A Weird and Wacky Halloween Night
at the Opera Cast

André Chiang

Baritone André Chiang was described as “vocally commanding” (Oregonian), “handsome of voice” (Opera News), and lauded with “let’s hear more from this singer” (Washington Post). Chiang’s recent engagements include Dandini (La cenerentola) and Masetto (Don Giovanni) with Dayton Opera, The Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance) with Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre, Older Thompson (Glory Denied) and Silvio (Pagliacci) with Painted Sky Opera, and Escamillo (Carmen) with Mobile Opera. Previous credits include Young Galileo/Salviati (Galileo Galilei), for which he was commercially recorded, and Ford (Falstaff) with Portland Opera; Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd) with Virginia Opera; and Lancelot in the Young Artist Matinee of Camelot at the Glimmerglass Festival. Competition honors include Regional Finalist for the MONC Auditions, Winner of the 59th NFMC 2017 Biennial Young Artist Award, and Winner of the 45th NATS Artist Awards Competition. Chiang’s Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall debut came as the Baritone soloist in the World Premiere of Martin Palmeri’s Gran Misa. Upcoming engagements include Marcello (La bohème) with Opera Western Reserve, Baritone Soloist in The Seasons with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Yamadori/Commissioner (Madama Butterfly) with New Orleans Opera, Captain Smith (A Capacity for Evil) with Opera Las Vegas, and Father (Fearless (workshop)) with Opera Delaware. 

As an educator, Chiang was a 2018 NATS Intern, designated a 2019 “National Center for Voice and Speech trained Vocologist”, featured at the 2020 and 2022 NATS National Conference, and a part of the first cohort of Pan American Vocology Association – Recognized Vocologists (PAVA-RV) in 2022. Chiang is an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, an Instructor of Voice at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, and runs a private online and in-person studio teaching acoustic and amplified styles. www.andrechiangbaritone.com

Austin Williams

Austin Williams is a tenor from Carriere, Mississippi. Currently ABD at University of Mobile, he is finishing his doctorate in vocal performance with a focus in vocal pedagogy. He has had an active performance career across the southern United States and the Caribbean. Recent highlights include being a featured soloist in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for Christmas Concerts, Ferrando in University of Mobile's production of Cosi fan Tutte, The Witch in Opera Birmingham's Hansel and Gretel as well as a performer in the Natchez Festival of Music's Rossini, Puccini, and Martinis event.

Carlos Varela

Carlos Varela is a young Venezuelan pianist and teacher. He has won numerous prizes and awards at national and international piano competitions in various countries, as well as scholarships for summer festivals and master classes in Europe. He has performed as soloist with several orchestras, including the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Caracas, the “Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho” Symphony Orchestra, and the “Jóvenes Arcos” Youth Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has also offered recitals of solo piano and chamber music in Costa Rica, Peru, the U.S and Venezuela. From 2012 until 2016, Carlos was part of the piano faculty at the “Simón Bolívar” Conservatory of Music where he taught applied piano and class piano, as well as served as a collaborative pianist. He earned his Bachelor´s degree from the Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes under the guidance of Professor Igor Lavrov, and his Master´s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi where he studied with Dr. Elizabeth Moak. He recently received his DMA´s degree from the University of Georgia where he studied with Dr. Evgeny Rivkin.

Carroll Freeman

Dustin Gonzales

Dustin Gonzales is a tenor from San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Louisiana State University with his Bachelors in Music Education and the University of Mobile with his Masters in Vocal Performance. You may have seen Dustin perform in many productions across the Southeast such as the University of Mobile’s production of The Old Maid and The Thief as Bob, as a lead singer in Festival South’s The British Invasion, Opera Louisiane’s H.M.S Pinafore, or Everblue Art’s production of Band Geeks as Elliot. Dustin is excited to make his debut on the Opera Mississippi stage as J.W!

JJ Haight

JoAnna Pope

American mezzo-soprano and Mississippi native, JoAnna Pope, (she/her/hers) has been praised as a “marvelous mezzo-soprano” and is quickly gaining acclaim in the operatic sphere. Some operatic roles Ms. Pope has performed include the Second Witch and Spirit of Mercury (Dido and Aeneas) with Sarasota Opera; Proserpina and the Nymph in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo with Ozarks Lyric Opera; Carmen (Carmen) and Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) with Opera51; Prince Charmant (Cendrillon) with Opera del West; she originated the role of D-Do in the world premiere of Michael Ching’s The Birthday Clown in collaboration with Savannah Opera; and the Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) with Vox New England. Last fall, JoAnna made her debut with Opera on the James where she covered the role of Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia) and returned as a featured soloist in their “Musical Grand Tour” concert this past spring. Ms. Pope sang at the Savannah VOICE Festival this past summer where she made her role debut of Siebel in (Faust). JoAnna is excited to be joining Mississippi Opera for the first time as La Ciesca and Mrs. Nolan in their double bill production of Gianni Schicchi and The Medium.

John Siarris

John Siarris, baritone, is a native of Spartanburg South Carolina.  Recently he was a part of Sarasota Opera’s Apprentice Program. In 2021 Siarris played the role of Figaro in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro as a guest artist at his alma mater Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where he holds an Artist Diploma as well as a masters degree. A few of Siarris’ other favorite roles include, Papageno, Falstaff, Don Giovanni, and The Pilot (the Little Prince). This is John’s first time singing with Opera Mississippi. 

Kelly Singer

Kelly Singer  Praised for her “bright soprano” (Opera News), “impressive artistry”, and “vocal fireworks” (Voce di Meche), Kelly Singer is being hailed as a promising young talent in opera. She has won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in the Arkansas District three times, and has placed in the Joan T. Ades Vocal Competition, the Houston Saengerbund Awards, the Career Bridges Grant Competition, and the Riverside Opera Vocal Competition. Select featured solo performances include Beethoven's Choral Fantasia with the Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra, Home for the Holidays with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Handel's Messiah with the Arkansas Choral Society.

Kristen Marchiafava

Dr. Kristen Marchiafava is an active performer and voice teacher who made her professional debut as Vanessa in the Nevada Opera premiere production of Samuel Barber's Pulitzer-Prize-winning opera Vanessa. Hailed by Patrick Shannon of NOLAtheater.com for her "angelic vocalizations," Dr. Marchiafava has performed leading roles regionally and abroad, such as Mimì in La Bohème in the Festival nel Montefeltro with La Musica Lirica, 2nd Lady in The Magic Flute and Gertrüd in Hansel and Gretel with Opera Louisiane, and Anna Maurrant in Street Scene with the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop. Particularly known for her interpretations of Mozart's leading ladies, Dr. Marchiafava has performed Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Festival South Opera, La Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Elettra in Idomeneo, and Fiordiligi in Così Fan Tutte. Other roles include Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Governess in Britten's The Turn of the Screw, and Brod in the world premiere of The Fruits of Folia by Noam Sivan by the Mannes Opera in New York. In addition to operatic roles, Dr. Marchiafava is an active soloist and has appeared in concert with the Dramatic Voices Program Berlin, Festival nel Montefeltro, the Acadiana Symphony, the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, the Louisiana Sinfonietta, the St. Louis Cathedral Choir, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society, Louisiana Concert Movement, LA Opera Project, and as a featured soloist at the Harrower 50th Anniversary Gala with Frederica von Stade.

Dr. Marchiafava holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Louisiana State University, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Mannes College of Music, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Loyola University New Orleans. She has studied with Ruth Falcon, Philip Frohnmayer, Ellen Frohnmayer, and Patricia O'Neill, and has completed a directing internship with acclaimed stage director, Carroll Freeman, Classical Singer magazine's "2010 Stage Director of the Year." Dr. Marchiafava is on the voice faculty at La Musica Lirica’s International Opera Festival in Novafeltria, Italy and is Assistant Professor of Voice at Southeastern Louisiana University and currently serves as the President of the Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Former students have sung at the Metropolitan Opera, Spoleto Festival, Bayerische Stattsoper, Teatro Regio Torino, Komische Oper Berlin, Houston Grand Opera, and more. Dr. Marchiafava has worked closely with Jake Heggie on his song cycle From ‘The Book of Nightmares’ and looks forward to her upcoming article in the Journal of Singing, “The Wages of Dying: A Performance Guide to Jake Heggie’s From ‘The Book of Nightmares.’

Myka Murphy

Myka Murphy From Roswell, GA, Myka Murphy is a mezzo-soprano, who has been described as “a (vocal) powerhouse…with an abundant quality of strength” (Opera Wire). Ms. Murphy is thrilled to be returning back to Opera Mississippi in their double-bill as La Principessa in Suor Angelica and Zita in Gianni Schicchi. She most recently performed the role of Lady Bertram in a filmed production of Mansfield Park and Baba the Turk from The Rake's Progress at Boston University. Past Highlights include Jackson Symphony debut as the mezzo soloist for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (in Michigan) and her portrayal of the Sorceress in the Juilliard School’s stage production and touring production of Dido and Aeneas with Juilliard’s Historical Performance ensemble—Juilliard 415. With said production, she made her London’s Holland Park and Versaille’s Opéra Royal debuts. Ms. Murphy has a master’s degree in Voice from The Juilliard School and a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she studied with Dr. Maryann Kyle. In 2021, she finished her performance certificate with the Opera Institute at Boston University, under the tutelage of Professor Penelope Bitzas. Currently, Ms. Murphy is developing two new song cycles with fellow Juilliard composing alums, Trey Makler and Ivan Enrique Rodriguez.

Christopher Hart

Baritone Christopher Hart, a native of Ottumwa, Iowa, has performed in numerous productions over 30 years, including Philemon (Marcus), Harvey (Elwood), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Douglas Panch). He was baritone soloist in Carmina Burana with Southwest Mississippi Community College, has performed multiple outreach programs with Opera Mississippi, and was the chorus director for Rigoletto with the Natchez Festival of Music. Christopher is also a multi-talented musician, church music director, and trumpet player. He and his wife live in McComb with their two Golden Retrievers.

Jerry Morgan

Jerry Morgan is a native Mississippian residing in Brandon, Mississippi with his wife Shawn, his favorite soprano in the whole world. He is a graduate of Mississippi public schools, Mississippi State University with the degree of Bachelor of Music Education in vocal music, of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where he earned the Master of Church Music degree, and of Jackson State University where he was awarded the Education Specialist degree in school administration. Mr. Morgan is a Viet Nam era veteran of the United States Air Force and is retired from service as a Mississippi public schools teacher. Over the course of his teaching career, he taught music at all grade levels K-12. Mr. Morgan also has extensive experience in serving either full-time or bi-vocationally as Music Minister in Southern Baptist churches in Mississippi, Texas, and Florida. He keeps active with choral music involvement by singing in The Mississippi Chorus both in the organization’s Grande Chorus and its Master Chorale, the Mississippi Baptist Singing Churchmen, the Metro Male Chorus, and the Opera Mississippi Chorus. Among the productions in which he has sung as a member of the Opera Chorus are Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana, and Madama Butterfly. Mr. Morgan has served on the Board of Directors for both The Mississippi Chorus and the Mississippi Boy choir. He is a member of Brandon Baptist Church where he sings in the church choir. He remains active in church music leadership by making himself available to serve in interim and supply positions whenever called upon to do so.

Derek Meler

Derek Meler (tenor) has performed in numerous operas, musicals, and concerts with such companies as the Nashville Opera, Nashville Symphony, Opera Naples, Belle Meade Baroque, Vocal Artists Nashville, and Seagle Music Colony (Young Artist). Derek made his professional debut with the Nashville Opera as the worker in the world premiere production of the opera Elmer Gantry. Working closely with the composer Stephen Schwartz, he premiered the character of Mr. Clayton in Seance on a Wet Afternoon, which was a career high point for him. Some of his favorite roles include Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte) and Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Derek is currently pursuing a conducting degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. He resides in Hattiesburg with his wife, Brianna.

Keanton Ross

Keaton Joseph Ross (age 13) is a resident of Ferriday, Louisiana, and he is in the 8th grade at Adams County Christian School (ACCS) in Natchez, Mississippi. His interest in theatre started with an opportunity to perform with Natchez Little Theatre, and he is in his third year of being part of the school’s drama club. Theatre is Keaton’s only extracurricular activity because he gets to have fun by being himself and enjoys making new friends. He also loves comedic improvisation and enjoys making people laugh!

Some of Keaton’s roles have been Mike Teavee in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the Head Palace Guard in Aladdin, and a Wickersham Monkey Brother in Horton Hears a Who. He also performed with Lady B in her 2021 Christmas Spectacular at the City Auditorium in Natchez. 

Tony Offerle

Anthony Offerle, bass-baritone. A native of Miami, Florida, Anthony Offerle’s credits include performances with the OperaEstate in Rome, The Cincinnati Opera, Mississippi Opera, Intermountain Opera, Dayton Opera, Wyoming Opera, Pacific Opera, International Chamber Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, Savannah Symphony,  and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. He has sung over 30 leading roles including the title roles in Don Giovanni and Don Pasquale. An active concert performer, Offerle served as guest baritone soloist in London’s Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral as well as St. Giles Cathedral in Scotland. The New York Amsterdam News said of his recent recital debut in Manhattan, "Offerle brought to his selections an exceptionally beautiful baritone, fine technical command and considerable interpretive skill. He proved to be a compelling singing-actor." 

Offerle is a two-time Metropolitan Opera auditions district winner and regional finalist, a national winner of the Federation of Music Clubs vocal competition, and one of only ten Americans selected to compete in the quadrennial Marian Anderson International Vocal Competition. He has studied with such renowned teachers as Italo Tajo and Andrew White at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Dr. Offerle is an Associate Professor of Voice at The University of Florida School of Music and Director of the UF Opera Theatre. Since 2000, he has served on the faculty and been the artistic director of the Operafestival di Roma in Italy.