Utah Opera Resident Artists Return to Classrooms Across Utah with LA TRAVIATA & ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO

Utah Opera's Resident Artists take their classroom back on the road for the 21st season of bringing education presentations and outreach concerts - and introducing a general love of opera to public school students and communities across Utah.

Through the Utah Opera Resident Artist Program, four professional singers and a pianist take an integral step between graduate studies and a career, spending their nine-month residency developing professional skills through performances, coaching, workshops and master class sessions.

"These young professionals have the artistic versatility to sing a wide range of music, and exude an energy that is infectious," said Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth, who hand-picks them each winter in a rigorous, cross-country audition process for the coming school year.

"We rely upon Resident Artists to be many students' first experience with opera and the world of classical music," said USUO Education and Community Outreach Director Paula Fowler. "They are Utah Opera's ambassadors as they travel around to public schools and communities across the state."

This year, soprano Amy Owens, her husband, baritone Shea Owens - both graduates of Brigham Young University's Bachelor in Music program - and pianist Sahar Nouri return for their second season in the program. The group is rounded out by Mezzo Soprano Abigail Levis, who was named "Debut Artist of the Year" by the Joy in Singing Foundation, and tenor Tyson Miller.

The ensemble travels throughout the state of Utah offering presentations in schools and teaching students about the art form of opera in a fun, accessible way. Artists receive coaching and participate in master classes with Utah Opera's music staff and guest artists. They also perform in concerts with the Utah Symphony, outreach concerts throughout the state, and often land roles in Utah Opera's four annual productions. Amy will sing Annina in Verdi's LA TRAVIATA and Blonde in Mozart's THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO. Abigail will sing Flora in LA TRAVIATA. Tyson will perform the role of Gastone in LA TRAVIATA. Shea will perform the Second Nazarine in Strauss' "Salome" and Marchese d'Obigny in LA TRAVIATA. All four of the singers, joined by pianist Sahar Nouri, will perform in the traveling production of THE ELIXIR OF LOVE.

For more information on the Resident Artist Program, visit http://www.utahopera.org/connect/resident- artist-program.