Guest Soloists - Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera

Soloists

Zlatomir Fung

The first American in four decades and youngest musician ever to win First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition Cello Division, Zlatomir Fung is poised to become one of the preeminent cellists of our time. Astounding audiences with his boundless virtuosity and exquisite sensitivity, the 23-year-old has already proven himself to be a star among the next generation of world-class musicians. A recipient of…

Michelle Cann

Lauded as “technically fearless with…an enormous, rich sound” (La Scena Musicale), pianist Michelle Cann made her orchestral debut at age fourteen and has since performed as a soloist with prominent orchestras such as the Atlanta and Cincinnati symphony orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Ms. Cann’s 2022-23 season includes an appearance with the Los…

Joseph Lattanzi

A 2017 recipient of a top prize from the Sullivan Foundation, Joseph Lattanzi established himself as a singer to watch with his portrayal of Hawkins Fuller in the world premiere of Greg Spears’ Fellow Travelers with Cincinnati Opera, followed by further performances for his debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago. Praise for his performances included The New York Times saying “Joseph Lattanzi was splendid as Hawk, his buttery…

Christian Sanders

Tenor Christian Sanders’ busy 2022-2023 season brings several significant engagements in new opera as well as standard repertoire. He begins with a return to Minnesota Opera as Prince/Rat/Doll Shop Father in Edward Tulane, makes his role debut as Loge in Das Rheingold at Dayton Opera, returns to Opera Santa Barbara as Dorvil in La scala di seta, reprises his Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd with Austin Opera, makes his role…

Joshua Conyers

A native of Bronx, NY, baritone Joshua Conyers is known for his captivating performances and recognized as one the promising young dramatic voices of today. Conyers’ busy 2022-2023 season includes his debut with English National Opera as Policeman/Congregant 3 in Tesori’s Blue, Reginald in Anthony Davis’ X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X at Opera Omaha, which he has also performed with Detroit Opera and Odyssey…

Dominick Chenes

Reviewed in the Huffington Post as a “breakout star” and “powerhouse lyric tenor”, Dominick Chenes’ engagements this season include joining the Metropolitan Opera for Tosca, his role debut as Canio in I Pagliacci for the Sacramento Philharmonic, and a return to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for Don Carlos (cover). Future engagements include his debut with Oper Leipzig for Pollione in Norma, a role he recently sang…

Toni Marie Palmertree

Toni Marie Palmertree is an American soprano praised for her tender, expressive voice (SF Examiner). Most recently, appearing in the title role of Luisa Miller, Ms. Palmertree made her house and role debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The Chicago Herald wrote, " Palmertree's artistic approach to this challenging role, thoughtful and professional presentation of her vocal part, and the natural beauty of her voice touched…

Nick Phan

Described by the Boston Globe as “one of the world’s most remarkable singers,” American tenor Nicholas Phan is increasingly recognized as an artist of distinction. An artist with an incredibly diverse repertoire that spans nearly 500 years of music, he performs regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and opera companies. Phan is also an avid recitalist and a passionate advocate for art song and vocal chamber…

Christopher Cooper

Christopher Cooper began playing the horn in the public schools of San Jose CA. After a family move to Rockport MA he continued his studies in Boston eventually going to Boston University’s School for the Arts. While studying there Chris became a member of the Empire Brass and began his touring life. Deciding to continue his studies he moved back to California to work with David Krehbiel at the San Francisco…

Richard Ollarsaba

Mexican-American bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba represented the USA in the 2019 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, was a member of the prestigious Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago for three seasons and a grand finalist in the 2013 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Mr. Ollarsaba was recently featured in one of his signature roles, Escamillo in Carmen, as part of Francesca Zambello’s…

Salvatore Atti

Award winning Tenor, Salvatore Atti, and alumni of San Francisco’s prestigious Merola Opera program is delighted to be joining Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera once again.  While in San Francisco Mr. Atti performed in the Schwabacher summer concert series and the grand finale, singing Edgardo in Lucia di lammermoor and Leicester in Maria Stuarda.  One review read that “the voices soared...it was a gut wrenching…

Julie Miller

Hailed as possessing a voice of “spell-binding power and intensity” (The Register-Guard), mezzo-soprano Julie Miller has appeared as a soloist with wonderful organizations such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Mozart Players, Grant Park Music Festival and Ravinia Festival. Recently, Ms. Miller appeared with Madison Opera, Lyric Unlimited/Lyric Opera Chicago and English…

Liisa Dávila

Liisa Dávila has gained recognition for her vocal clarity and dazzling coloratura, combined with a richness and depth allowing her to possess a highly desired level of versatility in her work. Heard recently as Kitty Hart in Fresno Grand Opera's critically acclaimed performance of Dead Man Walking, Liisa was also recently seen as Liù in West Bay Opera’s production of Turandot, where "her simple, understated…

Narek Hakhnazaryan

Narek's Instagram Narek's Facebook Since winning the Cello First Prize and Gold Medal at the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011 at the age of 22, Narek Hakhnazaryan has inspired audiences with his artistry, securing a reputation as one of the world’s foremost cellists. Hakhnazaryan has performed with orchestras across the globe, earning praise from critics as “dazzlingly brilliant” (The Strad)…

Janice Carissa

Janice's Instagram Janice's Facebook Indonesian pianist Janice Carissa has been praised for radiating “the multicolored highlights of a mature pianist” (Philadelphia Inquirer) and having a “fleet-fingered touch that is particularly impressive,” as well as for her artistry that “conveys a vivid story rather than a mere showpiece” (Chicago Classical Review). Recently named a Gilmore Young Artist and winner…

Tai Murray

Tai's Instagram Tai's Facebook Described as “superb” by The New York Times, violinist Tai Murray has established herself a musical voice of a generation.“Technically flawless… vivacious and scintillating… It is without doubt that Murray’s style of playing is more mature than that of many seasoned players… “ (Muso Magazine) Appreciated for her elegance and effortless ability, Murray creates a…

Daniel Klein

Daniel Klein has been hailed by the New York Times for his “stentorian bassbaritone” and “dark and steely voice.” Audiences and critics alike have found his performances imaginative, adventurous, and occasionally even downright terrifying. In 2021, Daniel returned to Opera Company of Middlebury as Thibaut d'Arc in Tchiakovsky’s The Maid of Orleans (Orleanskaja djeva), and made his Opera on the James debut as…

Joo Won Kang

Joo Won Kang, South Korean baritone, made his Metropolitan Opera debut this season as Marcello in La Boheme. He also appeared in the company's new production of Don Carlos. Mr Kang has appeared in leading roles,such as Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Germont in La Traviata, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, the title role in Eugene Onegin and Ping in Turandot…

Raphaella Medina

Mezzo-soprano Raphaella Medina has been consistently praised for her colorful timbre and moving performances. As a 2021-2022 Chrisman Studio Artist with Opera Santa Barbara, Raphaella was hailed by the San Francisco Classical Voice as being “in fine form” for her performance of Diana in the mariachi opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna. This summer, she joins Opera Saratoga as a Festival Artist, performing the role of…

Laura Krumm

Praised for her “exceptionally beautiful mezzo,” Iowa native Laura Krumm is a recent graduate of the prestigious Adler Fellowship at the San Francisco Opera. The 2021-2022 season sees her return to The Metropolitan Opera as the cover of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, her debut with Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Reno Philharmonic.…

Andrew Bidlack

Featured by Opera News as one of their ‘top 25 brilliant young artists’ (October 2015), tenor Andrew Bidlack’s career highlights include his 2016 and 2018 Metropolitan Opera appearances as Beppe I Pagliacci; the principal tenor role in Iain Bell’s world premiere In Parenthesis at Welsh National Opera with performances at Covent Garden in 2016; and the role of Sprinck in Kevin Puts’s Nobel Prize winning composition…

Alex Soare

Romanian-American Bass, Alex Soare praised as a “stand out”, Opera News and "magnificent”, Talk in Broadway, was recently a Finalist at Francisco Viñas International Singing Competition in Barcelona and received the Third Place Prize at the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. In the coming months Alex will perform Leporello in Don Giovanni with Opera Grand Rapids and Opera Carolina. He will also perform…

James Jones

James Jones has well established himself as a leading Organist and Choral Conductor of his generation. As recitalist, Jones has appeared with Arizona Musicfest, Kotzschmar Organ series, St. Paul Episcopal, Pittsburgh, PA “Rising Star” series, “Piccolo Spoleto” Festival in Charleston, SC, “Music for a Great Space” series Greensboro, NC, Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City) Organ Series, and on numerous occasions…

Jeffrey Kahane

Equally at home at the keyboard or on the podium, Jeffrey Kahane has established an international reputation as a truly versatile artist, recognized by audiences around the world for his mastery of a diverse repertoire ranging from Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to Gershwin, Golijov and John Adams. Mr. Kahane appears as soloist with major orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic,…

Margaret Batjer

Margaret made her first solo appearance at the age of 15 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has since appeared with a succession of leading American orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, the St. Louis, Seattle and Dallas symphony orchestras. She has performed with such European ensembles as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Prague Chamber Orchestra, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (of Ireland),…

Louis Schwizgebel

Born in 1987 into a family of artists from Switzerland and China, Louis Schwizgebel is an insightful and poetic musician whose pianism is steeped in imagination, rich in color, and suffused with lyricism, clarity, and refinement. Lauded by The New York Times as “an insightful musician and a genuine virtuoso” and “a spirited young genius with real depth” by Fono Forum, he has recently appeared at the…

Madison Leonard

Praised for her “silvery, ethereal-sounding Sophie” by Opera magazine and “lovely vocal delicacy” in The Telegraph, Madison Leonard earned across-the-board rave reviews for her international debut in the summer of 2021 in Der Rosenkavalier at Garsington Opera. In the 2021-22 season, she returns to Austin Opera and makes her debut with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City as Chrisann Brennan in The [R]evolution of Steve…

Kathryn Henry

Hailed for her “clean coloratura and silvery voice”, Kathryn Henry is quickly making a name for herself as one of the most promising young sopranos to watch. A Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions finalist in 2015, she continues to graciously move audiences with her “flawless sense of line” and “shimmering warmth of sound” that “combines dignity and strength with profound sorrow.” This past…

Hannah Ludwig

The New York Times calls mezzo-soprano Hannah Ludwig “best in show” and further exclaims “Her tone chocolaty and large, yet with focus and agility, she captured the integral aspect of bel canto…expression emerging from a long, intelligently shaped musical line.”  In the 2021-22 season, she makes her debut with Portland Opera as the District Attorney in Davis’ Central Park Five and sings excerpts of Adalgisa…

Elissa Lee Koljonen

Recognized as one of the most celebrated violinists of her generation, Elissa Lee Koljonen has thrilled audiences and critics in over one hundred cities throughout the world. Ms. Koljonen initially received international acclaim when she became the first recipient of the prestigious Henryk Szeryng Foundation Award and silver medalist of the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition. Her playing has been hailed by the…