Meet the Students of "Pass the Torch"
John Darrenkamp, Artistic Director of OperaLancaster, passes the torch to Brenten Megee.
Brenten Megee is a well-known classical/inspirational vocalist who began performing locally at the age of ten. Brenten has studied voice with John Darrenkamp and is currently earning his Masters in Voice at West Chester University studying under Dr. Stephen Ng. Brenten took first place in the College Division of OperaLancaster Associates Vocal Competition in 2015 and Performed a very well-received Lemonade Concert entitled "Music That Inspires" this past August.
Brenten Megee is a well-known classical/inspirational vocalist who began performing locally at the age of ten. Brenten has studied voice with John Darrenkamp and is currently earning his Masters in Voice at West Chester University studying under Dr. Stephen Ng. Brenten took first place in the College Division of OperaLancaster Associates Vocal Competition in 2015 and Performed a very well-received Lemonade Concert entitled "Music That Inspires" this past August.
Pianist Xun Pan, of Millersville University, will be passing the torch to Ruby Rublesky.
Ruby has performed in various halls and notable venues across the tristate area. She has also been invited to perform as a guest performer the Gretna Music Festival as a first listen artist. An active performer, Ms. Rublesky has competed in many competitions. In 2015, she was a Finalist in the Lancaster Instrumentalist Competition, in 2014 she won First Place in the Music School of Delaware Piano Competition, and was a recipient of the Watermark grant. She has also had opportunities to play for distinguished concert pianists such as Natalie Zhu and Merel Guneyman. Her teachers have included Dr. Charles Abramovic and Dr. Igor Resnianksi, among others.
Currently, Ms. Rublesky is studying piano performance at Millersville University under Dr. Xun Pan. In addition to performing as a soloist, Ms. Rublesky enjoys composing her own music and playing in ensembles.
Ruby has performed in various halls and notable venues across the tristate area. She has also been invited to perform as a guest performer the Gretna Music Festival as a first listen artist. An active performer, Ms. Rublesky has competed in many competitions. In 2015, she was a Finalist in the Lancaster Instrumentalist Competition, in 2014 she won First Place in the Music School of Delaware Piano Competition, and was a recipient of the Watermark grant. She has also had opportunities to play for distinguished concert pianists such as Natalie Zhu and Merel Guneyman. Her teachers have included Dr. Charles Abramovic and Dr. Igor Resnianksi, among others.
Currently, Ms. Rublesky is studying piano performance at Millersville University under Dr. Xun Pan. In addition to performing as a soloist, Ms. Rublesky enjoys composing her own music and playing in ensembles.
Heidi Shannon, of Lancaster Bible College, will pass the torch to Candice Quinn Robbins.
Candice Quinn is a recent graduate from Lancaster Bible College, where she received a BA in Vocal Performance. She recently was awarded first place at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition. She has been involved with Opera Lancaster, recently playing the role of Despina in their children’s production of Opera Tales: The Three Little Pigs, and was seen playing the role of Spirit in their last production, Dido and Aeneas. Candice toured the country performing over 300 shows a year with Re-Creation USA at veterans hospitals, schools, and fairs. She is currently involved with an organization called S.W.A.N. (Scaling Walls One Note at a Time), where she provides voice lessons to children with incarcerated and single parents. She is honored to have been given the opportunity to perform alongside her teacher, friend, and inspiration!
Candice Quinn is a recent graduate from Lancaster Bible College, where she received a BA in Vocal Performance. She recently was awarded first place at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition. She has been involved with Opera Lancaster, recently playing the role of Despina in their children’s production of Opera Tales: The Three Little Pigs, and was seen playing the role of Spirit in their last production, Dido and Aeneas. Candice toured the country performing over 300 shows a year with Re-Creation USA at veterans hospitals, schools, and fairs. She is currently involved with an organization called S.W.A.N. (Scaling Walls One Note at a Time), where she provides voice lessons to children with incarcerated and single parents. She is honored to have been given the opportunity to perform alongside her teacher, friend, and inspiration!
Former Lancaster native Emily Riggs, of Eastern Connecticut State University, will pass the torch to Alexis Kurtz.
Alexis is delighted to be singing this Special Event alongside the other talented performers in our line up. Some of her favorite acting and singing credits include "Dancing at Lughnasa," and Nellie in "South Pacific" at Eastern Connecticut State University, "A View from the Bridge," with The Dionysus Theatre Company, and performing with Josh Groban along with her fellow ECSU Chamber Singers in his recent 2016 appearances at the Mohegan Sun Casino and the Oakdale Theater in Connecticut. Alexis earned a B.A. in Theatre with a Concentration in Acting/Directing from Eastern Connecticut State University where she had the privilege to study voice with Dr. Emily Riggs. She is currently having a blast bartending and pet-sitting while working towards the possibility of entering graduate school in Fall 2017 to pursue an MFA in Acting.
Alexis is delighted to be singing this Special Event alongside the other talented performers in our line up. Some of her favorite acting and singing credits include "Dancing at Lughnasa," and Nellie in "South Pacific" at Eastern Connecticut State University, "A View from the Bridge," with The Dionysus Theatre Company, and performing with Josh Groban along with her fellow ECSU Chamber Singers in his recent 2016 appearances at the Mohegan Sun Casino and the Oakdale Theater in Connecticut. Alexis earned a B.A. in Theatre with a Concentration in Acting/Directing from Eastern Connecticut State University where she had the privilege to study voice with Dr. Emily Riggs. She is currently having a blast bartending and pet-sitting while working towards the possibility of entering graduate school in Fall 2017 to pursue an MFA in Acting.
