Since 1954, the Merola Program has assisted hundreds of young singers,
many of whom went on to gain fame, distinction, even both.  The nation's
oldest and largest opera training program, named after the San Francisco
Opera's first general manager, has just selected the Class of 2002, from
among 700 applicants all over the world.

The young artists will be taught, trained, watched and supported by
an administration and faculty headed by incoming SF Opera Center director
Sheri Greenawald.  They will have master classes by soprano Reri Grist,
baritone Richard Stilwell, pianists Warren Jones and Martin Katz.

The Merolini of summer (some returning for a second year) are: sopranos
Jennifer Black (Houston) Elizabeth Caballero (born in Havana, now resident
of Miami), Olga Chernisheva Ivanovo (Russia), Shannon Mercer (Ottawa)
Laquita Mitchell (Brooklyn, NY), Evelyn Pollock (Lake Forest, IL), Karen
Slack (Philadelphia, PA).

Mezzo Katherine Rohrer (Deltona, FL); Contralto Meredith Arwady
(Kalamazoo, MI); tenors Philippe Castagner (Montreal), Peter Nathan Foltz
(Knoxville, TN), Simon O'Neill (New Zealand), Scott Scully (Houston);
baritones Sean Anderson (Akron, OH), Markus Beam (Vale, NC), In Joon Jang
(Korea), Quinn Kelsey (Honolulu), Aaron St. Clair Nicholson (Abbotsford,
British Colombia), Daniel Okulitch (Calgary, Alberta), Hung Yun (Korea);
bass-baritone Brandon Mayberry (Wooster, OH); basses David Matthew Bedard
(Calgary, Alberta) and Todd Robinson (Montrose, PA).

As in recent years, apprentice coaches have also been selected.  They are:
Jeremy Frank (Glendive, MT), Eric Melear (Moline, IL), Daniele Piattelli
(Florence, Italy), Kinza Tyrrell (Victoria, BC); and apprentic stage
director Tim O'Leary (Trumbull, CT).

Among the program's public events: what is suspiciously named a
"contemporary production" of La Boheme (but don't worry about Baz Luhrmann
messing around with Puccini here, the local director is Josemaria Condemi,
an Adler Fellow), July 6-7, conducted by John Matheson; the "Merry Wives of
Windsor" in Stern Grove, on Aug.  4 and in the College of Marin on Aug.
11, conducted by Mark Morash; and the program's Grand Finale, in the Opera
House, on Aug.  18.

Janos Gereben/SF
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