Tenor Blake Beckemeyer (Marco, Francesco) specializes in performances of J. S. Bach and his contemporaries with frequent performances of cantatas and other sacred works. He sings as soloist with Bloomington Bach Cantata Project, IU Baroque Orchestra, Concentus, IU Opera Theatre, Weimar Bach Cantata Academy, IU G&S Society, DePauw Symphony Orchestra, DePauw Opera, among other ensembles. As chorister he has appeared with Oregon Bach Festival, Christ Church Cathedral (IN), Columbus (IN) Philharmonic Chorus, Charlotte Bach Akademie, Bach-Ensemble Helmuth Rilling and many more. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Early Music Voice at IU-Jacobs with Steven Rickards.
Elijah Bowen (Luiz) is a first-year undergraduate student at the Jacob's School of Music pursuing a double major of vocal performance and choral music education. He is currently studying with Brian Horne. Elijah performs with the Singing Hoosiers and sings tenor for the Choir of Men and Choristers at the historic Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis. Elijah’s most current role was playing Corebo in Cavalli’s La Didone with the Haymarket Opera Company of Chicago, IL. This is his first appearance with the University Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
Joseph Calzada (Giuseppe, Antonio), Baritone, is a first year undergraduate student at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music studying voice. He is currently under the tutelage of Distinguished Professor Timothy Noble. He joins the IU Opera Theater this season in Dialogues of the Carmelites as an opera chorus member. Joseph has participated in multiple state and national competitions, and sang as part of the National Honors Recital Series at Carnegie Hall in New York at the age of 17. Joseph has attended multiple summer young artist programs where he had the opportunity to work with nationally and internationally famous opera singers. He has been in numerous opera scenes in Italy where he was given title roles. Joseph has previously studied with teachers such as Sherrill Milnes and Stella Zambalis.
Soprano Christina Dragnea (Casilda), a native of Bloomington, Indiana, is a first year Masters student at Indiana University currently pursuing a degree in vocal performance under the tutelage of Patricia Stiles. At IU, Dragnea was a soloist in Mozart’s Requiem in D minor. In 2016, Dragnea attended the Berlin Opera Academy program under the Lily Comer Memorial Scholarship, performing the role of “Second Spirit” in The Magic Flute. Other roles have included “Sorella Cercatrice” in Suor Angelica with the International Lyric Academy and “First Lady” in The Magic Flute with the Blooming Voce Summer Opera Workshop. Dragnea has appeared in various IU opera choruses such as Madama Butterfly, Carmen, Peter Grimes, and most recently, Dialogues of the Carmelites. For University Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Dragnea has performed in the choruses of Pirates of Penzance and Patience, as well as “Lady Ella” in Patience. She is beyond excited to be performing her first principal role with the UGSS, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Karli Forte (Fiametta) is a sophomore studying vocal performance under the tutelage of Jane Dutton. She is a native of Fremont, Indiana and graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in 2017. She recently appeared as a "supernumerary" in IU Opera’s production of The Dialogues of the Carmelites. She was also a part of the concert for the Society of Composers Inc. Conference at Indiana University this past September. Her other involvement includes working with New Voices Opera and Reimagining Opera for Kids.
Quinn Galyan (Don Alhambra)
Soprano Annaka Grismer (Fiametta) is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Jacobs School of Music, where she studies voice with Jane Dutton. She has sung the roles of Suor Genovieffa, Sorella infermiera, and Novizia in Suor Angelica. Grismer's repertoire includes scenes from Le nozze di Figaro (Countess), Die Fledermaus (Rosalinde), Arabella (Zdenka), and La bohème (Musetta). Equally comfortable in standard and modern repertoire, she has premiered a scene in the title role of John Punt’s new opera Lady Jane Grey, as well as Spencer Haynes’ song cycle “Loving Life.” Grismer has also appeared in the choruses of several productions at IU Opera Theater, including Peter Grimes and Lucia di Lammermoor.
Isabella Ivy (Duchess, Inez) made her debut as a Resident artist at Opera San Jose in the role of Gilda Rigoletto. She also performed the role of Elvira in L’Italiana in Algeri, the role of Lillia Herriton in the world premiere of Where Angels Fear to Tread by Mark Weiser, Königin der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte, and Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro. Other roles include Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore, Madame Herz in Der Schauspieldirektor, Laetitia and Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief, Zita in Gianni Schicchi and others.
She joined Symphony Silicon Valley as the soprano soloist in Rachmaninoff’s The Bells and the Merced Symphony as the soprano soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana. She has also been a part of Target’s “Summer Pops” Concert series in San Jose. Miss Ivy was a semi-finalist for the Houston Grand Opera Competition, semi-finalist at the first NATS National Student Auditions, and she won 3rd place at the Metropolitan Opera competition in the Colorado/ Wyoming region in 2013. She graduated from the UNLV honors college with a Bachelors degree in Music Performance cum laude, and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She is also active in other areas of the theatre, and has been involved in several backstage aspects such as costuming, stage management, prop making, and set design.
She joined Symphony Silicon Valley as the soprano soloist in Rachmaninoff’s The Bells and the Merced Symphony as the soprano soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana. She has also been a part of Target’s “Summer Pops” Concert series in San Jose. Miss Ivy was a semi-finalist for the Houston Grand Opera Competition, semi-finalist at the first NATS National Student Auditions, and she won 3rd place at the Metropolitan Opera competition in the Colorado/ Wyoming region in 2013. She graduated from the UNLV honors college with a Bachelors degree in Music Performance cum laude, and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She is also active in other areas of the theatre, and has been involved in several backstage aspects such as costuming, stage management, prop making, and set design.
Breanne Johnson (Giulia) is a senior vocal performance major. This is her first Gilbert and Sullivan Society performance at IU. She has been in other Gilbert and Sullivan performances such as The Mikado. She has also been in numerous theatre productions outside of IU, such as The Addams Family as “Morticia” and Into the Woods as “Cinderella’s Mother.” She has had a lot of fun being in this production and hopes you enjoy it too!
Baritone Matthias Murphy (Giuseppe, Antonio) is a junior from Indianapolis, Indiana, pursuing a degree in choral music education, and studies voice with professor Mary Ann Hart. He has a background in church music, piano, and violin. Murphy has enjoyed singing in the choruses of IU Opera's Madama Butterfly, Peter Grimes, L'Etoile, and The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. He was also featured as the bass soloists in the University Singers' performance of J.S. Bach's Cantata 140. This is Murphy's second production with the University Gilbert and Sullivan Society, having played Bunthorne in their production of Patience in 2017.
Benjamin Plunkett (The Duke of Plaza-Toro)
Soprano Vidya Ravilochan (Casilda) is a second-year graduate student pursuing an MM in Early Voice under the tutelage of Steven Rickards in addition to an MA in Philosophy. Previous engagements have included the role of Didone in Cavalli's La Didone, Philadell in Purcell’s King Arthur, Cherubino in Mozart's La nozze di Figaro, and Novizia/Conversa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica. On the concert stage, she has been seen as the Ancilla in Bach’s Johannespassion with IU’s Concentus. This is her first performance with the University Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
Marissa Reynolds (Tessa)
Julia Scannell (Giulia) is a sophomore undergraduate student studying Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Patricia Stiles. She is a native of Plymouth, Michigan. In the past, Julia has sung with Indiana’s University’s University Chorale, and has been involved in the organization, Reimagining Opera For Kids. This is her first production with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Julia is thrilled to be apart of this amazing production, and hopes you all enjoy the show!
Mezzo-soprano Jenna Sears (The Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Inez), is a sophomore studying Vocal Performance and Choral Education under the tutelage of Carlos Montane. This is her first production with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Previously, Sears has performed the role of "Zweite Dame" in Lyric Opera Studio Weimar’s production of Die Zauberflute and has participated in various other operatic scenes and oratorio over the last year of her studies.
Tenor Benjamin St John (Marco, Francesco) is currently a junior studying vocal performance and music education under the instruction of Jane Dutton. He is a native of Rockford, Illinois where he was involved in numerous choral and theatrical productions. He has performed roles such as Tony (West Side Story), Prince Christopher (Cinderella), Japheth (Children of Eden), and Billy Crocker (Anything Goes). Here at IU, Benjamin has been a member of the Singing Hoosiers as well as a chorus member in IU Opera Theatre’s productions of The Daughter of the Regiment, Madama Butterfly, Lucia di Lammermoor and The Music Man.
Rose Stroup (Gianetta) is a sophomore vocal performance major studying with Patricia Stiles. Rose is from Fishers, Indiana. Past productions include Beauty and the Beast, Catch Me if You Can, Music Man, and White Christmas. This is her first production while at Indiana University.
Benjamin Seiwert (Director) is a second year graduate student pursuing an MM in voice performance under the tutelage of Distinguished Professor of Voice, Tim Noble. This is Benjamin's fourth appearance with the University Gilbert and Sullivan Society; past performances include, most recently, Robin Oakapple in Ruddigore, Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, and Lord Tolloler in Iolanthe. Benjamin has also appeared in several main stage roles with both IU Opera Theater and his home town community theater, Mill Race Theater Company, with highlight roles being Harold Hill in The Music Man and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Jono Palmer (Musical Director) is a dynamic and enterprising young conductor from Auckland, New Zealand. Currently a doctoral student in Choral Conducting at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, he maintains a link to New Zealand in his work as Artistic Programme Coordinator for Choral Connect, the NZCF Association of Choral Director’s National Conference, and as a part-time high school teacher. At Rangitoto College he music directed Into the Woods (Sondheim), Beauty and the Beast (Menken), and was chorus master for The Witches of Eastwick (Rowe). This is his first production with the University Gilbert & Sullivan Society.