30, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Broadway United Methodist Church
FREE EVENT
SOPRANOS
C. LaJuan Adams is one of the most well-known music ministers in Central Florida. Born and raised in Orlando, Florida – she is thankful for the necessary teaching and training from her late Mother (Pastor Mildred Loman Eason). Being a part of the Church of God in Christ for many years allowed her to be able to sing with and backup for some of the best gospel singers in the world.
Ms. Adams is also the CEO/event planner for C LaJ’s Services and is a certified non-profit consultant. She is a recording artist her, a singer for “The Miracles Show” at SeaWorld for the past 12 years, and the mother of two children Stephanie Renee’ Adams-Nieto (Marcus) and Jonathan Alexander Adams (Samantha) and grandmother of 6 (Micah, McKenzie, Malachi, Mia, Taesyn and Zaelyn).
Tiffany Jeffers, hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, is a gifted soprano whose voice has captivated audiences worldwide. Known affectionately by her peers as “The Sweetheart of Gospel Music,” she has shared the stage with renowned artists in both gospel and opera. A Baltimore School for the Arts alumna, Ms. Jeffers earned a full scholarship to Morgan State University, performing with the acclaimed Morgan State University Singers.
Ms. Jeffers’ vocal brilliance and stage presence shine on global stages, including Italy, Spain, France, Africa, and beyond. Her gospel debut album, Say Yes, received widespread acclaim, leading to a successful U.S. and European tour.
Ms. Jeffers’ journey reflects resilience, faith, and dedication. From her Maryland roots to international stages, she continues to inspire as a performer, educator, and advocate for equity in the arts, embodying elegance and purpose in every endeavor.
Kyaunnee Richardson, soprano, made her professional debut as Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with the Festival of the Arts Boca in 2016. In 2021, she starred as Calpurnia in the world premiere of The Secret River with Opera Orlando and made her 2020 Opera Orlando debut as Adele in Die Fledermaus. Other highlights from the last few seasons include the roles of Maxie in the world premiere of The Eleanors, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with the Savannah VOICE Festival; Adele in Die Fledermaus, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and Despina in Così fan tutte with Opera in Williamsburg; Gretel in Hansel and Gretel with Amelia Island Opera; Monica in The Medium with First Coast Opera; Sister 2 in the world premiere of Why I Live at the PO with Urban Arias, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette and Maria in West Side Story with Gulfshore Opera; Gretel in Hansel and Gretel and Frasquita in Carmen with Opera Orlando; Clara in Porgy and Bess with the South Florida Symphony; Alice/Dr. Marigold in Adolphe’s The Adventures of Alvin Allegretto and Pamina in The Magic Flute with Orchestra Miami and several roles with Opera Fusion’s Emerging Artist Project series. Recently, Ms. Richardson placed 1st in 2023 Opera Ebony’s Benjamin Matthew’s Vocal Competition. She also was a semi-finalist in the 2023 American Traditions Vocal Competition where she was awarded the Sherrill Milnes American Opera Award. She has competed in several competitions and won awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition, New York Lyric Opera Theatre, Opera Ebony and Harlem Opera Theatre. She has also been a featured soloist with the Alabama Symphony, Brevard Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Symphony of the Americas, South Florida Symphony Orchestra and many other orchestras across South Florida
PIANIST
Karl Van Richards is the director of choral studies at Bethune-Cookman University and principal conductor of the Concert Chorale. He made his orchestral debut playing the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor after winning the Victoria M. Griffith Concerto Competition in 2000 at age 17. Since then, he has performed concertos by Liszt, Weber, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff, and as soloist or orchestral pianist with the University of Miami Symphony, the Coral Gables Symphony, the Greater Palm Beach Philharmonia, Lynn University Wind Ensemble, the Klezmer Company Orchestra, and the Boca Sinfonia.
Mr. Richards has traveled and performed extensively as a recitalist, guest conductor, clinician, and collaborative artist. His performances and collaborations have taken him to halls, theaters, and museums in the U.S. and abroad. He has performed on National Public Radio, and his masterclass performances include Rebecca Penneys (Eastman School of Music), John Perry (USC Thornton School of Music), John Nakamatsu (Van Cliburn Laureate), Howard Aibel (Juilliard School), Nicola Frisardi, and George Kern (Mozarteum). As a masterclass clinician/conductor, he has appeared at Texas A&M University, Indiana University (South Bend), Florida Memorial University, University of North Carolina, University of South Carolina-Aiken, and Alcorn State University.
Mr. Richards holds a Master of Music from Lynn University, where he studied under the direction of Dr. Roberta Rust and received an Outstanding Performer’s Award upon graduation.His Bachelor of Music degree is from the University of Miami,where he studied with Ivan Davis and George Kern in Salzburg, Austria. He received Certificates of Distinction from the Royal Schools of Music, London, England. He is a proud and active Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated member. Mr. Richardsis an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Divinity degree from Payne Theological Seminary. He is pursuing aDoctor of Philosophy in Christian Worship at Liberty University.
SPEAKERS
Chevalier Lovett (he/him, they/them) proudly serves as the Chief Impact & Advocacy Officer for 26Health. Born and raised on the historic West Side of Winter Park, FL - He has spent more than 15+ years in senior/executive leadership positions.
Mr. Lovett is very active in the community and has served on several notable local, state and national boards & committees which have included: Opera Orlando, Opera America’s National Trustees Committee and a Committee Panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.
In recognition of his service to the community, he was named 2020's Most Influential (Winter Park Magazine), as a finalist in Best of 2021, Best of 2022 andBest of 2024 in several categories with Orlando Weekly’s Magazine annual recognitions. He was named the Diversity Game Changer (Orlando Magic & Florida Blue), 40-Under-40 Orlando Business Journal) and most recently, he was also honored as the 2024 Most Remarkable (Watermark Magazine).
In his free time – aside from spending time with family and his twin toddler sons – as an active pianist, conductor and recitalist, you can hear Mr. Lovett as the contemporary worship director for First United Church of Winter Park.
The American tenor, Curtis Rayam, studied at the University of Miami with Mary Henderson Buckely. He was finalist at the Metropolitan Auditions in 1972, and winner at the Dallas Competition in 1974.
Curtis Rayam made his professional debut in 1971 with the Miami Opera in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. He has appeared in Dallas, Houston and Jackson Opera/South. He established a national reputation with the Houston Grand Opera in the role of Remus in Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, which was recorded on Deutsche Grammophon. He made his European debut at the Wexford Festival in 1976 in Giovanna d'Arco by Verdi, returning as the Sultan in Mozart's Zaide and as Wilhelm Meister in Thomas' Mignon. In 1978-1980 he performed at the Baldwin-Wallace College Bach Festival. He appeared in Boston in 1979 as Olympion in the USA premiere of Tippett's The Ice Break conducted by Sarah Caldwell, and in Amsterdam in 1981 as Massenet's Werther. In 1984, he rose to international prominence, when he substituted for the ailing Luciano Pavorotti and sang the title role of Idomeneo to critical acclaim. He had further engagements at Salzburg, Paris, Frankfurt and Venice; La Scala in 1985 in George Frideric Handel's Alcina, returning in 1988 as Orcane in Fetonte by Jommelli; Spoleto in 1988 as Creon in Traetta's Antigone. In a 1986 PBS broadcast, he performed in Berlioz’ The Damnation of Faust with the Philadelphia Opera. Other roles include Rossini's Otello and Cleomene (L'Assedio di Corinto), Mozart's Idomeneo, Belmonte and Mitridate, Irus in Il Ritorno di Ulisse, Nemorino and Puccini's Pinkerton and Rodolfo.
In 1992, celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall, the German Consulate invited Curtis Rayam, soprano Benita Valente, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and counter-tenor Jeffrey Gall as guest soloists in G.F. Handel’s Messiah at the John F. Kennedy Center. For three decades, he performed extensively in the USA, Germany, Austria, France, Israel, Vienna, and South Africa with major opera companies and symphony orchestras.
In 1997, Curtis Rayam returned home to Florida and joined the music faculty of Bethune-Cookman University. He continues to perform in the USA and abroad, while remaining active in both church and the community affairs. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Choral Society of Winter Park at Rollins College, where he teaches voice as an adjunct. Rayam is a member of the National Opera Association, completing two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors, and chairs its national voice competition--scholarship division. He is a founding member of the Negro Spiritual Scholarship Foundation, where he is a patron namesake for its Grady/Rayam Prize. This foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to high school students. Rayam is an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and a National Arts Associate of Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity.
His recordings include: Treemonisha by Scott Joplin (Deutsche Grammophon); Da-ud in Die Aegyptische Helena by R. Strauss (Decca). He recorded G.F. Handel’s Rodelinda (on Decca label) with Dame Joan Sutherland. He has also recorded with Kathleen Battle and Samuel Ramey.