Anne Marie Berg, soprano, studied voice at the New England Conservatory of Music, and recently joined the Arizona Opera Chorus. This is her second year in the PVCC Opera Workshop, where she's sung the roles of The First Lady in Die Zauberflöte and Fenena in Nabucco. Anne Marie is in the studio of Gail Massaro.
	Sherri Hyer, soprano, has a degree in music education from Kansas State University. She has taught elementary and junior high school music for nine years, and plays the piano. She is currently on the faculty of Cheyenne Elementary in Peoria. While at K-State, she sang the role of Papagena in Die Zauberflöte. Sherri served terms as secretery of AMEA and VP of Elementary and Junior High Activities for ChoDA. Sherri is a voice student of Gail Massaro.
	Elizabeth Milburn, soprano, is glad to return to the Opera Workshop for the second year. Last year, she was featured as one of Three Ladies-in-Waiting to the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte. Elizabeth has made a return to the pursuit of voice studies by studying with Gail Massaro, Don Brinegar, and most recently Olga Perez-Hale. She has also been a choral musician for many years in various choirs in the Phoenix metro area. When not making music, she happily maintains a career as an advertising consultant for a Scottsdale firm, and pursues her love for good cuisine through her endeavors in catering.
	Linda Moser, soprano, attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and sang with the San Francisco Opera Chorus. She currently sings with the Arizona Opera Chorus and the Phoenix Symphony Chorus. Linda has been soloist for the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Glendale AZ, and the Pro Cantioni Music Group. She performed lead roles in various musicals, has toured the USA and Canada as a soloist with Young America, and has toured abroad, singing in London, Paris, Luxembourg, Cairo, and at Mt. Sinai. Linda studies in the vocal studio of Gail Dubinbaum, and coaches with John Massaro.
	Esther Boivin, mezzo-soprano is a native of the culturally rich and evocative city of Montreal. Esther is known for her dramatic abilities and interpretations of Russian and French repertoire, which emphasize the rich tone and dark color of her voice. With vocal performance study and degrees from both Montreal and McGill Universities, her strong passion for singing developed alongside her work in the Italian, German, and Japanese languages. While transitioning to the U.S. and studying with Dr. Doan at ASU, she is involved in many voice competitions, ensemble leads, and has been featured in a number of outstanding performances. Although she loves classic solo recital, she has also captured center stage in many opera productions. Her most recent roles were as Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel for the summer Opera Lyric Theater (Toronto) and Mme de Croissy in Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmelites (U of Montreal)
	Deborah DeSimone, mezzo-soprano, a native of northern New Jersey, recently made her professional solo debut as La Ciesca in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi for Musica Nova. This is Deborah's second Opera Workshop at PVCC; last year she performed as Maddalena in a scene from Verdi's Rigoletto. Other class and workshop roles have included Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and Pitti Sing in The Mikado. Deborah has performed a variety of solo oratorio works including Handel's Messiah and Rutter's Requiem, and joined a special ensemble to sing DeMars' An American Requium at Phoenix Symphony Hall. Last December she performed as part of a quartet with members of the Arizona Opera Company in the Biltmore Fashion Park Christmas program. Deborah lives in Phoenix with husband Robert Altizer and two her two adorable kitties, Fyodor and Xenia.
	Cheryl Dionne, mezzo-soprano, is a native of California who started her performing career on the nightclub circuit, playing major cities including Las Vegas, along with recording sessions at Steve Allen's studios in Holloywood during the 60s and 70s. In the 80s, she started her family, with three children and two grandchildren, her greatest success! Now, with hard work, which she gladly embraces, Cheryl seeks to be part of the opera world. Cheryl thanks Dan and Ann for an eye-opening experience in the workshop, and Esther for introducing her to the class.
	Rebecca Morris, mezzo-soprano, has been performing since the age of eight in community theater, school and church productions. She attended Northern Arizona University on scholarship as a vocal performance major, where she performed the role of Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus and traveled to New York, Germany and Austria to perform in various choral competitions. She has participated in the 2002 and 2004 Crittenden Opera Workshops in Washington DC, where she studied and performed the roles of Bianca in the Rape of Lucretia, Adalgisa in Norma, Octavian in Der Rosenkavelier, the Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice, Azucena in Il Trovatore and Dame Quickly in Falstaff. She currently sings with the Arizona Opera Chorus and runs her own vocal studio. She is a student of Gail Massaro and the mother of five children.
	Paul Gallegos, tenor, has been a member of the Arizona Opera Chorus for 15 seasons, and prior to that sang in the Phoenix Symphony Chorus. With Arizona Opera he has been featured in a number of roles, including featured solos and ensembles in Sweeney Todd, and choral ensembles in The Pearl Fishers and Of Mice and Men. This is Paul's second summer workshop at PVCC. Previous workshop roles have included Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Manrico in Verdi's Il Trovatore, and David in Wagner's Die Meistersinger. His encyclopedic knowledge of opera repertoire, performers, and performances is legendary among his singing colleagues. Paul studies in the studio of Gail Massaro.
	James Patterson, tenor, has been a member of the Arizona Opera Chorus for 10 seasons, during which he has been featured in a number of choral ensembles including The Pearl Fishers, Of Mice and Men, and Aïda. Prior to voice, Jim studied symphonic trombone with Gail Wilson at ASU. This is Jim's second summer workshop at PVCC. His previous workshop roles included the title role in Verdi's Don Carlo, Nadir in Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, Ismaele in Verdi's Nabucco, Walther in Wagner's Die Meistersinger, and Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca. Jim now studies in the studio of Ruth Dubinbaum-Koritan.
	Barry Stein, tenor, is a Philadelphia native and has been a soloist with numerous performing groups. Recently, he appeared as Turiddu in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana with Kitsap Opera. Barry also sang the voice for the Prince of Persia in Puccini's Turandot and the First Footman in R. Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier with Seattle Opera. In Seattle Comic Opera's performances of J. Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Mr. Stein portrayed the character of Eisenstein. Past appearances include the Evangelist in the world premiere of Huntley Beyer's The Saint Mark Passion with Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers and soloist in the Rachmaninoff Vespers with the Pacific Northwest Chamber Chorus. He was cast for the tenor role in Mahler's Symphony #8 with the Northwest Mahler Festival. Barry lives in Sun Lakes, Arizona with his canine/feline family, six to be exact!
	Robert Altizer, baritone, has performed principal roles with several opera, symphony, and musical theatre companies. He recently appeared with Musica Nova as Simone in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, and as Simon in Handel's Judas Maccabeus, and with the Scottsdale Symphony as bass soloist in Handel's Messiah. Other recent appearances include principal, ensemble, and chorister roles with Arizona Opera, including featured roles in Sweeney Todd, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Don Carlo, and Un Ballo in Maschera; a variety of lyric and dramatic baritone roles, including Iago, Rigoletto, Rodrigo, Germont, Escamillo, and Dancairo in scenes with Oasis Chamber Opera; and the Pirate King and Ko-Ko with Show Space Theatre's Gilbert and Sullivan Series. Robert was founder and baritone soloist with Canterbury Transfer Madrigal Qualrtet, and one of the instigators of the PVCC Summer Opera Workshop. He and wife Deborah DeSimone live in Ahwatukee.
	John Y. Cleveland, baritone, is currently in his 14^th season with the Arizona Opera Chorus, a veteran of 36 productions and over 200 performances in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff. Recently, he performed the role of Marco in the Southern Arizona Symphony's production of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. In 1996 and 1998 he performed in Arizona Opera's production of Der Ring des Nibelungen, which drew a world-wide audience. In 1997, John sang the role of the Servant in La Traviata. John has performed in numerous recitals and opera workshops sponsored by Scottsdale, Mesa, and Paradise Valley Community Colleges, and in community fundraiser events in Tucson, Arizona, with repertoire from Broadway shows and operas including Lucia Di Lammermoor, Le Nozze Di Figaro, Rigoletto, Così fan tutte, Pearl Fishers, Turandot, La Traviata, Don Giovanni, and Nabucco. He is currently a paid soloist at the First Congregational Church, Tempe.
	John Sipple, bass, has appeared in solo operatic and concert roles with the Dallas Opera Company, Fort Worth Opera Company, Cleveland Lyric Opera, Dayton Opera, Toledo Opera, Treasure Coast Opera, Arizona Opera, Dallas Symphony, Cedar Rapids Symphony, Florida West Coast Symphony, and several others. John is a native level German speaker, and has studied voice and opera in Hamburg, Germany, and Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music.
	Ann Nagell, coach-accompanist, specializes in collaborative pianism and vocal coaching. Her involvement in the fields of opera and art song performance began in New York in the early 1970's, and her work in the Southwest began in 1983. This is the second season that Ann has provided coaching and accompaniment for the Paradise Valley Community College Summer Opera Workshop. Ann has performed in recital throughout the United States, and internationally in Switzerland, England and Scotland. Ann holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College, and later performed there as Staff Accompanist. She received her Master of Music degree in Piano Accompanying from Arizona State University, where she was a faculty associate in Accompanying. Ann has taught on the faculties of Grand Canyon University, Mesa Community College, and The Arizona School for the Arts. Currently, Ann is researching the late vocal works of Gabriel Fauré as she pursues a Doctoral Degree in Solo Performance with Emphasis in Accompanying at Arizona State University.
	Daniel A. Kurek, tenor and workshop director, has worked extensively in Arizona's Valley of the Sun as an outstanding vocalist, pianist, music director, educator and composer/arranger. He has performed with Arizona Opera as Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos, Carlson in Carlisle Floyd's Of Mice and Men, Nick in La Fanciulla Del West, Remendado in Carmen, Goro in Madama Butterfly, the High Priest in Salome and Pirelli in Sweeney Todd. Phoenix Symphony appearances include Kurt Weill's Seven Deadly Sins and Handel's Messiah. His Phoenix Theater credits include music direction for: Gypsy, A Child's Christmas in Wales, The Taffetas (Phoenix Critics' Circle Award, Best Music Director), Mother Hicks (original score), The Fantasticks, Peter Pan, Stones (AriZONI award, Best Music Director), Just a Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Ghetto, Crooners and Country Western Nunsense Jamboree among others. He served as music director and received a Maxi Award for best musical direction for the Phoenix Black Theatre Troupe's 1998 production of Avenue X. As a former member of the adjunct faculty at Mesa Community College, Dan served as music director/vocal coach/conductor for Into the Woods, A Night at the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Mikado, Li'l Abner, She Loves Me, Working and South Pacific. Dan has returned from a 5 month sojourn at the Fulton Opera House in Lancaster PA as music director for The Taffetas, Evita, and Rags. Mr. Kurek has recently been active with the Desert Foothills Theater in Carefree, where he has music directed and performed in All Night Strut,Sweet and Hot, Guys and Dolls and Simply Sammy (a world premier musical tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. co-created by Dan Kurek and Bruce Nelson). Dan made his Austin Lyric Opera debut in 2002, performing the role of Nick in Puccini's La Fanciulla del West and will be appearing both as Basilio and Curzio in Opera Pacific's 2004 production of Mozart's La Nozze Di Figaro, and AZ Opera's Pagliacci (Peppe) as well as Il Tabarro (Tinca). He is currently a member of the music faculty at Paradise Valley and Glendale Community Colleges.