A Very Merola Holiday Recital

Celebrate this holiday season with Merola alums Maria Valdes, Alice Chung, Casey Candebat, Christian Pursell, and Ronny Michael Greenberg. Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 4:00 pm PST Maria Valdes (Merola ‘13), soprano Alice Chung (Merola ‘17/’19), mezzo-soprano Casey Candebat (Merola ‘12/’14), tenor Christian Pursell (Merola '17), bass-baritone Ronny Michael Greenberg (Merola ‘14), piano American soprano Maria Valdes was recently described as a "first-rate singing actress and a perfectly charming Gilda" (New York Times). An award-winner in the regional Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, Ms. Valdes is also the winner of the top prize at the Corbett Opera Scholarship Competition and recipient of a Shoshana Foundation Grant. Recently awarded the 2020 Richard F. Gold Career Grant by the Shoshana Foundation, Korean-American mezzo-soprano Alice Chung has been praised for being a "force of nation" (SFCV) and "soaring with impressive power" (KC Metropolis). Ms. Chung has sung with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Central City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Tulsa Opera, and the Merola Opera Program. At Merola, she was featured in the Schwabacher Summer Concert and Merola Grand Finale. Casey Candebat, a tenor hailing from New Orleans, is quickly garnering the attention of opera companies around the country. Recently, he performed in Matthew Aucoin's new opera, Eurydice, with The Metropolitan Opera in New York. He is a frequent performer with New Orleans Opera, Kansas City Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and Opera Grand Rapids. Hailing from the Santa Cruz mountains of California, bass-baritone Christian Pursell is quickly establishing himself as a rising star among the next generation of singers. Following a critically acclaimed performance of Dandini in La Cenerentola with the Merola Opera Program (2017), Mr. Pursell performed numerous roles as an Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera. Pianist, Opera Coach and Producer, Ronny Michael Greenberg is a leading innovator in the world of performing arts. A native of Montreal, he has toured internationally performing in opera houses and concert halls including the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, the Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, Montreal’s Place des Arts Theater, and across Italy, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Greenberg is a full time member of San Francisco Opera’s Music Staff. Tickets are $25 for individuals and $40 for households. A limited number of $80 VIP tickets are available that include a virtual reception with the artists. This recital is generously sponsored by Jennifer and Chris Brahm. Maria Valdes is generously sponsored by Bob and Terri Ryan. Alice Chung is generously sponsored by Patrick Wilken and David Dickson. Casey Candebat is generously sponsored by Bernice Lindstrom. Christian Pursell is generously sponsored by Peter and Jayne Davis. Ronny Michael Greenberg is generously sponsored by Barbara Bruser and Richard Clark.