USF Voice Students and Alumni Work Diverse Professional Settings
February 08, 2018
Pictured left to right are Dr. Warren Jaworski, Jordan Houk, Julia Glicksberg, Jessica Beauleaux, and Jinyoung Kim.
Current and former students of the voice studio at the USF School of Music are active
in the arts industry, working exciting careers in opera, musical theatre, jazz, and
more.
Students
Current voice studio singers Jordan Houk, Julia Glicksberg, Jessica Beauleaux, and Jinyoung Kim performed in The St. Pete Opera's Seasonal Sparkle holiday concert in December. Earlier this month, they performed in The Magic Flute with St. Pete Opera. This spring, they will also perform in The Marriage of Figaro and Macbeth with Opera Tampa.
Alumni
Pictured from left to right are USF voice studio alumni Sarah Coit, Courtney Elvira, and Phoenix Gayles.
Sarah Coit wrapped up 2017 with performing the role of Cherubino in the Marriage of Figaro with Michigan Opera and in Santa Fe Opera's Winter Tour. She will sing the role of
Mercedes in Carmen with Seattle Opera in May.
This month, Courtney Elvira wraps up her time spent as Third Spirit and cover of Third Lady in The Magic Flute with St. Pete Opera. In the summer, she will return to Des Moines Metro Opera once
again as an Apprentice Artist, covering Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus.
She will also perform with Opera Ithica in New York in the fall.
Phoenix Gayles, winner of the Denver Metropolitan Opera Auditions, performs the lead role of Hanna
in Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow with Loveland Opera running late February through early March.
Siobhan Monique (left) and Briana Moten (right)
Siobhan Monique sings jazz, soul, and blues music as lead singer of her band The Product. She performed
in a sold-out show at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburgh. She is currently working
on an album with an expected release date of summer 2018.
Briana Moten, who received both undergraduate and graduate degrees in voice from USF is lead singer
in productions on Norwegian and Princess Cruise Lines.
Ricky Marenda is a full-time performer in productions at Busch Gardens. In 2017, he performed the role of Robert in Company with mad Theatre at the Straz Center.
Lindsay Nantz (left) and Soleil Oliva (right)
Lindsay Nantz wraps up her performances Suzy Simpson in The Marvelous Wonderettes at Alhambra Theatre in Jacksonville. She has performed an extensive array of leading
roles in musical theatre productions, including Penny Lou Pingleton in Hairspray with Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota and Lily in The Secret Garden with Roxy Regional Theatre in Tennessee.
Soleil Oliva has been a young artist with Arizona Opera touring around the state for the past
two years. She also performs in other classical concerts as well as working in television,
film and web series.
Vanessa Rodriguez
Vanessa Rodriguez will perform the role of Barbarina in Opera Tampa's production of Marriage of Figaro March 2nd and 4th. She also performs with Opera Tampa Singers, an ensemble part of the Straz Center resident opera company Opera Tampa. This summer, she joins Orlando Opera to perform Blonde in The Abduction of Seraglio.
About the USF Voice Studio
Students in the voice studio at USF train with associate professors Kyoung Cho and
Warren Jaworski. They also perform in USF Choirs, which include the Chamber Singers,
Collegium Choir, or Collegiate Singers under the direction of Dr. Jason Dungee, visiting
professor of choral studies. For more information, see About Voice at USF on the School of Music website.