Best Performance of a Non-Contemporary Work (Pre-1950

Gwyneth Rix is a Freshman studying vocal performance at Boston University with Dr. Lynn Eustis. Her experience thus far has been mainly choral; having sung with the choir at All Saints’ Church in Wynnewood and Vox Ama Deus for several seasons. She is in her first season with the Boston University Symphonic Chorus and Boston University Singers as both a soloist and choral singer. In 2020, she played the titular character in Amahl and the Night Visitors (Amahl, not the night visitors) with Delaware Valley Opera Company. During the summer, she has attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival, Bel Canto Institute in Florence, Italy, and the Washington National Opera Institute. This summer she will attend Songfest at the San Francisco Conservatory.

Best Performance of a Contemporary Work (Post 1950)

Claire Burreson is a soprano currently in her second year of undergraduate studies at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, majoring in voice performance. She is from Seattle, Washington where she was a member of Seattle Opera’s Teen Vocal Studio as well as the lead in their youth opera: Wilde Tales by Laura Karpman. She has performed with the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society as well as the Pacific Lutheran University opera program. Her musical theater credits range from Kira in Xanadu to Maria in the Sound of Music. Claire recently earned first place in the college division of the NATS Boston Auditions. This summer she will be participating in the SongFest art song festival and training program. She can be seen performing frequently with the Boston Conservatory Choir as well as in class recitals. Claire hopes to pursue a career in opera.

Best Performance of a Work by a Bipoc Composer

Known for her skillful musicianship and engaging character work, New York and Boston-based soprano Sophie Berman has captivated audiences all over the country. Throughout her musical career, Berman has studied and performed pieces from a variety of musical eras, allowing her to explore the versatility of her voice within the classical realm. During her undergraduate career at DePauw University, she built a solid foundation of vocal technique and acting skills while studying under Caroline B. Smith and André Campelo. In the spring of 2021, Berman performed a Senior Degree Recital alongside pianist and vocal coach Anthony Weinstein, which featured works by women composers, including Barbara Strozzi, Clara Schumann, Abbie Betinis, and Isabelle Aboulker. Berman hopes to continue discovering and performing works by composers who have been historically excluded from the musical canon, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ composers, throughout her musical career to promote diversity and social responsibility within the music world.

Now at the Longy School of Music for her Master of Music degree, Berman is studying under Carol Mastrodomenico, expanding on her foundation of vocal technique through the lens of vocal pedagogy. She is looking forward to participating in some of the many canonic, contemporary, and early vocal music opportunities that Longy has to offer.

Sophie Carpenter is a lyric soprano from San Francisco, California. Her experience spans across styles such as opera, musical theater, recital, and sacred music. Currently, she is a member of the Boston Opera Collaborative Artist in Training Program for the 2021-2022 season. Ms.Carpenter’s recent appearances include: June Jenkins (An Embarrassing Position) at Longy School of Music; Caroline Norton (Angels of the House) a premiere opera, Cornelia (Giulio Cesare in Egitto by Sartorio), Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors), and Armida (Rinaldo) at Carnegie Mellon University. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice from Carnegie Mellon University and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Voice from Longy School of Music of Bard.

Thomas Warden is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and is currently attaining their master’s degree in Vocal Studies from Longy School of Music. Thomas is looking forward to the La Voce Totale Concert and his role as Squire in The Silver Fox at Longy School of Music. Thomas has had the opportunity to perform roles such as Top from The Tenderland, by Aaron Copland, Mr. Ford from The Merry Wives of Windsor, by Otto Nicolai. In 2021 Thomas had the honour of playing Aeneas in Dido & Aeneas, by Henry Purcell, a production that won first place in the National Opera Association (NOA) Opera Production Competition. Other credits would include Thomas’ covering of Melisso in Handel’s Alcina and selected scenes from Il barbiere di Siviglia and Le Nozze di Figaro as Figaro. Thomas was a finalist in 2021 as a finalist for the Allan & Sally Brudos prize for Opera Performance at Luther College.

Thomas is an active musician and voice teacher to students the Boston area, teaching classical and musical theatre techniques. Currently Thomas is an active chorister and soloist at Trinity Parish of Newton Centre. Thomas’ current teacher is Dr. Corrine Byrne and coach is Dean Emeritus Wayman Chin at Longy School of Music and was under the previous instruction of Prof. Carla Thelen-Hanson and Dr. Nicholas Shaneyfelt at Luther College.