Recent graduates and students of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music are making waves in the opera world with several securing coveted positions in some of the nation’s most renowned opera companies.
“We are immensely proud of these talented graduates and the incredible achievements they’ve already made in such a short time,” said Joshua Winograde, director of opera studies. “At the Shepherd School, we strive to provide our students with rigorous training and a supportive environment that prepares them for success at the highest levels. Watching them thrive on these world-class stages is a testament to their hard work and the transformative education they’ve received here.”
As previously reported, Tessa McQueen has been selected for The Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Established in 1980, the program is known for fostering exceptional opera talent by providing unparalleled resources and mentorship from leading Met artists and coaches. McQueen will debut as the Countess Ceprano in “Rigoletto,” perform as the priestess in “Aida” and cover Chloe in “The Queen of Spades.” During her time studying with professor of voice Nova Thomas at the Shepherd School, she performed key roles such as the Female Chorus in “The Rape of Lucretia” and the title role in “L’incoronazione di Poppea.”
James McCarthy, a student of professor of voice Robin Rice, is currently participating in the 2024 San Francisco Opera Adler Fellowship as one of 11 musicians from around the world in this year’s cohort. Most recently in San Francisco, McCarthy performed the role of Collatinus in Benjamin Britten’s “The Rape of Lucretia” with the Merola Opera Program under the direction of Judith Yan.
Tenor Michael McDermott is in his second year as a member of the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera (HGO) Studio. He was the third-place winner in HGO’s 2023 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias and studied under Rice at the Shepherd School. During HGO’s 2024-25 season, he will perform as the messenger in “Il trovatore,” Don Ramiro in “Cinderella” and a tenor soloist in “Breaking the Waves.”
At the Lyric Opera of Chicago, tenor Travon D. Walker has embarked on his second year as a member of the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble. In Lyric’s 2024-25 season, he will appear as Borsa in “Rigoletto,” the first prisoner in “Fidelio,” the son in “Blue,” and Parpignol in “La Bohème.” His journey from the Shepherd School, where he studied under Rice, to the stage in Chicago has been marked by numerous accolades, including the Best Vocal Artist Award from the American Opera Society.
Walker will be joined at the Lyric next season by mezzo-soprano Camille Robles, a student of professor of voice Ana María Martínez who is currently performing as a Jan Miller Studio Artist with the Pensacola Opera. Robles made her debut with the Puerto Rico Symphonic Orchestra in August and performed as Olga in “Eugene Onegin” during her time at Rice. Robles’ accolades include winning the New Orleans District in the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and receiving the Carolyn Bailey Argento Fellowship from the National Opera Association.
Soprano Viviana Goodwin, a student of Thomas, has been named a Cafritz Young Artist with the Washington National Opera for the 2024-25 season. The program offers early career artists training and performance opportunities at the Kennedy Center. Goodwin, who was an apprentice artist with Des Moines Metro Opera, has performed roles such as Eurydice in “Orphée et Eurydice” and Donna Elvira in “Don Giovanni.” This summer, she made her principal role debut as Donna Elvira with the Merola Opera Program.
At the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia, three Shepherd School alumni have joined the ranks of AVA’s 2024-25 resident artists: Daniela Machado, Beautiful Sheriff and Katherine Dobbs. Machado’s performances at the Shepherd School included Tatiana in “Eugene Onegin” and Anna Maurrant in “Street Scene.” She studied under Thomas. Sheriff, who was a student of Martínez, played Donna Elvira in “Don Giovanni” at the Seagle Festival. Dobbs, a mezzo-soprano who studied under Rice, made her mark with roles such as Lucretia in “The Rape of Lucretia” and Ottavia in “L’incoronazione di Poppea.”
Audrey Welsh and Shannon Crowley, both recent Shepherd School graduates, were named resident artists with the Pittsburgh Opera for the 2024-25 season. Welsh, a Houston native who studied under Thomas, will perform Lola in “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Kate Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly,” building on her experience from Rice’s productions of “Così fan tutte” and “Dido and Aeneas.” Crowley, a soprano from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who trained under Rice, will take on the shepherd boy in “Tosca” and Zelmira in “Armida.”
Soprano Stephanie Chee will further her career as a participant in Utah Opera’s Resident Artists Program, which provides intensive training and performance opportunities with Utah Opera and Utah Symphony. One of Thomas’ students, Chee’s recent performances include Lucia in “The Rape of Lucretia” and Valletto in “L’incoronazione di Poppea.”
Lauren Carroll, a former student of Thomas, is joining the 2024-25 Young Artist Program at Palm Beach Opera. Carroll will perform in supporting roles, cover leading roles and participate in concerts and special events throughout the community as part of Palm Beach Opera’s unique training system, which also includes the Studio and Bailey Apprentice Artist Programs.
See current Shepherd School opera students in Handel’s “Alcina” Nov. 1 and Nov. 3. Tickets are available here. Discounts are available for Rice alumni and current faculty, staff and students.