John Arnold, Papageno
The young American bass-baritone is already forging an exciting career as a singing actor of the highest quality.  Hailed as “magnificient” and a “singer to look for,” his most recent performances include his much-lauded turn as the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Talbot in Maria Stuarda (University Opera, UW), the title role in Don Giovanni (UT Opera), and Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro with La Musica Lirica, Italy.  A 2009-10 member of the Des Moines Metro Opera Apprenticeship Artist Program, John was the cover for Olin Blitch in Susannah and he will return to make his mainstage debut this summer as Carlino the notary in Don Pasquale, the Sergeant in La Bohéme and he will also cover the role of the Marquis in Dialogues of the Carmelites.  A student of acclaimed voice teacher Julia Faulkner, John is a District Winner in the 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Ian Ramirez, Tamino/Monostaos
Tenor Ian José Ramirez, a native of The Woodlands, Texas, is a first year master’s student at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music and has performed several roles there. Some of his credits include Pluto in Orpheus in the Underworld, Le Fils in Les Mamelles de Tirésias, Don Pelagio in Haydn’s La Canterina, Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus, The Prologue in The Turn of the Screw, and Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro. In 2010, Mr. Ramirez won second place at the National Opera Association’s Voice Competition, was awarded the John Leman Award at CCM, and competed as a Semi-Finalist in the Charles A. Lynam Voice Competition in Greensboro, North Carolina. He has also been a Studio Artist with Opera Saratoga, formerly known as Lake George Opera.  This summer, he will join Central City Opera as a Studio Artist in their Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program.

Stephanie Washington, Pamina /Lady
Soprano Stephanie Washington, a student of renowned soprano Carol Vaness, completed her studies from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. A native of Tulsa, OK, Stephanie has participated in numerous summer festivals including the Music Academy of the West with Marilyn Horne, Central City Opera, and the Santa Fe Opera.  In 2010 Stephanie was a National Semi-Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and Semi-Finalist in the Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition. Other awards include the E. Atwill Gilman Award from Central City Opera. Last year Stephanie performed the role of Musetta in Cincinnati Opera’s Outreach performances of La Bohéme Redux. She is excited to be returning to sing Pamina in this year’s outreach program. Stephanie will be returning as an Apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera this summer.

Gretchen Windt, Papagena/Lady
Originally from Chicago, mezzo-soprano Gretchen Windt completed her Master of Music degree at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. She completed her undergraduate studies at North Park University in Chicago, IL. She has performed regularly wigh Cincinnati Opera including appearances in Le nozze di Figaro, Die Meistersinger, Ainadamar, and Rise for Freedom: The John P. Parker Story. She was an apprentice artist with Sarasota Opera including mainstage performances of Die Fledermaus (Ida). She was an apprentice artist with the Utah Symphony & Opera, and she has returned to Utah Symphony & Opera for several engagements including performances of Macbeth (Lady-in-Waiting). Most recently she was a young artist with the Sugar Creek Symphony and Song. She has also performed with Opera Southwest, Chesapeake Chamber Opera, Bowen Park Opera, OperaModa, and DuPage Opera Theatre. She has performed and covered roles including Hansel, Cherubino, Dorabella, Mercedes, Prince Orlofsky, Jo (Little Women), and Rosina. Upcoming engagements for the 2011 season include a performance with the Boise Baroque Philharmonic (Alto Soloist in Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum).

Melanie Woodruff, Queen of the Night/Lady
Melanie Woodruff recently performed the role of Marion in the Cincinnati Music Theater production of The Music Man at the Aronoff center where she “led with strong vocals and bold movement.” Her latest chamber music performance was the Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 with the Cincinnati Youth Symphony Orchestra. Opera credits include Clorinda/La Cenerentola with the Bay View Music Festival; Königen/Die Zauberflöte, Gretel/Hansel & Gretel, and Musetta/La Bohème with Tri-Cities Opera; Susanna/Le Nozze di Figaro, Mabel/Pirates of Penzance with Miami University; Queen (cover)/The Magic Flute with Des Moines Metro Opera. Other successes include the Encouragement award for the Kentucky District 2004 Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions; First place Ohio Federation of Music Competition; and a Two-Time First place Winner of the NATS Great Lakes Regional Voice Competition. Ms. Woodruff teaches voice lessons for the Musical Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and sings with the St. John United Church choir in Bellevue, Kentucky.