FPCO Guest Artists

John Easterlin

Two time Grammy, Emmy and Peabody Award winning tenor John Easterlin appears regularly with America’s leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Dallas Opera, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

Internationally, he debuted in November of this year to critical acclaim as Herod in Salome at the Vienna State Opera which joins his other credits abroad at the Opéra National de Paris in Die Frau ohne Schatten, Montreal Opera in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, (garnering Canada’s prestigious Dora Maver Moore Award, a first for an opera singer), Japan’s Saito Kinen Festival under the baton of Seiji Ozawa for Wozzeck, the Israeli Opera with Asher Fisch for Ariadne auf Naxos, (recorded for Deutsche Gramophone), and at two of America’s premiere festivals: Ravinia with the Chicago Symphony under Daniel Barenboim’s baton for the opening night of their Centennial Season (Le Nozze di Figaro seen on PBS’ Great Performances) and Spoleto USA with Emmanuel Villaume in their acclaimed new production of Ariadne auf Naxos.

Mr. Easterlin has made over two dozen appearances on PBS Great Performances and Live from Lincoln Center in performances from the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, and Alice Tully Hall. His award-winning discography continues to expand with the telecast of Los Angeles Opera’s acclaimed production of Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, which received 2008 Emmy and Peabody Awards, and two 2009 Grammy Awards for Opera Recording of the Year and Classical Album of the Year.

This past summer, Mr. Easterlin made his debut at the Glimmerglass Opera Festival in The Consul, where he played the role of The Magician, performing a record-breaking number of tricks and illusions, landing him in the upcoming 2010 edition of the Guinness World Book of Records. Additional recent New York debuts have included Carnegie Hall (The Tsar’s Bride with Eve Queler) and The Town Hall for legendary Broadway producer Scott Siegel.

Presently, Mr. Easterlin can be seen as the Young Servant in Elektra at the Metropolitan Opera. In January, he makes his debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as Prince Nilsky in a new production of Prokofiev’s The Gambler, to be filmed and recorded by Deutsche Gramophone. And this coming spring, he returns to the Opéra National de Paris Bastille for their new production of Britten’s Billy Budd, in the role of Squeak.

A devout Christian, Presbyterian and son of the late PCA minister Rev. Merrill Easterlin, he has appeared as a Guest Soloist at many of America ’s leading churches, including the Crystal Cathedral on The Hour of Power with Dr. Robert Schuller, Sr. and in conjunction with members of the Billy Graham Organization.

 

Sarah Limper

Hailed for a voice with “clear beauty that resounds effortlessly,” mezzo-soprano Sarah Limper is a fine singer who was praised in Opera News for her ability to “hold her own with the big guns.” Ms. Limper has recently completed a two year residency as a studio artist with the Orlando Opera Company, where she performed the roles of Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Lola in Il Trovatore, and Inez in Il Trovatre.  Other recent role debuts include Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Flora in La Traviata, Mercedes in Carmen, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus and Meg in The Ballade of Baby Doe.  The latter was performed with the Central City Opera while she was contracted as a studio artist.  As well as being a 2008 finalist in the Opera Birmingham Competition, Ms. Limper has also been recognized multiple times in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.  She was 2005 Atlanta district winner, 2008 Orlando district winner and received the encouragement award at the 2008 Southeast Regional Competition.  Sarah earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Lee University and her Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee, where she was a member of the Knoxville Opera Studio. Ms. Limper is also an accomplished French horn player and she played in the pit at the Helen Stairs Theatre for a production of The Mikado.

Meredith Woodend

Meredith Woodend, Mezzo-soprano has been described as “intense and brimming with emotions, managing to sing in a soft voice, but projecting it strongly in the whole house, she had us on the edge of our seat.” She recently sang as an Apprentice Artist for Santa Fe Opera where she covered the role of Mistress Quickly in Falstaff and sang the character of Ursula in a duet from Beatrice and Benedict in the scenes concert. Previously she was a Studio Artist with the Orlando Opera Company and has been seen on the mainstage as Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, Mother in Madama Butterfly, and was a soloist in Turandot. Ms. Woodend had the opportunity to cover the role of Dalila in Samson et Dalila with Orlando as well. In 2007 she originated the role of Bluebell Pooder in Thomas Passatieri’s world premiere of the Hotel Casablanca with the San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program. Other roles Ms. Woodend has performed are Flora in La Traviata, Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette and The Third Lady in The Magic Flute.

Meredith Woodend, Mezzo-soprano has been described as “intense and brimming with emotions, managing to sing in a soft voice, but projecting it strongly in the whole house, she had us on the edge of our seat.” She recently sang as an Apprentice Artist for Santa Fe Opera where she covered the role of Mistress Quickly in Falstaff and sang the character of Ursula in a duet from Beatrice and Benedict in the scenes concert. Previously she was a Studio Artist with the Orlando Opera Company and has been seen on the mainstage as Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, Mother in Madama Butterfly, and was a soloist in Turandot. Ms. Woodend had the opportunity to cover the role of Dalila in Samson et Dalila with Orlando as well. In 2007 she originated the role of Bluebell Pooder in Thomas Passatieri’s world premiere of the Hotel Casablanca with the San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program. Other roles Ms. Woodend has performed are Flora in La Traviata, Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette and The Third Lady in The Magic Flute.

Ms. Woodend has been a Semi-finalist for the George London Foundation, the Liederkranz Foundation, the Elardo International Opera Singer Competition, the Jensen Foundation Awards and the Metropolitan Opera National Council New England Region. She received second place in the Heinz Rehfuss Singing Actor Awards and was a Finalist for the Boston University Concerto Competition. She has performed with Santa Fe Opera, San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program, Orlando Opera, Connecticut Grand Opera, New Rochelle Opera, and Dicapo Opera Theater. Ms. Woodend received her Master of Music degree from Boston University and her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Florida. She is a student of Edith Bers and Penelope Bitzas.

 

Leigha Pace

Leigha Pace, lyric soprano, holds a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance Degree and a Masters Degree in Education from Converse College and Bachelors of Music Degree from Winthrop University. Ms. Pace has toured the eastern region of the United States and Europe as an active vocalist and soloist as well as pianist for Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels.

In the spring of 2004, Ms. Pace won First Place in the Graduate Ladies Division of National Association of Teachers of Singing for the state of South Carolina. She is also 2004 Young Artist Vocal Category Award Winner sponsored by the Petrie School of Music.

Ms. Pace performed the title role from Puccini’s great opera Suor Angelica in July 2004 as a part of the critically acclaimed OperaFestival di Roma. The OperaFestival di Roma, under the direction of Francesco Carotenuto and the late Louisa Panou, is considered one of the finest summer opera festivals in Europe, and has won major awards from national opera associations. Ms. Pace also performed Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi in Spring 2004. She has performed the Bach B Minor Mass with the Bach Chor of Oppenau, Germany; and this past summer returned to sing the Dvorak B Flat Major Mass with the Kammerchor Oberkirche as a part of their Jubileum Fest.   In April 2008 Ms. Pace was the featured Soprano soloist for the Brahms Requiem presented by the Spartanburg Philharmonic and the Spartanburg Festival Chorus.

 

Jossie Perez

Jossie Perez, Orlando native and child of FPCO, has developed an international operatic career. She won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the 2001 OPERALIA competition in Washington, D.C., and has also been a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Ms. Perez has performed roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Les Amis du Lyrique en Bretagne in France, as well as roles in Seville and in many other domestic venues. 

 

Sisaundra Lewis

Cirque Du Soleil La Nouba Featured Vocalist
Celine Dion The Colour of My Love Vocal Director
Celine Dion Background Vocalist
Choreographer
Peabo Bryson Can You Stop the Rain Beauty & the Beast Duet Backing Vocalist
Oscar Nominated/SustainingLife.org/Principal Narrator/Student Documentary 2010

Sisaundra Lewis & Sounds of Soul Concert Performances:
Universal Studios/City Walk City Jazz & Motown Cafe, Jazz Company, BET Soundstage, West End Stage, Peter Scotts, American Gardens Theater (Epcot), Peacock Room, Arts Cafe, Metropolis

Church Concerts:
Faith World, First Presbyterian, Church of Covington, Church of God & Pillar of Zion, First Baptist, Word In Action Ministries, MetroWest Church of the Nazarene, Church of God By Faith, Sandhill Missionary Baptist, Beaulah Baptist and countless more…

Producer/Writer Credits:
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Emilio Estefan, Marvin Hamlisch, Loris Holland, David Foster, Ric Wake, Rohan Reid, Sting, Marvin “Tony” Hemmings, Phil Galdston, Gordon Chambers, Jim Steinman, Tony Moran, Clint Brown, Missy Moore, Jon Secada

Videography:
Cirque du Soleil/La Nouba, Celine Dion/Misled & The Colour of My Love Live @ Le Theatre Capitol

Television Appearances:
The Tonite Show w/Johnny Carson & Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, David Letterman, The Grammy Awards, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton Presidential Inauguration, NBC Universal Studios Summer Blast, Cirque du Soleil/La Nouba, The Juno Awards, Much Music, The Sonya Benezrah Show

Discography:
Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Sting, Patti LaBelle, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jim Steinman, Janet Jackson, Nana Mouskouri, Kenny Lattimore, Jon Secada

National TV Commercials:
Sears, JC Penney, Dr. Pepper, Sprite w/ Grant Hill, MCI w/Michael Jordan, Pepperidge Farms, Certs, Shower to Shower, Cinnamon Grahams, KFC, McDonalds, Sun Micro, GE, Dentyne, General Foods International Coffees, Arbys, Plain Dealer, Publix, Applebees, Showtime, General Motors, Big Red, Belks, Kelly Services