Penn Square Opera's 2024-2025 Season

Voices in
Sacred Song II

April 27
Time: 4:00 pm

First United Methodist Church
29 East Walnut St., Lancaster, PA

*The concert is free to the public. A freewill offering will be taken

Voices in Sacred Song II

Voices in Sacred Song was such a success, that we are planning on it being a yearly event. Come hear talented local singers and choral groups present traditional timeless church music to create a captivating and uplifting atmosphere. You may even hear your favorite hymn! The concert is free to the public. A freewill offering will be taken.

Cast

The Medium

Gian Carlo Menotti

Tickets

November 2 - 7:30 pm
November 3 - 3:00 pm

West Arts
800 Buchanan Ave. Lancaster, PA 17603

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Medium

A scam artist psychic finds herself and her innocent daughter caught in the repercussions of her fraud. Is it guilt, insanity, or a voice from the beyond? Sung in English, let yourself be drawn in by the romantic music, and the drama of a supernatural mystery.

November 2 - 7:30 pm
November 3 - 3:00 pm
West Arts 800 Buchanan Ave. Lancaster, PA 17603

Cast

Katelyn
Jackman

Madame Flora

Katelyn Jackman

Called “winningly wily and dauntless” by Boston Classical Review, American mezzo-soprano Kate Jackman is a multifaceted musician and actress who excels in a variety of musical expression.

On stage, Kate performed the lead role in Oliver Knussen’s Higglety Pigglety Pop! at the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music and “touchingly incarnated Jennie” (Alex Ross, The New Yorker). Her other operatic roles include Amneris in Verdi’s Aida, the title role in Carmen, and Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. She has also premiered several roles with Urban Arias in Washington, DC, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, and The Decameron Opera Coalition.

Kate’s passion for Art Song performance led her to make her Kennedy Center recital debut in 2012 with DC Vocal Arts. She has been featured at Carnegie Hall in Marilyn Horne’s The Song Continues series, at Seiji Ozawa Hall at the Tanglewood Music Center, and in the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar.

In concert, Ms. Jackman has performed solos from Handel’s Messiah at the Kennedy Center, with Helena Symphony, and over internationally televised programming with The Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C.

Later this year, she will return to the Helena Symphony for their new staged production of Sweeney Todd, perform the alto solo in The Thirteen’s production of Rachmaninoff’s Vespers (Op 37), and will present a charity recital at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, TX, in honor of her late mother-in-law, Kelly Hoffmann Jackman.

Bio

Abigail
Martin

Monica

Abigail Martin

Soprano Abigail Martin has performed nationwide and internationally both in concert and on the opera stage. A frequent concert artist, she has most recently been a featured soloist in Bach's B Minor Mass, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Saint-Saëns's Christmas Oratorio. Abigail has delighted audiences in roles such as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, the title role of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, Micaela in Le tragèdie de Carmen, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas in which she was deemed “smooth and fluidly agile”. She has also performed in concert with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Encore Wind Ensemble, Kenwood Symphony Orchestra and is a frequent soloist with the Lancaster Chorale and Orchestra. Abigail holds a Master of Music and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, and is a doctoral candidate with the University of Minnesota. When she is not performing, Abigail maintains a full collegiate voice studio and enjoys spending time with her husband and children.

Bio

Jeffrey
Martin

Mr. Gobineau

Jeffrey Martin

Baritone Jeffrey Martin is garnering attention as a formidable voice of the region. He appears regularly on the concert stage as a soloist, most recently in Fauré’s Requiem, Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio, and Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Jeffrey honed his oratorio skills performing as bass soloist in Mozart’s “Great” Mass in C Minor and Requiem Mass and Verdi’s Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin among other guest soloist engagements around the country. Most notably he sang the role of Jesus in a staged version of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the University of Minnesota in Collaboration with the Hochschule für Musik Detmold in Detmold, Germany in both locales. Jeffrey was also engaged for multiple seasons as a Festival Singer in Sherrill Milnes’ Savannah Voice Festival.

Jeffrey has performed the roles Leporello (Don Giovanni) with Peabody at Lyric Opera Baltimore, Raimondo (Lucia do Lammermoor) with La Musica Lirica, Escamillo (Carmen), Rev. Blitch (Susannah), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro) and The Man with the Cornet Case/Puppet-master from Argento’s Postcard from Morocco of which The Baltimore Sun said: “Jeffrey Martin brings solid tone and exemplary diction…”

Jeffrey holds a Doctorate from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Music from The Peabody Conservatory of Music of The John’s Hopkins University. He enjoys his position as Director of Vocal Studies in the Music, Worship, and Performing Arts department at Lancaster Bible College. When he isn’t teaching or performing, Jeffrey enjoys spending his time with his wife and two young children.

Bio

Bethann
Dilione

Mrs. Gobineau

Bethann Dilione

Bethann Dilione is thrilled to make her debut with Penn Square Opera. She has been soprano soloist and section leader at the Church of the Good Samaritan in Paoli, PA for over 8 years. A sought-after and versatile musician, Bethann has experience in many genres from sacred music to opera to musical theater and jazz. She performs with groups including Vox Amadeus, the Brandywine Singers and Olde Towne Carolers. On stage, Bethann has performed as Berta in Rossini’ Il Barbiere di Sivilglia, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Antonia in Tales of Hoffman, and Mother Jeanne in Dialogues of the Carmelites with Delaware Valley Opera Company.

While earning her degree in vocal performance from Kutztown University, Bethann performed with many ensembles, including solos with the University Choir and Orchestra as well as the Jazz Band. After graduation, she relocated to Pittsburgh, PA, where she sang with many prestigious organizations both as a soloist and chorister, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Opera and more.

Bethann studies voice with Richard Johnson and lives in Upper Darby with her husband, Owen, an accomplished drummer and staff musician at Good Sam.

Bio

Laura Kate
Marshall

Mrs. Nolan

Laura Kate Marshall

Laura Kate Marshall is an internationally, classically trained Mezzo-Soprano and actor. A versatile performer, Laura has entertained lovers of Opera, Musical Theatre, Art Song and the Great American Songbook across the United States and Europe. She has performed with The Little Orchestra Society and the Oratorio Society of New York at Lincoln Center and opened the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a member of the Broadway production of A Christmas Carol. Recent performances include Queen Alonsa in The Tempest with Delaware Shakespeare, Truvy in Steel Magnolias with Stagecraft’s and Madame (us) in the Walnut Street Theatre’s production of Cinderella. Laura has shared her gifts as a recitalist at the Longfellow Institute, Alliance Française, the Clavichord Society of Boston, the Aspen Music Festival, and at the renowned Schubert Institute in Baden, Austria. Gratitude to Penn Square Opera for this debut, and to the cast and crew for bringing a soundless score so wonderfully to life!

Bio

Nick
Adinolfi

Toby

Nick Adinolfi

Originally from King of Prussia and a graduate of Temple University, Nick possess the skills of an independent filmmaker, musical theatre performer and multiplatform writer all wrapped up into one Italian & Puerto-Rican soul (Gemini sun, Cancer moon, Virgo rising). His path to the arts officially started once he entered adulthood (he was previously known as a second baseman / linebacker), but as far back as he can remember, he was memorizing lines from movies and songs on the radio as soon as he could walk and talk. A living example of versatility, Nick is extremely excited to take on the unique opportunity of playing a mute in an opera out here in Lancaster!

On stage, Nick most recently played the role of Paul San Marco in A Chorus Line
throughout August at The Barn Playhouse (Norristown, PA), which he regards as
the most prominent experience (so far) of his nine-year theatre career. He also
fulfilled a summer-2024 tenure with the children’s theatre division of Broadway
Theatre Of Pitman, finishing up his service by acting as a choreographer for
Beauty And The Beast JR. He is a visceral & passionate director with the capacity
to create intricate visions for anything you throw at him, and if anyone out there is looking for their next Usnavi in In The Heights, Mark in RENT, Johnny in American Idiot or Jamie in The Last Five Years, he’s right here!

Bio

Mireia
Frutos

Pianist

Mireia Frutos

Born in Madrid, Mireia Frutos is currently living in NYC as a freelance collaborative pianist. She is finishing a Doctorate in Collaborative Piano at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, where she worked as an Associate Instructor in the Collaborative Piano department. She studied a Master of Music at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary, and a Bachelors Degree at the Superior Conservatory of Aragón, Spain.
​
As an artist, she has performed in Australia, Malaysia, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Israel, and the USA, both as a solo pianist, as a collaborator with a wide variety of ensembles, and as a soloist with orchestra. She has been awarded First Prize in several competitions, like the Musical Youth of Spain Competition, the “Marisa Montiel” piano competition, the “Hazen” Competition, or the “Acordes Caja Madrid” Competition for orchestra, as soloist with the Mendelssohn's second piano concerto. This last one was recorded and broadcasted for the Spanish Television. She was granted the "Artistic Excellence Award" from Jacobs School of Music in 2019 and 2020. She has also been awarded with the “Mutua Madrileña Foundation” scholarship in 2013, the “Musical Youth of Madrid” scholarship in 2012 and 2013, and the “Rotary Club” grant in 2013, for the continuation of her studies.

She has worked as a piano teacher in Madrid, Zaragoza, and Kuala Lumpur, working with students from many different ages and backgrounds. Since 2014 she works as chamber music coach for the summer course “Musique et Montagne” in France.

Bio

Voices in
Sacred Song II

April 27
Time: 4:00 pm

First United Methodist Church
29 East Walnut St., Lancaster, PA

*The concert is free to the public. A freewill offering will be taken

Cast

Abigail
Martin

Abigail Martin

Soprano Abigail Martin has performed nationwide and internationally both in concert and on the opera stage. A frequent concert artist, she has most recently been a featured soloist in Bach's B Minor Mass, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Saint-Saëns's Christmas Oratorio. Abigail has delighted audiences in roles such as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, the title role of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, Micaela in Le tragèdie de Carmen, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas in which she was deemed “smooth and fluidly agile”. She has also performed in concert with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Encore Wind Ensemble, Kenwood Symphony Orchestra and is a frequent soloist with the Lancaster Chorale and Orchestra. Abigail holds a Master of Music and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, and is a doctoral candidate with the University of Minnesota. When she is not performing, Abigail maintains a full collegiate voice studio and enjoys spending time with her husband and children.

Bio

Jeffrey
Martin

Jeffrey Martin

Baritone Jeffrey Martin is garnering attention as a formidable voice of the region. He appears regularly on the concert stage as a soloist, most recently in Fauré’s Requiem, Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio, and Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Jeffrey honed his oratorio skills performing as bass soloist in Mozart’s “Great” Mass in C Minor and Requiem Mass and Verdi’s Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin among other guest soloist engagements around the country. Most notably he sang the role of Jesus in a staged version of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the University of Minnesota in Collaboration with the Hochschule für Musik Detmold in Detmold, Germany in both locales. Jeffrey was also engaged for multiple seasons as a Festival Singer in Sherrill Milnes’ Savannah Voice Festival.

Jeffrey has performed the roles Leporello (Don Giovanni) with Peabody at Lyric Opera Baltimore, Raimondo (Lucia do Lammermoor) with La Musica Lirica, Escamillo (Carmen), Rev. Blitch (Susannah), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro) and The Man with the Cornet Case/Puppet-master from Argento’s Postcard from Morocco of which The Baltimore Sun said: “Jeffrey Martin brings solid tone and exemplary diction…”

Jeffrey holds a Doctorate from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Music from The Peabody Conservatory of Music of The John’s Hopkins University. He enjoys his position as Director of Vocal Studies in the Music, Worship, and Performing Arts department at Lancaster Bible College. When he isn’t teaching or performing, Jeffrey enjoys spending his time with his wife and two young children.

Bio

Kendra
Bigley

Kendra Bigley

KENDRA BIGLEY is a versatile collaborative artist and respected pedagogue. She earned the Bachelor of Music (cum laude) in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Barry Snyder, winner of three prizes in the 1966 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; Fernando Laires, co-founder of the American Liszt Society; and Dr. Jean Barr, the first keyboard artist in the United States to be awarded a doctoral degree in accompanying.
Mrs. Bigley has built a career as a chamber musician and accompanist at the Trust Performing Arts Center, collaborating with artists as Amy Owens, Doris Hall-Gulati, Christopher Dylan Herbert, Samantha Hankey, Jennifer Aylmer, Thomas Meglioranza, Christopher Shih.
She has also enjoyed working as a music director, conductor, vocal coach and accompanist at theater companies and academic institutions including The Fulton Theater, Sight & Sound Theatres, Servant Stage Company, Prima Theatre, Opera Lancaster, Penn Square Opera, J.P. McCaskey High School, Florida International University and Lancaster Bible College.

Bio

Matt
Robinson

Matt Robinson​

Baritone Matthew A. Robinson has established himself as one of the most talented singers in the Greater Central Pennsylvania region. With his rich voice, musicality, and commanding presence, he has become one of the most sought after vocalists in the region in opera, operetta, oratorio, musical theater, and as a recitalist. Mr. Robinson has extensive performance credits and recognition as a musical theater actor. In demand as an oratorio soloist. As a recitalist, Matthew has both coordinated and performed in recital throughout Central Pennsylvania. Alongside collaborative pianist Daniel L. Dorty, they will be joined in recital with tenor Christyan Seay and soprano Nina Cline this summer 2024 in Carlisle, PA, Hershey, PA, and Harrisburg, PA. Mr. Robinson consistently contributes to the enhancement of worship at local churches weekly throughout the area. He attended Boiling Springs High School in Boiling Springs, PA and Messiah University in Grantham, PA, extensively studying vocal performance under Dr. Damian Savarino.

Bio

Kristin
Sims

Kristin Sims

Kristin Sims has appeared as a soloist with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States. Ms. Sims received her B.M. and M.M. in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Ms. Sims has sung leading operatic roles with Opera Lancaster, the Harrisburg Symphony, Bel Canto Lyric Opera and Trinity Opera Theatre. Kristin appeared as Mimi in Opera Lancaster’s performance of La Bohème and Nedda in Pagliacci, Rosina in The Barber of Seville in Philadelphia and as Sister Constance in The Dialogues of the Carmelites in Cincinnati. Kristin made her European debut in the world premiere of Three Thoughts, for soprano, clarinet, and piano. Ms. Sims appeared with Allegro Orchestra as the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. Ms. Sims performed as the soprano soloist with the Franklin & Marshall Chorale and Lancaster Symphony Chorus in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart Requiem, the premiere of John Carbon’s Soldiers of Remembrance, Horatio Parker’s Hora Novissima, and Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo. Kristin is a professor of vocal studies at The Tell School of Music at Millersville University, where she teaches voice and directs opera and musical theatre productions.

Bio