Dates & Times:
Friday, June 27th @ 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 28th @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, June 29th @ 2:00 PM
Ticket Cost: $52 Regular; $40 Seniors; $20 College Students; and $15 AHS/High School Students
Venue: Lowe Auditorium at Arlington High School
Address: 869 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Librettist: Riccardo Broschi
Conductor: Julian Gau
Stage Director: Hannah Shanefield
ALCINA
Tickets on Sale April 1st, 2025!
This fantastically magical tale navigates complex love triangles, enchantments, seduction, and hidden identities. With electrifying vocal acrobatics woven throughout the score, this opera is sure to leave you spellbound.
Performance Partner
PRINCIPAL CAST
Alcina……………………………………………………………..Kayla Kovacs
Alcina (Cover)……………………………………….Kimberly Ouellette
Morgana……………………………………………………………..Naré Kim
Morgana (Cover)………………………………………….Logan Trotter
Ruggiero………………………………………………………Chihiro Asano
Ruggiero (Cover)…………………………………………Vanessa Moya
Bradamante…………………………………………………….Becca Allen
Bradamante (Cover)………………………………Laura Beth Couch
Oronte………………………………………………….David Rivera Bozón
Oronte (Cover)……………………………………………..Leo Balkovetz
Oberto…………………………………………………………….Cailin Smith
Oberto (Cover)………………………………………………..Megan Hull
Melisso……………………………………………………….Nathan Halbur
Melisso (Cover)……………………………………………..David Smyth
COMMUNITY & YOUTH ENSEMBLE
TBA!
CAST
Kayla Kovacs
Alcina
Bio
Kayla Kovacs is a passionate young soprano based in Boston, and just has finished her Master’s and a postgraduate degree at the Boston Conservatory studying under Dr. Rebecca Folsom. Her most recent opera performances include Fiordiligi in Cosí fan tutte and Alma Winemiller in Summer and Smoke by Lee Hoiby—both directed by David Gatley at Boston Conservatory Opera—as well as Cltyie in the world premiere of Haunted Palace by Sophie Carpenter. In the Spring of 2025, Kayla also created an immersive recital program about her experience as someone with Synesthesia. As a neurodivergent individual herself, she advocates for greater accessibility and inclusivity in classical music, striving to create more space for neurodiversity in opera, and in the classical music community.
Kimberly Ouellette
Alcina (Cover)
Bio
Kimberly Ouellette (She/Her) is a Boston-based Soprano, voice teacher, and communications professional. Known for her “powerful and emotive” performances, Kimberly has found a musical home in premiering new works, reimagined classics, and venues that encourage intimate and accessible audience connections. Past roles include Mimi in La Boheme, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Contessa Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Mrs. Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, and Susannah in Susannah. Kimberly earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern Maine and a Master of Music from the University of Illinois. She enjoys hiking, traveling, cycling, embroidery, and AKC agility training with her Aussiedoodle, Birdie.
Naré Kim
Morgana
Bio
Korean soprano Naré Kim, hailed for her “highly expressive phrasing” and “shimmering warmth of sound,” has performed with Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, Boston Opera Collaborative, Opera NEO, San Diego Opera, Seoul Metropolitan Opera, Seoul National Opera, etc. Her recent operatic appearances include Sidonie in Armide, Night in The Fairy Queen, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Hanna in Die lustige Witwe, Musetta in La bohème, Sandmann in Hänsel und Gretel, and Annette in Hamlet Investigations, Inc. Naré holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Seoul National University and was an Apprenticeship Artist with the San Diego Opera’s Young Artist Program. She earned first place in the La Jolla Symphony Young Artist Competition in 2018 and second place in the Virginia Hawk Competition the same year.
Logan Trotter
Morgana (Cover)
Bio
Logan Trotter is a versatile soprano known for her dynamic performances in both opera and oratorio. She has appeared in a range of productions, including Iphigénie en Tauride (Boston Baroque, 2023), and Le nozze di Figaro (Handel + Haydn Society, 2022). She has also sung leading roles such as Zerlina in Don Giovanni (Boston Summer Opera, 2024 and North Carolina Summer Opera, 2019) and Elisa in Il re pastore (New England Conservatory Opera, 2021). In the choral realm, she is a sought-after soprano, having performed with Marsh Chapel Choir, Odyssey Opera, Boston Baroque, and Handel and Haydn Society. A semi-finalist in the 2024 Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition, she holds degrees from New England Conservatory and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Chihiro Asano
Ruggiero
Bio
Chihiro Asano is a mezzo-soprano based in Boston and is originally from Japan. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy (2022) and a Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance (2023) from the New England Conservatory.In 2023, Chihiro was recognized as a Puerto Rico District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Throughout the 2023-2024 season, Chihiro’s artistic endeavors illuminated her exceptional talent as an interpreter of new music. Her performances were marked by the premieres of several cross-disciplinary new operas and original compositions, showcasing her versatility and artistry on stage. Notable roles include Shizue (Portland Opera) and Naomi in the living room (Boston Opera Collaborative). Additionally, Chihiro participated in the prestigious Marlboro Music Festival in 2024.
Vanessa Moya
Ruggiero (Cover)
Bio
Vanessa Moya (mezzo-soprano) sings across all styles of classical music from contemporary opera to Baroque oratorios. Her past oratorio performances include The Messiah, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, and Vivaldi’s Gloria. She recently covered Sesto (La Clemenza di Tito) with Opera del West and performed Mamma Lucia (Cavalleria Rusticana) with Opera51. She also recently recorded the role of Caroline Norton (Angels of the House) with Ted and Togo Productions. Vanessa holds a M.M. from Longy School of Music of Bard College where she studied with Dana Varga, and a B.M. from Stetson University where she studied with Jane Christeson and received the Orestes Santos Music Scholarship for high-achieving Cuban American music students.
Becca Allen
Bradamante
Bio
Praised for her warm, versatile voice and dynamic acting skill, Becca Allen is a mezzo-soprano based in Boston, MA. Her recent engagements include Sesto (La clemenza di Tito), Carmen (Carmen), Bradamante (Alcina), Jo, Meg, and Cecilia March (Little Women), The Narrator/Mysterious Man (Into the Woods), among others. Her concert highlights include the Alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Missa Brevis in F Major, and Mozart’s Requiem in D minor.Becca was named a District Encouragement Award winner in the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, a finalist in Boston University’s 2024 Soloist Competition, and a 2024 Departmental Award winner by BU’s Opera Institute. She holds a Performance Diploma from Boston University and a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Laura Beth Couch
Bradamante (Cover)
Bio
Laura Beth Couch, lauded by The Boston Musical Intelligencer for singing with “deep pathos” and “radiant affection,” is a mezzo-soprano living in Boston. She earned her Performance Diploma from Boston University where she performed Julia Child in Bon Appétit, Dorothée in Cendrillon, Alice 2 in Alice Tierney, and Friedrich Bhaer in Little Women. Other favorite roles include Tisbe in La Cenerentola, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, and Babette in Beauty and the Beast. Laura has been a soloist for Bach’s Magnificat, Bononcini’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and Marianna Martines’s Dixit Dominus. A dedicated music teacher of over 10 years, she earned her M.M. in Voice Performance from Shenandoah University and her B.M. in Music Education from Rutgers University.
David Rivera Bozón
Oronte
Bio
Colombian tenor based in Boston, recognized internationally for his extraordinary talent and kind personality. Mr. Bozon has been featured in MassOpera productions as Alfredo in La Traviata by Verdi, The Mirror Cabaret and Francisco in the workshop of Caravana de Mujeres by Nicolas Lell. His operatic roles also include the main tenor roles in Siren Song by Dove; Florencia en el Amazonas by Catán; the operas by Puccini: La Bohème, Gianni Schicchi, Madama Butterfly and Tosca; and the operas by Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, Idomeneo, La Finta Giardiniera and Don Giovanni. David is pursuing the Opera Institute by Boston University. He holds a Master of Music and Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory, and Bachelors from the National University of Colombia.
Leo Balkovetz
Oronte (Cover)
Bio
Leo Balkovetz is a tenor and librettist in the Boston area. In 2024, he sang in the world premiere of Benjamin Rossen’s “The Unknowable” (Michel) with Lowell House Opera, “L’Amico Fritz” (Federico) with West End Lyric, and “I Pagliacci” (Beppe), and “Don Giovanni” (Don Ottavio) with Opera51. He was a guest artist with the Thurston Consort, Paradox Opera and Jupiter Opera. Offstage, Leo has penned the librettos for Quinn Gutman’s “Violetta” a queer re-telling of Verdi’s “La Traviata”, Rachel DeVore Fogarty’s “Poor Katy: A Murder Ballad” and a modern treatment of Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito for Opera del West’s 2023 season. He served as the North End Music and Performing Arts Center’s 2024 Artistic Associate for “Orfeo ed Eurydice”. Find out more at www.leobalkovetz.com.
Cailin Smith
Oberto
Bio
A soprano comfortable in both classical music and musical theatre, Cailin Smith (she/her) dares to lean into the uncomfortable, use music as a mode of advocacy, and educate young audiences. Cailin holds a Master of Music degree from the Longy School of Music. She sings regularly with the Lilith Vocal Ensemble and has performed with such companies as MassOpera and Ted and Togo Productions. Cailin is one of the two founders of Voice of Iris, a company committed to staging vocal works for treble voices. She is a champion of new music, a passionate educator dedicated to helping singers of all ages embrace their unique voices, and a librettist of opera and art song with new projects to set premiere in 2025 and 2026.
Megan Hull
Oberto (Cover)
Bio
Megan Hull is an American coloratura soprano with a passion for connecting with others through music. She received her Master’s degree of Music from the New England Conservatory under the instruction of Carole Haber. Megan recently revisited the role of Adele with The Opera Company after debuting the role in NEC’s mainstage production of Die Fledermaus. Past operatic credits include Linfea in Calisto, Musetta in La Bohème, and the partial roles of Ilia from Idomeneo, and Ariel from The Enchanted Island. Earlier this year, Megan performed a featured soloist at 54 Below in NYC, the Rivers Symphony Orchestra, and with the NEC orchestra for their 2024 commencement concert. Most recently she was featured on the Symphony by the Sea’s season opening concert.
Nathan Halbur
Melisso
Bio
Bass-baritone Nathan Halbur has eclectic artistic interests. Notable stage appearances include the world premiere of Wayne Shorter’s …(Iphigenia) with Esperanza Spalding; Bion in Mark Adamo’s Lysistrata (Odyssey Opera); and Leporello in Don Giovanni (Boston Summer Opera). Additional highlights include voicing Dr. Seuss’s Grinch for the Boston Pops; numerous solos in music by J.S. Bach with Emmanuel Music and Cantata Singers; and myriad performances with the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, Skylark, Ensemble Altera, and many more. Nathan has led innovative experiments in choral improvisation, from the multimedia experience Photoplay at The Brattle Theatre, to Nightingale Vocal Ensemble’s debut album Composition Sped Up. His experimental band DREAMGLOW blends vocal harmony, percussion, and diverse art forms.
David Smyth
Melisso (Cover)
Bio
David Smyth is a Boston-based baritone, well-known for his charismatic stage presence and distinctive, warm timbre. He has sung numerous roles in opera, operetta, and oratorio, and recent highlights include Silvio in I Pagliacci, Rabbi David in L’amico Fritz, Count in Nozze di Figaro, Escamillo in Carmen, and Florian in Princess Ida. David discovered a passion for classical singing shortly after completing his doctoral studies in mathematics, and continues to study privately while also working as an associate professor in the math department at Tufts University. He has interdisciplinary research interests in mathematical logic, philosophy, and cognitive science, motivated by his long-term goal of proving that the world needs less AI and more opera.
CREATIVE TEAM
Hannah Shanefield
Stage Director
Bio
Hannah Shanefield earns enthusiastic acclaim for her work on and off of the stage as a stage director, soprano, and producer. In 2024, she co-founded Boston Summer Opera, then stage directed and sang the role of Donna Anna in their inaugural production of Don Giovanni. Other recent projects include directing West End Lyric’s double bill of Antonio Caldara’s Il Giuoco del Quadriglio and J.S. Bach’s Coffee Cantata, singing Four Afro-Cuban Poems by Odaline de la Martinez with Orchestra Without Borders, and Suzel in West End Lyric’s L’amico Fritz. Hannah holds her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a minor in Music History from the Hartt School. Visit hannahshanefield.com for more.
Julian Gau
Music Director & Conductor
Bio
Julian Gau is a conductor based in Boston. He serves as music director of the Horizon Ensemble, the Chinese Ensemble of New York, and the Providence Medical Orchestra, and is a Conducting Fellow with the Chelsea Symphony. He studied orchestral conducting with Bruce Hangen at the Boston Conservatory and music and mathematics at Brown University. He has been music director of Cabaret at Brown University, The Card Game & The Coffee Cantata at West End Lyric, and Katie the Strongest of the Strong with Opera Saratoga. Recently he was assistant conductor for Don Giovanni with Boston Summer Opera and Is This America with White Snake Projects. Julian is also active as a pianist, cellist, and composer, and he loves books, noodles, and time with friends.
Alfonso J. Piacentini
Assistant Conductor/ CYE Conductor
Bio
A native of Puerto Rico, Alfonso José Piacentini serves as Assistant Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, where he previously worked as a Musical Assistant under Benjamin Zander. In 2022, he was appointed Music Director of the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra. Alfonso has studied with renowned conductors such as Christian Macelaru, Gerard Schwarz, David Effron, Bruce Hangen, and Ruth Reinhardt. Recently, he premiered Juana, a new opera by Carla Lucero, as Music Director with Dell’Arte Opera Ensemble in New York. He holdsan M.M. in Orchestral Conducting from Boston Conservatory and a B.M. in Orchestral Percussion from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, where he studied conducting with Rafael E. Irizarry.
Jen Greeke
Costume Designer
Bio
Jen is excited to be back working with MassOpera for the third time! Her previous works with MassOpera include The Magic Flute and La Traviata. She Has just finished working with the Boston Conservatory for their Winter Works program and The Player’s Ring production of Whispering to Dostoevsky. Jen has previously designed for Gloucester Stage’s productions of Wipeout, Thin Place, Love From Halifax and Think Of Me Tuesday as well as Spongebob Squarepants The Musical, Midsummer Night’s Dream, James And The Giant Peach and Holiday Delights for GSC’s youth company. She designed costumes for Lanes Coven’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Servant of Two Masters. Jen has also been the resident costume designer for Bosoma Dance Company since 2018.
Nikki McCulloch
Set Designer
Bio
Nikki is delighted to make her professional debut as a scenic designer for Alcina. Nikki is an Art educator, scenic designer and, and scenic painter for Arlington High School performing Arts Department and her recent credits include Hadestown Teen Edition, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Into The Woods, and A Year with Frog and Toad. Nikki studied Art Education at Massart, where she received a MTA. She has always felt her home was in the theatre were stories are brought to life. She wants to thank her partner Nick, and their daughters for always supporting her dreams however big or small.
Rafe Schaberg
CYE Pianist
Bio
Rafe Lei Schaberg is an American-Taiwanese pianist, composer, collaborator, and improviser. He has performed at venues such as Jordan Hall, Salmon Recital Hall, and Harris Concert Hall. A versatile collaborator, Rafe frequently performs with students of many renowned artists like Renee Fleming, Miriam Fried, and Bradley Williams. He has been the primary accompanist for the NEC Chamber Singers since Fall of 2023. He also joined Boston Conservatory in 2024 as a staff pianist in the vocal department. Rafe is also a dual fellow at the Aspen Music Festival for instrumental and vocal collaboration (2023–24). He holds a BM in Piano Performance from New England Conservatory and is pursuing an MM in Collaborative Piano.
Akela Franklin
CYE Manager
Bio
Hailing from the California Bay Area, Akela Franklin is a soprano, voice teacher, and arts administrator. She currently serves as the soprano section leader and soloist at Park Avenue Congregational Church in Arlington. Last season, Akela directed the Women of Tin Pan Alley cabaret, appeared as Clarice in Caldara’s The Card Game, and covered Suzel in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz, all with West End Lyric. Past operatic roles include Quatrième Esprit and Surintendant des Plaisirs in Cendrillon, Ghita in Der Zwerg, Alice in Le Comte Ory, and more. Akela is a faculty member and voice department chair at Brookline Music School and teaches for The Franklin Studio with Bloch Performing Arts. She also serves as the Director of Education on the board of West End Lyric.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Jessica Bloch-Moisand
Interim Artistic Director & Production Manager
Bio
Committed to music production, education, and performance, Jessica Bloch-Moisand is honored to be the new Interim Artistic Director for MassOpera’s 2024-2025 season. Additionally, she is the Founder and Creative Producer of both Bloch Performing Arts music studios and its collaborative musical company, West End Lyric; and she is on the Voice Faculty of New England Conservatory’s Expanded Education program. A new member of The Society for Performance and Visual Art, the Gena Branscombe Project, and NATS Boston, Jessica’s reputation as a passionate arts administrator, educator, and performer is widely known amongst her community in Boston, the Greater Boston area, and beyond. Select past engagements in the Boston area include her position as the Scheduling & Logistics coordinator at Longy School of Music, formerly teaching voice lessons with the Arlington After School Private Lessons program, and performing as Lola in Opera 51’s recent production of Cavalleria Rusticana.
Anika Nayak
Stage Manager
Bio
Anika Nayak (They/She) is a Boston based Stage Manager and Teaching Artist. Anika focuses on creating non hierarchical and collaborative spaces in which theater and art can be created and experienced as what she believes is at it’s core, a universal language of being. Anika most recently has been the Assistant Stage Manager and returning Teaching Artist for Wheelock Family Theatre’s 2024-2025 season, a resident Master Electrician for Moonbox Theater, the Technical Director and Stage Manager for Anikaya Dance Theatre. Their work has taken them throughout Massachusetts as well as internationally to Ramallah – Palestine, Cape Town – South Africa, Maputo – Mozambique, and throughout India. She is thrilled to be making her MassOpera debut with this performance. For more information please visit her website anikanayak.org!
A.J. Ramsey
Assistant Stage Manager
Bio
A.J. Ramsey is a German-American soprano and technical theater artist based in Boston. A.J. has appeared in numerous productions, including roles such as Charlene in Service Provider, Snout in Ching’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the Fox in Portman’s The Little Prince. Beyond her vocal performances, A.J. brings an abundance of technical theater experience, having worked in roles such as assistant director, assistant stage manager, hair and makeup designer, and supertitle technician. A.J. is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Studies at the Longy School of Music of Bard College and holds an undergraduate degree in Music in Vocal Performance from Towson University.
VENUE
LOWE AUDITORIUM
ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
869 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, ARLINGTON, MA 02476
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