JTVA ARTISTIC ADVISORY COUNCIL
JTVA is fortunate to have the expertise and guidance of a diverse group of professional artists and educators from the performing arts world to help us in our development and growth. This Artistic Advisory Council assists JTVA in two capacities. First, they take an active role by teaching master classes, performing at events and recitals, judging competitions, and participating in related educational and performance activities. Second, they serve as a sounding board and provide feedback on ideas, as well as offer insight drawn from their collective professional experience.
STEVE AIKEN
General and artistic director of Shreveport Opera, former general director for advancement at Nashville Opera, and executive director of Opera Memphis.
JAMIE BARTON
American mezzo-soprano with numerous honors including the 2017 Beverly Sills Artist Award, the 2015 Richard Tucker Award, the 2014 International Opera Award in the Young Singer category, the 2014 Marian Anderson Award, the Main and Song Prizes at the 2013 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and grand prize winner of the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
GREGORY BUCHALTER
Artistic Director and conductor of Opera Fairbanks, Opera Las Vegas and Opera Camerata of Washington who is also a cover conductor at the Metropolitan Opera where the position of "Maestro di Banda" was created for him.
PATRICIA CRAIG
Renowned American operatic soprano and voice teacher at the San Francisco Conservatory since 2010, formerly on the voice faculty of New England Conservatory of Music. Board president of American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria
ROBIN FISHER
Lyric Coloratura Soprano with world-wide performance experience is currently a professor of voice at Sacramento State University. She is co-author of American Art Song & American Poetry (2012) as well as The Selected Writings of John Duke (2007).
SHERI GREENAWALD
Internationally known operatic soprano, voice teacher, and director of the San Francisco Opera Center since 2002.
Ronny Michael Greenberg
Pianist, opera coach, producer, and full-time member of San Francisco Opera’s music staff, Ronny Michael Greenberg is a leading innovator in the world of performing arts.
JAKE HEGGIE
American composer of opera, vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. He is best known for his operas and songs as well as for his collaborations with internationally renowned performers and writers.
MICHAEL HIX
Baritone opera singer and holds degrees in music theory, historical musicology, and voice performance. He is the Coordinator of Vocal Studies and the Associate Chair of the Department of Music at the University of New Mexico.
BRANDON JOVANOVICH
International operatic tenor and winner of the 2007 Richard Tucker Award.
Lise Lindstrom
American Dramatic Soprano and two time Helpmann Award winner for Best Female Performer in an Opera.
SUSANNE MENTZER
World-renowned operatic mezzo-soprano, recording artist, voice teacher, and arts advocate.
JOSE LUIS MOSCOVICH
General Director at West Bay Opera
MICHAEL NUTTER
Artistic Director and Stage Director for the Capitol City Opera Company in Atlanta, Georgia, with over 27 years of professional work in opera, classical music and theater.
Clara Osowski
Clara Osowski is an active soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Europe. Clara serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Source Song Festival, a week-long art song festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
DR. GENE PETERSON
Director of choral activities at California Baptist University, Riverside, CA.
Patricia Racette
Internationally acclaimed soprano and gifted stage actor, stage director, master teacher, and Director of the Gerdine Young Artist Programs at Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
Brian Staufenbiehl
Creative director and stage director for Opera Parallèle since 2007, Brian Staufenbiel actively works across a wide range of artistic disciplines.
HECTOR VASQUEZ
Operatic baritone, teacher, clinician and adjudicator, and former program director for the Houston Grand Opera Studio.
DEBORAH VOIGT
American operatic soprano who has performed in opera houses and concert halls worldwide.
Frederica von Stade
Described by the New York Times as “one of America’s finest artists and singers,” Frederica von Stade continues to be extolled as one of the music world’s most beloved figures. Known to family, friends, and fans by her nickname “Flicka,” the mezzo-soprano has enriched the world of classical music for four and a half decades. Though she retired from full-time performances in 2010, she continues to make appearances across the United States.