"The more we capitalize on the beauty and spirit that opera represents, the better off human-kind and the world will be"
CHELSEA SHEPHARD
Soprano
Praised by Opera News for her “pure leggero soprano--with surprises to come,” and her “rich and vibrant artistry” (The Isthmus).
She has performed with The Jackson Symphony, Madison Bach Musicians, New York Festival of Song, leading and supporting operatic roles with Madison Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, and Haymarket Opera Company, Chicago’s only dedicated Baroque opera company, Ryan Opera Center Finals, The Lyric Opera of Chicago for their new production of Das Rheingold.
Carnegie Hall debut as the soprano soloist in Brahms’ Requiem and in a world premiere by Syrian composer Zaid Jabri entitled A Garden Among the Flames (Cecilia Chorus conducted by Mark Shapiro).
ANDREW ROBINSON
Choreographer
Was the Deputy Dance Director of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet between 2010-2021. He also performed with the company from 2001-2021 performing in over 50 Opera’s working with many artists such as Doug Varone, Mark Morris, Carolyn Choa, Mark Dendy, and Julie Taymor,Twyla Tharp, Martha Clarke, Richard Alston, Aletta Collins, Irene Hultman, Catherine Tyrocy, Robert Cohan, Dan Wagoner, Nancy Duncan, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Christopher Bruce, Angelin Prelocaj, Amanda Miller, Kim Brandstrup, Bill T Jones and Arnie Zane. He is a graduate of London Contemporary Dance School. He has choreographed for London Contemporary Dance Theater and has had a continued choreographic partnership with his wife Gabrielle Malone.
COSTUMES
Alisha Engle
DANCERS
Ayaka Kamei
Dwayne Brown
Gabrielle Malone
Nile Baker
Tea Ajazi
Xhevit Isufi
ACTORS
Mirjeta Shala
Leon Feingold
The Seven District Foundation Gala
DANIELLE WALKER
Soprano
“Sparkling technique and…deity-defying dramatic force,” that range from Viennese operetta to the staples of the Italian canon including Verdi
and Puccini" Classical Voice America
Sarasota Opera;
Jerusalem (Hélène)
Die Fledermaus (Rosalinda),
Un giorno di regno (Giulietta di Kelbar),
Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira),
Carmen (Micaëla).
Carnegie Hall ;
Adriana Lecouvreur (Mlle Jouvenot) with the Opera Orchestra of New York conducted by Eve Queler, La bohème (Mimì) with El Paso Opera.
As a full-time member of The Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Ms. Walker has amassed almost 1,000 performances of over 70 operas under the tutelage of the world’s greatest conductors and directors.
MIA LI
Dancer
featured in the NY Times 2007 and described as “moving seamlessly from nightclub apache dancing to a tender ballet duet.”
Min-Tzu Li (Mia Li), a native of Taiwan, enjoyed her education at The Boston Conservatory with a full scholarship double majoring in ballet and modern dance. She has performed the leading solo performance in Martha Graham productions, with companies such as José Limón, Murray Louis, and Ballet Hispanico. Currently, Ms. Li is performing with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet.
NILE JAMAAL BAKER
Dancer
Born in Glendale, California and moved to Detroit, MI, Nile trained at the age 16 at the O'Day School of Dance and with Sergey Rayevskiy at the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet in Novi, MI. He attended Wayne State University, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In 2007-2008 he attended The Ailey School Scholarship Program and graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in 2011. Nile has danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet since 2011.