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 This season's guest artists:

April-Joy Gutierrez, soprano

A native of Colorado, April-Joy Gutierrez is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, Juilliard Opera Center and the University of Northern Colorado, where was named Outstanding Alumna for 2005 for achievement in the creative and performing arts.  Since her professional debut as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Colorado, she has sung many of the most demanding roles in the lyric soprano repertoire.  She has sung over 30 performances of Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata throughout the United States with the New York City Opera National Company.   Her portrayal of Mimi has been called “captivating, enhanced by her warm, smoky timbre”. Operatic performances include Musetta with Opera Festival of New Jersey and the New York City Opera National Company, Mimi with Gold Coast Opera and Konstanze in Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail at the Caramoor Festival with Will Crutchfield.  She sang Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with Mobile Opera where she was noted for her “pliant, supple, full dexterous tone and rare dramatic artistry.”  Past seasons include a production of Rigoletto with the Bob Jones Opera Association, a role she also sang at Colorado's Union Civic Center with UNC Opera Theater.  Her growing Spanish repertoire includes the role of Rosario in the Spanish opera, La Goyescas, by Enrique Granados which she sang with I Cantori of New York.

Mary Ann McCormick, Mezzo-soprano

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Mary Ann McCormick has been hailed in the press as "charismatic", "spell-binding", and "elegant". In addition to the privilege of working with many of the great conductors of our time, including Wolfgang Sawallisch, James Levine, Christoph von Dohnanyi, and Kurt Masur, she has sung with many of the finest orchestras and opera companies including the New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Boston Symphony, The Metropolitan Opera, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Teatro la Fenice, Teatro alla Scala di Milano, and The Paris Opera. MaryAnn has recorded with the Emerson String Quartet, Orchestre National de France, and The New York Philharmonic, and is featured singing in the Miramax film "The Talented Mr. Ripley". Her recent accomplishments include performances as Carmen with Theater St. Gallen, Switzerland and Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, in Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and a tribute concert in Avery Fisher Hall for Luciano Pavarotti.

Charles Reid, Tenor

CPC welcomes back to this season's schedule, tenor Charles Reid, pictured at left performing in Rigoletto at the Mannheim Opera in Germany. Charles Reid’s 2008/09 season at the Nationaltheater Mannheim included his debut as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, followed by Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and Alfredo in La Traviata. Renowned German critic, Gabor Halasz, wrote, “Charles Reid gave a vocal and musical performance of Alfredo without any limitations or boundaries, with a shimmering tenor voice, flawless technique, extraordinary feeling for style, and very clear intonation.” The summer saw Mr. Reid’s second season at the Bayreuther Festpsiele where he reprised the role of Kunz Vogelgesang in Katharina Wagner’s production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Charles followed this with his debut as Duca di Mantua in the Stadttheater Giessen production of Verdi’s Rigoletto. This fall also brings Mr. Reid’s debut with Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf, singing Sinowij in Schostakowich’s Lady Macbeth von Mzensk. In the spring, Charles debuts as Macduff in the Nationaltheater Mannheim new production of Verdi’s Macbeth, and sings Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. In addition to nine seasons with the Metropolitan Opera, other U.S. opera highlights include performances with San Francisco Opera, Connecticut Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, and Sarasota Opera. Columbia audiences will remember his many performances in Messiah and in Verdi's Requiem, Janácek's Otce nás, and Dvořák's Stabat Mater.

Lester Lynch, baritone

Lester Lynch is recognized as one of today's most promising Verdi baritones.  Hailed by the New York Times as "magnificently forceful," for his Carnegie Hall performance at the Marilyn Horne Foundation Gala, Lynch has been praised for his performances at major opera companies throughout the world.  A native of Ohio, Mr. Lynch has studied at the Julliard Opera School before making his debut as Marcello in La Boheme with New York City Opera.  Other important debuts followed, including Gremont in La Traviata with Houston Grand Opera, Count di Luna in Il Travatore with Deutsche Oper am Rhein and Seattle Opera and Flint in Billy Budd with Canadian Opera Company.  The baritone has enjoyed long association with Opera Theatre of St. Louis where he has received critical acclaim for his performance of Calchas in Le Belle Helene, Marcello in La Boheme, and the bartender in Susa's Black River.  Just this past summer, Lester was heard as Paolo in the Santa Fe Opera's new production of Simone Boccanegra, where the New Mexican said he sang "with imposing force," and that when he was on stage, "the air snapped."  Mr. Lynch has also recently joined the roster of the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Alfio/Tonio in Cavelleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci as well as a return to the company for the High Priest in Samson and Dalila. Mr. Lynch made an important debut in the title role of Rigoletto with Dayton Opera, where he was noted for his "powerful and intensely moving" performance of the tragic jester.

Amy Van Roekel, soprano

Praised by the Washington Post as a “lovely singer and accomplished actress” with “limpid tone and agile high notes”, soprano Amy van Roekel has established herself as a vibrant and captivating performer on both the operatic and concert stage. Ms. van Roekel has sung roles with Florida Grand Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Central City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, the Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia and Metro Lyric Opera in New Jersey.  In recent years she has been a prominent artist with American Opera Projects in New York City and is frequently called on to premiere new works.  This past year she was involved in several exciting projects: Séance on a Wet Afternoon - a new opera by Grammy and Academy-Award-Winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell); Opera After Hours – a compilation of several short operas woven together by acclaimed director, Christopher Alden at New York City’s cutting-edge Zipper Factory Theater; and the world premiere of Oresteia, - a multi-media opera by Iannis Xenakis performed in ancient greek at the Miller Theatre in New York City.  She is in demand as a concert soloist and has been heard across the country with groups such as the Master Chorale of Washington at the Kennedy Center, the National Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Virginia Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Santa Fe Symphony, the Kalamazoo Symphony, the North Arkansas Symphony, Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society. In addition to her concert and opera credits, Ms. van Roekel also enjoys performing jazz and cabaret.  She was a featured artist with the New York City Ballet, performing American standards under the baton of George Steel and his Gotham City Orchestra in St-Rémy, France.  She has been a winner of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Concerto Competition, a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and an award winner in the Washington International Competition for Singers. Ms. van Roekel holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Maryland.

Alison Matuskey, pianist

Alison Francis Matuskey is a music educator, performer and parent who has lived and worked in Howard County since 1985. Born in Guam, she studied piano performance at American University at age 9. Alison received her Bachelor's Degree with honors from the Eastman School of Music, and her Master's Degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Leon Fleisher.  Alison taught music history, analysis and directed the chorus at Villa Julie College before accepting a position as Music Specialist in the Howard County Schools. She presently teaches vocal music at Bryant Woods Elementary. In 2002-2003 she was named Howard County Music Teacher of the Year. She currently serves on the Music Leadership Team, the Peabody Steering Committee, and the Artistic Review Panel of the Howard County Arts Council.  She is a past member of the Martin Luther King Holiday Commission.

Alison's strong interest in vocal performance led her to the Columbia Pro Cantare in 1985. Since that time she has soloed with this group in both piano and voice. Alison accompanied the Chamber Singers on tours to the Czech Republic, England and Poland.  Since 1985 Alison has served as Music Director to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Glenwood, Maryland. She has written over 100 original songs for use in worship. Alison studies voice with Marianna Busching and piano with Brian Ganz, both teachers at the Peabody Conservatory.

Benjamin Bloomfield, Bass-Baritone

 Benjamin Bloomfield is a young bass baritone from Bow, New Hampshire who has worked with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under James Levine, as well as with Ken Kiesler and the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra. He is known for his comic acting, in roles such as Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Don Polidoro in the rarely performed L’Italiana in Londra by Cimarosa. His flexibility as a performer is apparent in his casting history, which includes such diversity as Il Conte in Le Nozze de Figaro, Michele in Puccini’s Il Tabarro, and Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi.

In the 2008 season, Mr. Bloomfield was engaged to perform Bartolo and Antonio in Le Nozze de Figaro with Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance program. In 2009 he has been asked to return to the Opera Theatre of Weston to perform the Father in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdink.

Recent engagements include Santa Fe Opera’s workshop of the new opera “The Letter” by Paul Morovec,  Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and The Policeman in Lucas Foss’ Griffelkin at Manhattan School of Music. In 2007 he performed Frank in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus at Weston Opera Theatre, and completed a residency at the Music Academy of the West, where he covered Benoit and Alcindoro in the new production of La Boheme while performing Taddeo (L’Italiana in Algeri) and Hobson(Peter Grimes) in scenes. Recent oratorio work includes Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and the Durufle Requiem with the Pro Arte Chorale, and the Brahms German Requiem at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

An active recitalist, Mr. Bloomfield has performed both Schubert’s Die Winterreise and Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel in New York. He will be performing the Brahms Vier ernste Gesänge in recital with other selections this spring.

While music is by far his main and favorite activity, Mr. Bloomfield works hard to keep himself a well-rounded person. He can often be found playing his accordion or writing science fiction when he is not singing. He also loves to celebrate his half-Chinese heritage with Chinese and fusion dishes.  Wherever his travels take him, Mr. Bloomfield’s favorite souvenir is a new recipe.

Darren Perry, Baritone

American baritone Darren Perry is widely praised for his powerful vocal ability, flawless musicianship, and compelling performances within the lyric baritone repertoire, including a November, 2006 review in the Washington Post as “… an outstanding Don Giovanni, by turns charming and disgusting, vocally strong and a fine actor.”

 Recently he performed Lockit in Britten’s Beggar’s Opera at Loren Maazel’s private theater in Casleton, Virginia. He began the 2008-09 season at Opera Omaha as Sam in Pirates of Penzance and performed in concert with the Omaha Symphony. In December he performed a holiday concert at the Lincoln Center Library, in January, 2009 he sang Courchemin in Le Deserteur with Opera Lafayette in Washington DC and Ramiro in L’Heure Espangol with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. In April, 2009 he performed Papageno in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote with the Prince William Symphony Orchestra and sang with Sangerfest in DC and in June returned to Castleton, Virginia to be a part of the first Britten Festival with Maestro Loren Maazel.

 Other performances last season included: Bach’s St. John Passion at Shepherd University,  Judas Maccabaeus with the Pro Arte Chorale in NJ, Broadway Classics, a New Years concert with the Westfield Symphony Orchestra in NJ and Brahms’ German Requiem with Master Singers of Milwaukee.  He performed an All Bernstein program with the Fairfax Choral Society, was a winner in the DC District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and gave an evening of Italian Opera Favorites at the Donnell Library, New York City. With the prestigious Merola program at San Francisco Opera,  he performed Sid in Britten’s Albert Herring.

 Other credits include  Baron Douphol in La Traviata and Mr. Lindquist in A Little Night Music (Opera Cleveland), the title role in Don Giovanni (Maryland Opera Studio); Hidroat in Armide (Opera Lafayette); Der Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte (Annapolis Opera); Don Procolo in Viva La Mamma (Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia); Number 7 in Transformations (Maryland Opera Studio); and an Opera Gala with the Gibraltar Philharmonic.

 Aside from Opera, Mr. Perry has performed nearly all of the oratorio canon, including: Brahms’ German Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Bach’s B Minor Mass and St. John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.  He can be heard on the Naxos label as Aronte in Lully’s Armide recorded with Opera Lafayette.

 Mr. Perry attended the University of Maryland, College Park from which he received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in vocal performance.  He currently studies with François Loup.