Artist in Residence
Teresa Berganza
World-renowned Spanish mezzo-soprano, Señora Teresa Berganza, brings FIMEL participants and masterclass visitors her invaluable experience and expertise in the interpretation and performance of vocal literature in Spanish. One of the foremost mezzo-sopranos of the 20th century, Berganza has performed in every major opera house in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Covent Garden, and Glyndebourne, and has a staggering 80+ classical recordings, and nine motion pictures to her name.
Well known for her Rossini, Mozart, and Spanish zarzuela roles, early in her career, she shared the stage with Maria Callas and later recorded with many operatic masters including Placido Domingo, Dame Joan Sutherland, Sherrill Milnes, and Alfredo Kraus.
Also an incredible recitalist, she has made significant contributions to the performance and recording of art song—especially French melodie and Spanish canciones—with unparalleled virtuosic delivery of text and nuance.
Highly sought for her musicianship and artistry, Señora Berganza continues to perform concerts and give master classes all over the world. FIMEL is incredibly honored to welcome internationally acclaimed opera singer and recording artist, Teresa Berganza, as our first Artist in Residence.
www.teresaberganza.comFounding Director
Genaro Méndez Jr.
Mexican-American lyric tenor Genaro Méndez Jr. (Elko, NV) has a versatile and wide-ranging career as a leading operatic tenor, chamber and solo recitalist, and voice professor. His most recent operatic performances include Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles and Tibalt in Romeo and Julie with Wichita Grand Opera, and featured roles with Heartland Opera Theater, Springfield Regional Opera, Eugene Opera, and Colorado Opera Troupe. As an oratorio and chamber music soloist, he has performed with Voices of Omaha, the Martha’s Vineyard Music Festival, Bach Aria Soloists, Reno Chamber Orchestra, and the Reno Philharmonic.
A Nevada native, Genaro began his musical studies and performing career under the late master teacher of voice and Nevada Opera founder, Ted Puffer. Under Maestro Puffer’s musical guidance, Genaro performed in over 30 Nevada Opera productions, from chorus member to comprimario to leading tenor. Genaro continues his mentor’s tradition as a current teacher of vocal technique, diction, and repertoire with a focus on Spanish and Latin American art song.
www.arts.ku.edu/musicdance/faculty/mendezgenaroFaculty
Julio Alexis Muñoz
Master vocal coach and pianist Julio Alexis Muñoz (Madrid, Spain) is a leading expert in Spanish art song and zarzuela, performing in concert halls throughout Europe, America, the Middle East and Japan. Performing frequently with mezzo-soprano Teresa Berganza, he has also recorded for radio, television, and CD and is professor of vocal repertoire at the Escuela Superior de Canto in Madrid, Spain.
www.julioalexis.com
Carlos Gutkin
Argentinean classical guitarist Carlos Gutkin (Portugal) is a professor of guitar and director of guitar ensembles in the Escola de Música Nossa Senhora do Cabo, in the city of Linda á Velha, Portugal. After years of musical studies in Cuba and Spain, Carlos has become a prolific composer, collaborative performer, and recording artist. His most recent 2008 CD, Jardíns de Luz, presents a variety of beautiful compositions for guitar and flute.
Purchase a CDwww.myspace.com/carlosgutkin
Michelle Heffner Hayes
American dancer, choreographer, and teacher Michelle Heffner Hayes is an avid aficionado of tango, flamenco and baile popular. An Associate Professor of Dance at KU, Michelle teaches modern dance, improvisation, choreography, dance history and flamenco. She served for more than a decade as curator and director of organizations devoted to multidisciplinary performance and the commissioning of new work. Her forthcoming book is titled Flamenco: Conflicting Histories of the Dance.
www.arts.ku.edu/musicdance/faculty/heffnerhayesmichelle/
Helen Tintes-Schuermann
American voice teacher / mezzo-soprano Helen Tintes-Schuermann performs operatic roles that include Carmen, Azucena, and the Medium, as well as frequent concert and recital engagements. Her European credits include Barcelona’s Teatro del Gran Liceu, the Frankfurt Alte Oper, and the Monte Carlo Festival du Printemps. In 2008, Helen released a CD of Spanish vocal music, Para Entonces, and is the co-founder and director of the International Course in Spanish Music.
www.tinteschuermann.org
Charles Badami
American pianist Charles Badami (Bakersfield, CA) is an Instructor and Collaborative Pianist at Northwest Missouri State University, and recently completed a Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance and Collaborative Arts at Northwestern University. An active teacher, vocal coach, piano soloist, and chamber musician, Charles has worked with Eugene Opera, the Oregon Bach Festival, the Musica da Camera orchestra, and most recently the Chicago Symphony Chorus.
www.nwmissouri.edu/dept/music/faculty/badami.htmStudent Performers
Olivia Betzen
Kansas soprano Olivia Betzen (Shawnee Mission) is a senior in Vocal Performance at the University of Kansas. Her multiple stage successes include Sandy in Grease, Ella in Patience, and most recently, Une Pastourelle in Ravel’s L’enfant et les Sortileges. Olivia has also won numerous awards, including 1st place in the Upper College Women’s division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional Competition.
Alejandro González del Cerro
Spanish tenor Alejandro González del Cerro (Santander, Cantabria) is an accomplished artist in opera, zarzuela, concert, and song. A student at the Escuela Superior de canto de Madrid and Fundación Marcelino Botin scholarship recipient, his zarzuela and opera performances include Amigos del Arte, Doña Francisquita, The Tales of Hoffman and Gianni Schicchi. He has also been featured as a solo artist with the Castillo de Argüeso.
Ixtaso Moriones
Spanish soprano Itxaso Moriones (Pamplona, Navarre) is currently in her last year of vocal studies at the Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid. Her feature roles in opera and zarzuela include Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Caballero’s El Duo de la Africana. Other accolades include finalist in the International Competition of Song and special prize in the International Song Competition of J. Gayarre.
Nathan Salazar
American pianist Nathen Salazar (Santa Fe, NM) made his orchestral debut at 16 with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and is currently pursing degrees in Piano and Vocal performance at KU. Hoping to work as a coach, collaborative artist, and teacher, Nate has already won numerous competitions, including the Santa Fe Pro Musica Young Artist Audition, New Mexico Symphony Concerto Competition, and the Kansas City Music Clubs.
Damián del Castillo
Spanish baritone Damián del Castillo (Úbeda, Andalusia) has performed in Europe and the U.S in such quintessential operatic roles as Papageno in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Belcore in Donizetti’s L´elisir d´amore. A versatile performer, Damián has performed on the stages of Chicago, la Scala, and el Teatro Real. He is also an accomplished concert soloist, interpreting the music of Mozart, Haydn, and Fauré.
Katie Bieber
Kansas mezzo-soprano Katie Bieber (Manhattan) is a senior in the Vocal Performance degree program at the University of Kansas. Her recent KU Opera performances include ensembles in Patience, La Traviata, and Tales of Hoffman and feature roles as the shepherd and the dragonfly in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges. She is an Irene Peabody Vocal Scholarship recipient and Vice President of Mu Phi Epsilon at KU.
Holly Wrensch
American lyric mezzo-soprano Holly Wrensch (Marshfield, WI) brings soulful interpretation to every performance. An accomplished singing actress and a voice faculty member at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, Holly’s leading roles include Carmen, Marriage of Figaro, and Die Fledermaus, with companies such as Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Union Avenue Opera Theatre, and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.
Yara Gutkin
SPANISH-PORTUGUESE PIANIST Yara Gutkin (Lisbon), a graduate student at KU, performed her first piano concerto with the ESART Symphony Orchestra. Spain’s Diário Vasco wrote, “It’s hard to believe that [one] of such age could reach such a level...the interpretation was something marvelous”. Other accolades include 1st place in the Ourém, Portugal national piano competition and Honorable Mention as a Galego-Portugues Competition finalist in Spain.