Opera Santa Babara Announces Mosher Studio Artists

Opera Santa Barbara has named four outstanding young vocalists Mosher Studio Artists for 2016-17. Under an expansion of the company's artist residency program begun last year, the four standout singers and an apprentice vocal coach will take part in Opera Santa Barbara productions, community events throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and coachings and masterclasses with top industry directors and conductors.

Serving as Mosher Studio Artists this year are soprano Elizabeth Kelsay, mezzo-soprano Molly Clementz, tenor Elliott Deasy, and baritone Evan Bravos. Their residencies will extend through May. Biographies appear below.

"We are pleased to welcome these four exceptionally talented young artists, and look forward to introducing them to audiences all over Santa Barbara and beyond," said Opera Santa Barbara Artistic Director Kostis Protopapas.

Under its original artist residency program, founded nine years ago, Opera Santa Barbara hosted four singers for about five weeks of training and rehearsals prior to each of the company's three annual opera productions, culminating in on-stage appearances as secondary performers. The effort was originally known as the Young Artists Program and was later renamed the Studio Artist Program. The Mosher Foundation, which supports educational, healthcare, and performing arts institutions in the Santa Barbara area, funded an expansion of the program in 2014.

Under the new Mosher Studio Artist Program - inaugurated last season - participants tour elementary schools in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as part of the company's Opera Lab, which uses improvisational theatre techniques to encourage children to "create their own operas." Mosher Studio Artists also present free noontime concerts in Santa Barbara and Ventura County libraries, and will perform secondary roles in Opera Santa Barbara's upcoming productions of Carmen (November 4 and 6), The Cunning Little Vixen (March 3 and 5), and La Rondine (April 28 and 30). The free noontime concerts feature a variety of operatic repertoire and musical theatre selections with piano accompaniment. A performance schedule is available at www.operasb.org/outreach/free-noontime-concerts.

Founded in 1994 by Marilyn Gilbert and Nathan Rundlett, Opera Santa Barbara is committed to presenting productions and educational programs of the highest quality. Over more than two decades the company has staged more than 50 operas and devoted thousands of hours to community outreach. The organization remains dedicated to the core passions that animated its founding: celebrating and championing the breadth and beauty of opera, and contributing to the cultural enrichment of the Santa Barbara community. Additional information is available at www.operasb.org.