Chanel Wood, soprano, a native Texan, completed her Master of Music degree at Bard College, where she created the role of the Nightingale in the world premiere of David Bruce’s opera A Bird in Your Ear. Her other operatic credits include Die Erste Gespielen in Bard Summerscape’s production of Der Zwerg, Helene in Hindemith’s There and Back as a part of Tanglewood Music Center’s Festival of Contemporary Music, and Die Schleppträgerin in a concert version of Elektra conducted by James Levine. She gave her Carnegie Hall debut singing another world premiere, which was commissioned in conjunction with the Osvaldo Golijov/Dawn Upshaw Professional Training Workshop at Weill Hall. Most recently, Miss Wood has performed Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with both the American Symphony Orchestra and the Columbia Festival Orchestra. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.

Gretchen Windt, mezzo-soprano, Originally from Chicago, recently received her Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. While studying at CCM, she performed in Dangerous Liaisons (Victoire) and Cosi fan tutte (Dorabella). She also performed regularly with Cincinnati Opera including the world premiere of Rise for Freedom: The John P. Parker Story. She completed her undergraduate studies at North Park University (Chicago, IL). Operatic highlights there included a full production of Le Nozze di Figaro (Cherubino) and selected scenes from Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian) and Cosi fan tutte (Dorabella). Ms. Windt has performed leading and supporting roles with regional Chicago companies including Bowen Park Opera (Hansel and Gretel), OperaModa (Little Women), and DuPage Opera Theatre (Hansel and Gretel, Die Zauberflote, Susannah, Don Giovanni, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and La Traviata). She also sang professionally with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Musicians’ Residency Program. She was an Apprentice Artist with Sarasota Opera (FL) including mainstage performances of Die Fledermaus (Ida).

Dominick Chenes, tenor, from Las Vegas, NV and completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music there. Dominick has received many awards from the National Association of Teachers of Singing and an encouragement award from the Metropolitan National Council. Also, Dominick has performed many roles with the UNLV Opera Theatre.

For the past three years Dominick has traveled to Europe to take part in the American Institute of Musical Studies and the International Institute of Vocal Arts. In these programs, Dominick was able to study with some of the world’s greatest teachers and conductors. Dominick performed many roles with both programs.

Brent Turner, baritone, earned a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Stetson University in Deland, FL under the tutelage of Dr. Craig Maddox and a Master of Music degree in voice from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH where he studied under William McGraw. Brent’s professional opera career began at the age of nineteen, singing the role of King Melchior in Orlando Opera’s presentation of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Brent’s opera credits at CCM include Albert (Werther), Belcore, (The Elixir of Love), Escamillo (Carmen), Sid (Albert Herring), and Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro). Brent’s recent credits include the Studio Artist position at Tulsa Opera and Apprentice Artist at Ashlawn Opera. His other professional credits include a Young Artist position with Opera North as well as concert engagements with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lebanon Symphony Orchestra. Though born in Singapore, Brent considers himself a true central Floridian.

Emily Williams, pianist, received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Utah in 2001. After teaching choral music at Union Middle School for four years, she returned to the University as a candidate for a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in collaborative piano. Since 1998, Emily has accompanied several University vocal studios, the Westminster College Chamber Singers, Viva Voce and numerous recitals and musical productions. She assisted in the University of Utah Lyric Opera Ensemble’s productions of Street Scene (2005), Don Giovanni (2006), and Gianni Schicchi/Suor Angelica (2007) as well as the University of Utah Actors Training Program productions of Assassins (2005) and Urinetown (2006) at the Babcock Theater. She recently returned from Novafeltria, Italy, where she assisted with the La Musica Lirica productions of Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica.

To see the 2007-08 Artist Profiles and Pictures please click here.

Copyright©, 2007 Utah Symphony & Opera