Meet the Team

FOUNDING FACULTY

Bree Nichols, General Director

Bree Nichols, soprano and SOT founder, is pursuing her M.M. in Vocal Performance at University of Georgia, where she studies with international baritone and Metropolitan opera veteran Prof. Frederick P. Burchinal. She recently performed as Gilda in excerpts from Rigoletto with the UGA Symphony Orchestra. Last season, she sang Nella in Gianni Schicchi in addition to covering the roles of Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and Madame Silberklang in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor. She was also a featured soloist in UGA Opera Theatre's 2017 Opera Soiree and a young artist at the 2017 Druid City Opera Workshop. A former member of Appalachian State University’s touring graduate vocal ensemble, Quintessential!, Bree performed the title role in Smetana's The Bartered Bride with Appalachian Opera Theatre in 2016. During her time at Appalachian State University, Bree taught voice classes for undergraduate music majors, working with her students in both group settings and through private lessons. She also worked as a production assistant for the opera scenes and full opera productions at ASU. At University of Georgia, Bree teaches vocal diction for music majors in addition to private voice lessons for music majors. 2018 engagements include the roles of Barbarina/Susanna cover in Le nozze di Figaro, Gilda in Rigoletto, and Jennie in Kurt Weill's Down in the Valley.

Bree earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Liberty University in 2015, where she was selected as Opera Musician of the Year for 2014-2015 and Junior Vocalist of the Year for 2013-2014. Roles performed at Liberty include Nedda in I Pagliacci, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Despina in Così fan tutte, and Valencienne in The Merry Widow. Solo concert appearances include Symphony of the Mountains summer tour “Music To Your Art’s Desire” under the baton of Cornelia Laemmli-Orth, as well as appearances with Appalachian State University’s Treble Choir and the Liberty University Chamber Singers. Bree was an Apprentice Artist with Opera Roanoke in 2015 and has appeared in the chorus of multiple Opera on the James productions. After completing her master's degree, Bree plans to pursue doctoral studies in hopes of continuing to share the gift of classical voice with the next generation.

Corinn Keene, Theatrical Director

Co-founder of Stafford Opera Troupe Corinn Keene graduated from the New York Film Academy in 2012 and from Liberty University in 2015, where she studied voice with soprano Adelaide Muir Trombetta and frequently performed with Liberty University Opera. In the 2016-17 season, she took on the roles of Prince Orlofsky in Strauss' Die Fledermaus and Mabel in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. Other productions include The Marriage of Figaro, Pagliacci, and multiple scenes concerts.

Also an accomplished actress, Corinn performs perennially with Fredericksburg's Rude Mechanicals; in 2017, she performed as Hero and as Beatrice in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Corinn has also recently appeared as Ophelia in Hamlet, Imogen in Cymbeline, Goneril in King Lear, and Sally in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!

Mrs. Bonita Keene, Musical Consultant and Liason

Mrs. Bonita Keene has been an educator with the Stafford County Schools Arts Programs since 2000, and was a student in SCPS, having graduated from North Stafford High School in 1984. Mrs. Keene has a degree in Music Education from Emory & Henry College, where she studied under Dr. Charles “Chick” Davis. Mrs. Keene is the current Director of Choirs at Mountain View High School and previously taught in the county at H.H. Poole Middle and North Stafford High. In addition to her role as an educator in the school system, she also volunteered and traveled with Maranatha Touring Choir (a local interdenominational youth choir) serving as Assistant Director for 20 years. She has taught private piano and voice lessons, been a choral festival adjudicator, and appeared as a guest lecturer on topics concerning music education.

In addition to her involvement with choral programs, Mrs. Keene has also been very committed to theatre arts in the county, either directing or performing in many crowd-favorite locals shows. She played in the pit orchestra for performances of Into the Woods at UMW and numerous shows at BPHS. She was the musical director for Oliver!, Guys and Dolls, Little Shop of Horrors, Wizard of Oz, Crazy for You, Once Upon A Mattress, Anything Goes, and In the Heights. Each year, her choral program performs Rutter’s The Reluctant Dragon, taking the show to young theatergoers in the local elementary schools. Mrs. Keene is a life long resident of Stafford County, where she resides with her husband, Greg, and her children Corinn and Evan.

2018 FACULTY

Oleg Bellini, Collaborative Pianist

Oleg Bellini, pianist, was born in Alessandria, Italy. He grew up surrounded by classic music, playing his first concerts as an accompanist to his mother, who is an opera singer. In 2007, Oleg graduated with honors from the Vivaldi Conservatory of Alessandria, where he studied piano; there he was honored with the Ghislieri Award as the conservatory’s preeminent graduate. His studies continued at the Romano Romanini Academy in Brescia, where he studied with Maestro Sergio Marengoni. Oleg performed in masterclasses for Professor Elisso Virsaladze at the Fiesole School of Music and with Maestro Oleg Marshev at the Milano Music Master School. He has attended lectures by Maestro Paolo Restani in La Spezia and Professor Sulamita Aronovsky in London.

Also a decorated competitor, Oleg has been invited to prestigious national and international piano competitions; first place victories include international piano competitions at Oviglio, Rocchetta Tanaro, Terzo d'Acqui, and many more.

Oleg Bellini has performed in concert in several Italian cities including Brescia, Milan, Terzo d'Acqui, Bosco Marengo, and Turin. He taught piano at the Academy of Music in Alessandria from 2010-2012 before relocating to Sweden to study harpsichord at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where his teacher was Mayumi Kamata.

Bellini is currently earning his Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano at the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Recent accomplishments include a collaboration with countertenor Rodrigo Sosa Dal Pozzo, with whom he recorded pieces from various musical eras, and playing as the rehearsal pianist for UGA Opera Theatre’s productions of Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro. Oleg joined the SOT team in 2017, performing Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

Zarah Brock, Soprano

Zarah Brock, soprano, is a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Zarah graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. While attending VCU, Zarah sang several roles, including Hanna Glawari/The Merry Widow, Casilda/The Gondoliers and First Spirit/Die Zauberflöte. Along with her education at VCU, Zarah has studied at various music festivals. She trained at the late Lorin Maazel’s Castleton Festival and also had the privilege to travel to Oman with the Castleton Festival to sing in La Bohème at the Royal Opera House in Muscat. In addition, she has attended the Atlantic Music Festival and Harrower Summer Opera Workshop. She recently portrayed Lucy/The Telephone and Don Ettore/La Canterina with Old Towne Opera. Zarah is excited to return as a performer and faculty member with SOT this summer. Prior to SOT, Zarah will travel to the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival to sing the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni this summer. Ms. Brock is pursuing her Master of Music in Opera Performance as a member of the Opera Studio at the University of Maryland under the tutelage of Delores Ziegler. Zarah will perform the roles of Annio/La Clemenza di Tito and Soeur Constance/Dialogues des Carmélites with the Maryland Opera Studio this coming season.

Zarah Brock has been a part of Stafford Opera Troupe since its founding in 2016.

Rachel Eve Holmes, Soprano

Rachel Eve Holmes is an exciting young soprano, recently described as, "expressive and subtle, with a stunning instrument." (Cap Times) Rachel Eve has performed leading operatic and musical theater roles with Opera Lancaster, The Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Opera Fort Collins, Capitol City Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Intermezzo Festival, Opera for the Young, La Musica Lirica, Loveland Opera Theatre, Fort Collins Symphony, Fresco Opera Theatre, Four Seasons Theatre, Children’s Theater of Madison, The Ralph Opera Center, The University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, and The New England Conservatory Undergraduate Opera Studio.

A highly decorated soprano, Holmes was just named a 2017 Ruth Kern Young Artists Concerto Competition graduate division winner. In addition, she is the winner of the 2016 American Fine Arts Festival Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition, the 2016 University of Georgia Concerto Competition, the 2016 Atlanta Music Clubs Competition, the 2015 American Protégé International Vocal Competition, the 2015 Roschel Vocal Competition, 2015 Schubert Club Competition, the 2014 Kenwood Symphony Orchestra Concerto and Aria Competition, the 2012 Wisconsin Public Radio Neale-Silva Young Artists Competition, the 2011 Carnegie Hall Weill Hall Young Musicians Concert Competition, the 2010 NATS Graduate Division Competition (Colorado, Wyoming District), and the 2009-2012 Schuyler Grant for Career Bridges, NYC. She is the previous student of the late James McDonald, and currently studies with Frederick Burchinal and Kathy Wright.

Recent engagements include singing Verdi’s Sei Romanze with the UGA Symphony Orchestra, Zerlina in Don Giovanni with UGA Opera Theatre, as well as the soprano soloist in Goodall's Eternal Light at UGA, Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living with FBC Athens, and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. Future engagements include performing as the soprano soloist in Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Athens Master Chorale, singing works by Strauss with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra, as well as the roles of Lucy in Menotti's The Telephone and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief with St. George Opera in Utah.

Rachel Eve is also extremely passionate about helping young persons find their voices. She maintains a very successful studio of high school and young adults in the Athens area. Current and previous students are consistently winning competitions, performing leading roles in productions, and are attending conservatories and musical theater schools across the county.

Rachel Eve Holmes first joined the SOT faculty in 2017, teaching private lessons, masterclasses, and workshop sessions in addition to starring as Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

Mrs. Kathlyn Kulp, Collaborative Pianist

Kathlyn Kulp is a local music educator and has been privileged to work with students in a variety of choral and musical activities from kindergarten through college. Miss Kulp received a Master of Music degree in Kodaly from West Chester University in Pennsylvania, and has specialized training in organ, voice and biblical studies. Throughout her career she has earned awards in the areas of academic excellence, philosophy and service, including Walmart Teacher of the Year and Delta Epsilon Chi. Her professional experiences have included convention presentations, music festival coordination, service on accreditation and curriculum review teams, and four years of teaching in Honduras, Central America.

When she is not enjoying time with her students, Miss Kulp relaxes with classic mysteries, worship songs, gardening and cooking. Her favorite musicals are “Les Miserables” and “Newsies”. Her life mission is to train young people in musical excellence to glorify God and encourage others. Miss Katie Kulp currently serves as an elementary music specialist and choral director at Fredericksburg Christian Lower School.

Miss Kulp has been a part of the Stafford Opera Troupe team since its founding in 2016, performing as the collaborative pianist in the Summer Opera Program's first ever production, A Night at the Opera. Since then, she has continued to lend her skill at the piano by serving as a rehearsal pianist.

PAST GUEST FACULTY
2017

Ashley Alden, Soprano

Ashley Alden made her New York City role debut as Barbarina in dell’Arte Opera Ensemble’s Le nozze di Figaro as part of their critically acclaimed Beaumarchais Trilogy. Other favorite roles include a Menotti double bill as Monica (The Medium) and Lucy (The Telephone), as well as Tolomeo, under the baton of J. David Jackson, in Giulio Ceasare directed by David Gately through Music Academy International. Ms. Alden recently completed a Professional Studies certificate at Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Marlena Malas. There she performed with the Manhattan School Opera Theater as Julie in their performance of Susa’s Dangerous Liaisons in addition to many performances with the Baroque Aria Ensemble. Ms. Alden received both her Master’s and Bachelor’s from The Catholic University of America where she was honored with the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music Performance Award in recognition of her work as Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) and Musetta (la bohème) to name a few. While in Washington, DC, she performed with Bel Cantanti Opera as Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Adina (Elixer of Love) and Der Konnigen der Nacht (Die Zauberflote). Recently, Ms. Alden worked closely with Joan Dornemann in her International Vocal Arts Institute held in New York City. In addition to her opera performance, Ms. Alden has performed great vocal works such as Schubert’s Mass in G, The Coffee Cantata, and Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasilieras at Chautauqua Institute with Maestro Arie Lipsky. As a core member of The Mendelsohn Club of Philadelphia she debuted the 2014 Pulitzer Prize winning Anthracite Fields by Julia Wolf. She looks forward to performing Mozart’s Laudate Dominum from Vesperae Solemnness di Domenica K321 with Maestro Giovanni Reggioli and the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra.

Gyuyeon Shim, Soprano

Soprano Gyuyeon Shim was highly acclaimed for debut performance the title role of Lakmé in Delibes’ Lakmé working with the Opera Delaware at 2015. She is, to quote from Voce di Meche, “just such a star with a voice as exquisite as her face and form.” During the 2016-17 seasons, her performances included the role of La Fée in Massenet’s Cendrillon at the Curtler Majestic hall in Boston, Adele in J. Strauss’ Die Fledermaus at Daegu Opera House in South Korea, and Königin der Nacht in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the Chautauqua Music Festival.

Ms. Shim’s 2015–2016 season featured the role of Dalinda in Handel’s Ariodante, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Chautauqua Music Festival and AIMS, Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi at New England Conservatory, Lakmé in Delibes Lakmé at the Opera Delaware and Manhattan School of Music.

Ms. Shim was winner at Connecticut district and 3rd prize at The Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition, New England Regional Finals in 2016. She previously has won 1st prize at The American Protégé International Vocal Competition in 2017, 1st prize and the Platinum award in 2015 at the Forte International Competition held at Carnegie Hall, and she has also won 2nd prize in 2014 at an Austrian competition called Meistersinger-Gesangwettbewerb. Ms. Shim received her Bachelor of Music from Korea National University of Arts, her Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, and her graduate degree from the the New England Conservatory.