the Mary ragland
emerging artists
Selected from hundreds of applicants from across the country—and auditioned among the top 100 of those!—you could definitely call the four Mary Ragland Emerging Artists a select group. These young artists will introduce opera to students in our 2024 education tour to Middle Tennessee schools.
In addition, these artists will gain valuable experience performing in the Opera’s mainstage production of The Magic Flute. Their experience is also enriched through masterclasses where they improve their craft in acting, stage presence, vocal projection, and the business of making opera a career.
For more information on our Mary Ragland Emerging Artist Program, please contact Hannah Marcoe.
Meet the 2024 Emerging Artists
Sabreena Cherrington
Soprano
Jordan Costa
Tenor
Frances Ho
Accompanist
Andrew Payne
Baritone
Maria De Conzo
Mezzo-Soprano
Mary Ragland Emerging Artist Alumni
2023
Alysha Nesbitt (Soprano)
Naomi Brigell (Mezzo-Soprano)
Gregory Sliskovich (Tenor)
Brandan Sanchez (Baritone)
2022
Ivy Zhou (Soprano)
Emily Triebold (Mezzo-Soprano)
Christian Patterson (Tenor)
Logan Dell’Aqua (Baritone)
You Zhao (Pianist)
2021
Rebekah Howell (Soprano)
Emily Cottam (Mezzo-Soprano)
Frederick Schlick (Tenor)
Christopher Curcurcuto (Baritone)
2020
Helen Zhibing Huang (Soprano)
Kaylee Nichols (Mezzo-Soprano)
Michael Anderson (Tenor)
Spencer Reichman (Baritone)
Esme Wong (Pianist)
2019
Chelsea Friedlander (Soprano)
Sara Crigger (Mezzo-Soprano)
Darius Thomas (Tenor)
Brent Hetherington (Baritone)
Elizabeth Chua (Pianist)
2018
Emily Tweedy (Soprano)
Allison Deady (Mezzo-Soprano)
Brian Skoog (Tenor)
Conor McDonald (Baritone)
Rhett Lei (Pianist)
2017
Courtney Ruckman (Soprano)
Melisa Bonetti (Mezzo-Soprano)
Zachary Devin (Tenor)
Makoto Winkler (Baritone)
Stephen Variames (Pianist)
2016
Lacy Sauter (Soprano)
Katherine Sanford (Mezzo-Soprano)
Todd Barnhill (Tenor)
Patrick McNally (Baritone)
Michael Gaertner (Pianist)