Episode 36: We’ve Got Next

Blake Denson

Baritone Blake Denson, praised for his “captivating dramatic interpretations" with “a striking upper register “and "a sound that boomed to the back of the house” (Opera Wire), is a native of Paducah, Kentucky. Recently, Mr. Denson was named a Grand Finalist winner of the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. In the 2020-2021 season Mr. Denson is a Studio Artist in the prestigious Houston Grand Opera Studio where he will make his company debut in the Studio Scenes Showcase singing the roles of Don Giovanni, Ramiro from L’heure espagnole, and Dancaire from Carmen.

Leroy Davis

In 2019, engagements included Leporello in Don Giovanni with Boston Opera Collaborative, Forrester in Cunning Little Vixen, Joe St. George in Dolores Claiborne, and Rigoletto and Fire Shut Up in My Bones as a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theater of St. Louis in. Additionally, Leroy joined the Phoenicia Festival as Belcore in L’elisir d’Amore and Odyssey Opera as Ernesto Malcom in Maria, Regina d’Inghilterra. In 2020, Leroy made his Lincoln Center debut in the world premiere of Intimate Apparel, composed by Ricky Ian Gordon and directed by Bartlett Sher, a debut with New York Festival of Song, Completing the Picture by Michael Ching with Opera Company of Middlebury and proudly joined the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center Ensemble at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Martin Luther Clark

Recognized for his “clear, resonant voice” and “one to listen for” (Theater Jones North Texas Performing Arts News), tenor MARTIN LUTHER CLARK is a first year Ensemble member of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Martin Luther currently holds a Masters in Opera degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and a Graduate Artist Certificate and B.M. degree from the University of North Texas both in Vocal Performance. Set to perform until cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin Luther was to perform in the new opera called BLUE by Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson thus making his debut with the Washington National Opera and also with Lyric Unlimited at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 2020 with the ROC, Martin Luther has sung in two virtual concerts including “Larry Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter” and “For the Love of Lyric” with Renée Fleeming and Heather Headley. Most recent project was the “Factotum” opera workshop where Martin Luther sang the romantic role of CJ rendering his crossover genres skills in opera, gospel, and R&B. While on the East Coast, he has sung with Russian Opera Workshop, Curtis Opera Theatre, the Library of Congress and in recital with Opera Philadelphia. Gaining recognition in the Midwest, Martin Luther was heard as an Apprentice Artist at Central City Opera and as a Resident Artist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. He has sung numerous roles, Galas, and concerts with UNT Opera, The Dallas Opera (cover), The Dallas Opera Outreach, Charlottesville Opera, Opera in Concert, Opera in Concert: In Italy, Opera North, and Wolf Trap Opera.

Raven McMillon

Coloratura soprano Raven McMillon is a native of Baltimore, MD. She is currently a first year member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio (HGO). Ms.McMillon received her MM Vocal Performance at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM) and her BFA in Vocal Performance at Carnegie Mellon University. In the 2020-2021 season she made her HGO debut as Frasquita (Carmen) and Adina (L'elisir d'amore) in the Studio Showcase. She can be seen in the HGO Digital season as Rona Richards (The Impresario), Peter (The Making of The Snowy Day Documentary), and Gretel (Hansel and Gretel). Ms.McMillon will also perform as a soloist in the Giving Voice concert as well as the HGO Studio Recitals. In 2020, Ms.McMillon also collaborated with Lyric Opera of the North as Trish in the company's chapter in The Decameron Coalition's "Tales from a Safe Distance."

Rehanna Thelwell

Mezzo-Soprano Rehanna Thelwell has been applauded for her “superb and expressive power” by the South Florida Classical Review while her “dynamic presence” has been noted by the Washington Post. Her performances have been described as having “thrilling commitment and dramatic intelligence” with “hair-raising intensity” by the Washington Classical Review and KDHX.

In her most recent performances, the New Jersey native returns to the Cafritz Young Artist program for their 2020-21 after a successful first year with Washington National Opera. There, she appeared as Third Lady in the Young Artist production of The Magic Flute as well as Conchetta in the American Opera Initiative new work, Night Trip. Along with her mainstage roles, Thelwell had the opportunity to workshop new works with Esperanza Spalding for “Iphigenia” and Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek for “The Listeners”. In previous years, Thelwell returned to Opera Theater of Saint Louis’ 2019 season as Giovanna in Rigoletto and Ruby in their newly commissioned opera, Fire Shut up in my Bones. During the 2018 season, Thelwell made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Exigence Vocal Ensemble led by Dr. Eugene Rogers. Earlier that year Thelwell had the immense pleasure of performing alongside Talise Trevigne and Morris Robinson in The University Musical Society’s Porgy and Bess as Maria. During the summer, Thelwell joined the Miami Music Festival Wagner Institute for a second time in their production of the Götterdämmerung prologue as the 2nd Norn. In her first year with the Wagner Institute, Thelwell had the privilege of sharing the stage with soprano Christine Georke and bass-baritone Alan Held for their rendition of “The Ride of the Valkyries” Thelwell was invited to sing with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra for their performance of Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky in Anchorage, Alaska. She would later return to Alaska to perform a concert series through the Kenai Musical Society in early 2019.

Tiffany Townsend

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, soprano Tiffany Townsend recently made her LA Opera debut as Léontine The Anonymous Lover by Joseph Bologne. In the 2019/20 season she was seen as Princess Ninette in Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges with Opera Philadelphia and appeared with Long Beach Opera in the Dream Variations concert. She holds a Professional Studies Certificate in Opera from the Curtis Institute of Music. While at Curtis she performed the roles of Brenda in Rene Orth’s Empty the House (a co production with Opera Philadelphia), Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, and Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia. She also holds a Master of Music from The Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College.