Enter the 2015 Adlers

The 10 singers selected as 2015 Adler Fellows are sopranos Julie Adams (Burbank, CA), Jacqueline Piccolino (Chicago, IL), and Maria Valdes (Atlanta, GA); mezzo-sopranos Zanda Švēde (Valmiera, Latvia) and Nian Wang (Nanjing, China); tenor Chong Wang (Shijiazhuang, China); baritones Edward Nelson (Santa Clarita, CA) and Efraín Solís (Santa Ana, CA); bass-baritone Matthew Stump (Goshen, IN); and bass Anthony Reed (Alexandria, MN).

The two pianists selected for apprentice coach fellowships are Ronny Michael Greenberg (Montreal, Canada) and Noah Lindquist (Brooklyn, NY). The Adler Fellow apprentice coaches work closely with Mark Morash, Director of Musical Studies of the Opera Center and John Churchwell, Head of Music Staff at San Francisco Opera. The coaches participate in the musical activities of both San Francisco Opera and the Opera Center. The Adler Fellow apprentice coaches act as pianists for masterclasses, work with master coaches, and help prepare Adler singers for concerts and mainstage roles.

For mezzo Švēde this is the second year in the program, and she is happy to continue:

The first year as an Adler fellow has been amazing so far: I've had my professional debut and SF Opera debut as Flora in La traviata. I look forward to preparing roles for the fall and summer season. It will be great fun to play one of the ugly stepsisters in La Cenerentola as well as to be a part of a completely new opera, La Ciocara.

I am also currently learning the role of Olga in Eugene Onegin and gradually getting to know the title role of Carmen. Looking back to where I begun just five years ago when I started to sing, I couldn't be more lucky to be in a place where I can get high-level training and professional experience. I am very greatful for the amazing support team that the SFO provides for us Adlers.

Edward Nelson, who sang the title role in this year's Merola production of Don Giovanni, says:

My acceptance into the program feels as if I've received a proverbial golden ticket, a life-changing opportunity for which I could not be more grateful.

To be included among this group of very special artists and to be surrounded by mentors and coaches of such esteem is humbling, to say the least. My only hope is to take full advantage of this moment and forge ahead with hard work and dedication that it demands.

Remaining 2014 Adler Fellows events this fall include performances at University of California, Davis (Oct. 10); San Francisco’s Upwardly Global Gala (Oct. 16); and the East Bay Opera Guild (Oct. 25). The Adler Fellows’ season culminates with a special year-end concert featuring the singers in an evening of opera scenes and arias with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. This year’s concert, The Future Is Now: Adler Fellows Gala Concert, takes place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4, in the Scottish Rite Masonic Center.