Thirteen young artists will be San Francisco Opera’s 2017 Adler Fellows, eight newly selected, five returning to the program. The four new singers, selected from the ranks of the 2016 Merola Opera Program are:
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Soprano Sarah Cambidge (Vancouver, Canada)
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Tenors Amitai Pati (Auckland, New Zealand) and Kyle van Schoonhoven (Lockport, New York)
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Baritone Andrew Manea (Troy, Michigan)
Singers returning to the program are:
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Sopranos Amina Edris (Christchurch, New Zealand) and Toni Marie Palmertree (Fleetwood, Pennsylvania)
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Tenor Pene Pati (Auckland, New Zealand; Amitai’s brother)
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Bass-baritone Brad Walker (Lake Zurich, Illinois) and bass Anthony Reed (Alexandria, Minnesota)
In other categories:
Apprentice stage director Aria Umezawa (Toronto, Canada) and apprentice coaches John Elam (Cleburne, Texas) and Jennifer Szeto (Calgary, Canada) are newly appointed; returning third-year fellow Ronny Michael Greenberg (Montreal, Canada) will conclude his fellowship in May.
The outgoing 2016 Adler Fellows are soprano Julie Adams; mezzo-sopranos Zanda Švede and Nian Wang; baritone Edward Nelson; bass-baritone Matthew Stump; and pianist/apprentice coach Noah Lindquist. The 2016 Adler season culminates with a special year-end concert, “The Future Is Now: Adler Fellows Gala Concert,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2, in Herbst Theater. The evening showcases all the 2016 Adlers in an evening of opera scenes and arias with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.
Named for Kurt Herbert Adler, San Francisco Opera’s eminent former general director (1953–1981), the fellowship program is a multi-year performance-oriented residency for opera’s most promising young artists.
Originally founded in 1977 as the San Francisco Affiliate Artists Opera Program, named for Adler by General Director Terence McEwen (1982–1988), and further developed by General Director Lotfi Mansouri (1988-2001), the Adler Fellowship offers intensive individual coaching, professional seminars, and a wide range of performance opportunities to young singers, stage directors, and pianists. Adler Fellows also gain valuable experience by performing supporting roles in San Francisco Opera’s mainstage productions. The program seeks public support.
The Adler has launched the careers of many of the artists performing on stages around the world, including sopranos Patricia Racette, Ruth Ann Swenson, and Deborah Voigt; mezzo-sopranos Daniela Mack, Dolora Zajick, and the late Zheng Cao; the late countertenor Brian Asawa; tenors Brian Jagde, Sean Panikkar, Alek Shrader, and Noah Stewart; baritones Mark Delavan and Lucas Meachem; bass-baritones John Relyea and Philip Skinner.
Correction: The caption in the top photo had a typo that has been corrected.