ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Mexican soprano, Judy Yannini, is a recent graduate of the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland. This season Judy made her Kennedy Center debut singing the role of Sara Morales in Zavala-Zavala. She was recently seen with IN Series as Mimí in an all-Spanish production of La Bohème. Other highlights include being awarded District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2021, winning first prize in the American Opera Idol 2020 Competition with Opera Connecticut, and being named the overall winner of The Hartt Vocal Division Competition in 2018. Before immigrating to the United States, Judy made a name for herself singing onstage with internationally renowned Mexican tenor Fernando de la Mora in the 122nd Anniversary Concert in her native Tijuana, Mexico. She was also part of Centro Cultural Tijuana’s group Opera Ambulante in Tijuana, performing opera across Mexico, Canada, and the USA.

Judy will perform the role of Frasquita in Carmen.

Mezzo-soprano Cloe SanAntonio is a native of Long Island, NY and was recognized as a District winner in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Her recent engagements include Dorabella (Così fan tutte) and Dottore Grenvil (La traviata) as a Resident Artist with Opera North, a return to the Savannah Voice Festival as Marthe in Faust and covering the title role in Michael Ching’s Alice Ryley. Cloe also was a featured soloist with the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra, performing excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen, and the Savannah Voice Festival’s 2021 summer season. While in Savannah, Cloe performed the role of Angelina in the premiere of Michael Ching’s A Royal Feast, where she was also scheduled to sing the same role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola in 2020.

During the 2019-2020 season, she made her international debut with the Festival d’Art Vocal in Montréal singing Musette in Leoncavallo’s rarely presented La bohème and was awarded the Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Shoshana Foundation. She was also recognized in competition as a District Winner (Connecticut) and Encouragement Award Winner (New England Region) in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as well as by the Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition as a semi-finalist and prize winner.

Cloe will perform the role of Mercédès as well as cover the role of Carmen.

Tenor Matthew Cerillo is an Italian-American tenor from Freehold, New Jersey. He recently graduated with a Master in Music from The Mannes School of Music in the studio of Arthur Levy. Matthew also received a Bachelors in Voice Performance from Hofstra University. Most recently, he was a finalist in the Giulio Gari Foundation International Vocal Competition. Matthew is a proud winner of an Encouragement Award from the 2022 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. He has also placed 3rd in both the NAO Carolyn Bailey Competition as well as the MTNA National Competition. Matthew has been awarded the highest scholarship at Mannes: The President’s Scholarship; as well as the greatest solo vocal honor at Hofstra: The William B. Rosencrans Endowed Scholarship and Recital.

He has participated in Ukrainian Artists Music in Kiev (with the National Presidential Orchestra of Ukraine), Music in the Alps in Austria, West Chester Summer Vocal Institute in Bronxville, and the Oyster Bay Music Festival in Oyster Bay. Matthew has most recently performed as a lead character in a workshop for a new work by Missy Mazzoli, working in close collaboration with the composer. Matthew has also performed the role of Tamino for Hofstra University's 2020 production of Die Zauberflöte, Don Basilio (Le Nozze di Figaro), Demetrius (The Fairy Queen), as well as Dianna Trapes, Filch, and Ben Budge (The Beggar's Opera) with full orchestra.

Matthew will perform the role of El Remendado and cover the role of Don José.

Bass-baritone Keanon Kyles was raised in Chicago where he received his degree in music from Chicago’s Columbia College. He made his opera debut as Colline in Puccini's La Boheme in North Chicago. Conducted by Metropolitan Opera’s Maestro David Jackson, he made his Italy debut in Trento as Betto in Gianni Schicchi and Peter in Hansel and Gretel. After making his U.K. debut as Colline in La Boheme he returned to Scotland to perform the title-role in Rigoletto in a Scottish Opera's production.

He made his Chicago Opera Theater debut as Daggoo in their production of Moby Dick. Shortly after he made his South America debut as Noye in Noye’s Fludde. Kyles then returned to make his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as part of their Lyric Unlimited program, in their production of “Earth to Kenzie”. He had the great pleasure of following that successful production with a Carnegie Hall solo debut. Kyles, recently has been a part of several world premieres throughout Chicago, some being, “Freedom Ride” by Dan Shore “Taking Up Serpents” by Kamala Sankaram and most recently Quamino’s Map by Errolyn Wallen and has also premiered new art song pieces by composers Stacy Garrop, Wang Lu, Matthew Recio and Shawn Okpebholo.

Keanon will perform the role of Moralès and cover the role of Escamillo.

See these talented artists on stage at Keller Auditorium on November 5.