Firmly established in Europe as a singer of unusual depth and deep musicality, German baritone Jochen Kupfer is now also enjoying a growing career in the United States. Recently Jochen Kupfer made his role debut as Lindorf/Coppélius/Dapertutto/Dr. Miracle at the Vienna Volksoper in Jacques Offenbach's Les contes d’Hoffmann. Another role debut was his appearance as Wozzeck in a new production of Berg's opera in a return to Staatstheater Nürnberg. Other recent highlights include Peter in Hänsel und Gretel with Staatsoper Hamburg and Staatstheater Nürnberg;, Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde with Oper Graz; Gunther in Götterdämmerung with Staatstheater Nürnberg; Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Indianapolis Symphony under Krysztof Urbanski; Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Staatsheater Nurnberg; Escamillo in Carmen, Gunther in Gotterdammerung and Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde with the Teatro Comunale di Modena and Teatro Comunale di Ferrara; his debut at the Glynebourne Festival as Beckmesser in Der Meistersinger von Nurnberg. In past seasons with Staatstheater Nurnberg he has sung Germont in La traviata, Marcel in Les Huguenots, Mandryka in Arabella, Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde and Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He sang Wolfram in Tannhäuser in new productions in Japan and France, and debuted at Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires as the Spirit Messenger in Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten.

Olanna Goudeau, sopranoAshley Renée Watkins, soprano The unique opera duo ACTE II was suddenly launched into national prominence after delivering a captivating performance on NBC’s #1 summer show “America’s Got Talent.” The duo received a standing ovation by the celebrity judges who then selected it as one of 10 acts to perform live at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The duo has quickly become known for pushing the boundaries of classical music with exciting and original concerts. ACTE II’s programming, which has been described as “something close to perfection,” runs the gamut of vocal music ranging from art songs, opera and musical theater, to jazz, spirituals, gospel and popular music. In the 2017-18 season, ACTE II will travel abroad for performances at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, and performs in the Midwest for the Bethany Arts Series in Crystal Lake, Illinois.  

Gregory Vajda continues to be one of the most highly regarded conductors on the international scene. He was called a “young titan” by the Montreal Gazette after conducting the Montreal Symphony in Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Schoenberg’s Erwartung. He has been resident conductor of the Oregon Symphony for over seven seasons. He currently serves as the music director of the Huntsville (AL) Symphony, and is principal conductor of the Hungarian Radio Symphony (MR Symphony Orchestra), for both of which he conducts annually. He has been artistic director and conductor of Music in the Mountains (CA) and in 2014 was named Artistic Advisor to the Armel Opera Festival. In the 2017-18 season he conducts the Hungarian premiere of Georgia Bottoms: A Comic Opera of the Modern South at the Liszt Academy, a “Midnight Concert” series with the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra (Hungary), guest conducts the Rutgers (New Jersey) Symphony, and tours China with the Budapest Symphony.

Described by critics as “dynamic, vigorous, exciting and imaginative - an undisputed star who combines magnetic charisma with a skilled technique,” conductor Daniel Boico is the newly appointed Associate Guest Conductor of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in Durban (South Africa). His innate musical sensitivity, paired with a keen ear and fine musicianship, has produced exciting performances with orchestras in the United States, Europe, Central and South America, Africa and Asia. In 2017-18 Maestro Boico returns to Budapest to lead the MAV Orchestra.    

“This is clearly a string quartet to watch.” -- CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER Nicholas Tavani & Rachel Shapiro, violinsCaitlin Lynch, violaAlan Richardson, cello Since its inception at the Cleveland Institute of Music the Aeolus Quartet has been awarded prizes at nearly every major competition in the United States: Grand Prizewinner of the 2011 Plowman Chamber Music Competition and 2011 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition; First Prize at the 2009 Coleman International Chamber Ensemble Competition, and Silver Medal at the 2011 Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, among others. The quartet is the recipient of a CMA Residency Partnership Grant and was named the 2015-2016 Guarneri Quartet Residency in recognition of its artistic achievement. Dedicated to bringing music into the community, the Aeolus Quartet has been widely recognized for their highly innovative and engaging outreach programs.