Shuyi Li, a soprano from Beijing, China, maintains an active performing career across opera, concert, and interdisciplinary performance settings. Recent operatic engagements include Fox/Rose/Water (The Little Prince) with The Dallas Opera, Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel) with Opera Arlington and UNT Opera, Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte) with UNT Opera; Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Suor Genovieffa and Una Conversa (Suor Angelica) with Bay View Music Festival; Kate (The Pirates of Penzance) with Cedar Rapids Opera; and Cupid (Orpheus in the Underworld) with Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. 

In concert repertoire, Shuyi recently appeared as soprano soloist in Arthur Honegger’s King David with the UNT Grand Chorus and Symphony Orchestra. Additional recent performances include Mary Ellen in That Hellbound Train with UNT Opera and appearances in international performance projects and competitions, including 7th UNISA International Voice Competition (South Africa). During the 2026–2027 season, Shuyi returns to The Dallas Opera to perform in The Little Prince while also continuing as a mainstage chorister. Shuyi is an Adjunct Professor of Voice at Tarleton State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Vocal Performance at the University of North Texas. She holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and completed her undergraduate studies at both the Eastman School of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. 

Megan Koch, praised for her “sultry, mesmerizing soprano,” is a dynamic artist based in DFW and actively performing across the United States. A longtime performer with Opera Arlington, Megan returns to the OA stage after debuting as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in 2025, a role she recently jumped in to reprise at Emory University. She is featured as Kjersti Tonseten on the recent Pentatone recording of South Dakota Symphony Orchestra’s revival of Douglas Moore’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, Giants in the Earth. In 2024, Megan returned to Fort Worth Opera in the role of Amy in Little Women after performing Annina (La traviata) as a Lesley Resident Artist there in 2021. She sang her first Messiah as the Soprano soloist with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra in 2025 and has appeared on Christmas Pops concerts with the Fort Worth and Illinois Symphony Orchestras. In the 22-23 season, Megan portrayed Violetta (La traviata) and Berta (The Barber of Seville) at Shreveport Opera. Megan won first prize at the 2022 Classical Singer Competition and was a finalist in the Lewisville Lake Symphony Voice Competition. ​This fall, she will reprise her role of Amy in Mark Adamo's Little Women with Tulsa Opera. 

Cesar Augusto Vélez Gámez is a Honduran tenor rapidly gaining recognition in the Dallas-Fort Worth community for his magnetic vocalism. Making his debut with Opera Arlington in the role of Prince Tamino, Cesar frequently performs locally with organizations such as DFW Opera Underground and Fort Worth Opera. 

Alongside debuts with Shreveport Opera, Berlin Opera Academy, American Baroque Opera Company, and solo performances with the Lubbock Chorale, Cesar’s notable roles include Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, the titular role in Albert Herring, and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi. Cesar holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from Texas Tech and a bachelor’s degree from UT Arlington.

Praised by the Dallas Morning News for her “welcome freshness”, Taylor Fenner is a soprano based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area known for her work in operatic and concert repertoire. 

On the operatic stage in 2026, Taylor will perform Armida in Handel’s Rinaldo with Chicago Summer Opera and is returning for a third season with Opera Arlington. Previous performances with Opera Arlington include Sandman/Dew Fairy in Hansel & Gretel, and La Fée in Viardot’s Cendrillon. While abroad, she appeared as the titular role in Alcina with the Polish-based Handel Opera Academy, and Ida in Die Fledermaus with the Berlin Opera Academy. Other credits during her time in Texas include Micaëla, Susanna, and Sherry in the world premiere workshop of Lisa Despain’s That Hellbound Train. 

A sought-after concert soloist, Taylor returns to the Meyerson Symphony Center stage to sing the Messiah solos with the Dallas Bach Society (DBS) in December 2026. Other recent projects with DBS include Bach’s Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, Coffee Cantata, and B Minor Mass. Alongside Onyx Classics and DBS, Taylor recorded the title role of Charpentier’s Historia Esther, album forthcoming. Other concert credits include Vivaldi’s Gloria and Clérambault’s Médée, as well as Handel’s Dixit Dominus with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. 

Taylor received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas in 2024 where she studied with soprano, Mary Mills and bass-baritone, Stephen Morscheck. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Augustana University.

Taylor Hendricks is an exciting young soprano born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, and making her debut with Opera Arlington with her personal third production as the Queen of the Night. Surrounded by music from an early age singing in church and her elementary school choir, Taylor continued singing in high school and developed a passion for music through her school's choir program.

Her other notable roles include Mary Warren in The Crucible, Le Feu and La Princesse in L’enfant et les sortilèges, and covering the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd. Earlier this year, Taylor reprised Queen of the Night with the SMU Opera Theater. She holds degrees from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Sam Houston State University, and Southern Methodist University.

Heedo Park is a dynamic young baritone with performance experience throughout the United States and Korea. His roles include appearances in Alcina, L'étoile, and Gianni Schicchi, as well as numerous concerts and recitals. Known for his musical sensitivity and steady vocal presence, Heedo continues to expand his repertoire through a wide range of collaborative and solo performances. He is currently pursuing graduate vocal studies at the University of North Texas. He previously studied at Yonsei University and the Cleveland Institute of Music, building a strong foundation in both concert and operatic performance.

Isaac Carlin is an operatic baritone who returns to Opera Arlington after his performances as Escamillo (Carmen) and Peter (Hansel and Gretel). Isaac recently made his German debut singing the role of Wotan in a reduced version of Wagner’s Die Walküre with the Dramatic Voices Program Berlin, where he worked with Levi Hammer, Anja Kühnhold, and Brian Moll. Previous roles include Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi) with UNT Opera, Schaunard (La bohème) in concert with the Sherman Symphony Orchestra, and Sacristan (Tosca) with the UNT Symphony Orchestra. Isaac is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas, where he studied with Stephen Morscheck.

Isaac last sang the role of Papageno in the medieval French dialect of Occitan and looks forward to performing Papageno in the original German once again with Opera Arlington.

Praised by The Capital for his “rock-solid vocalism and powerful projection,” bass Jeffrey Tarr enjoys an extensive international career spanning opera, oratorio, and recital.  On the operatic stage, Jeffrey has performed with acclaimed companies including Washington National Opera, Baltimore Concert Opera, UrbanArias, and Germany’s Festspiele Gut Immling. The Washington Post lauded his portrayal of Basilio with Annapolis Opera as “fervent [and] robust.” Key roles include Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Osmin (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Colline (La bohème), Argante (Rinaldo), and König Marke (Tristan und Isolde), having worked under prestigious directors such as Gidon Saks in Berlin. 

As a concert soloist, his performance of Handel’s Messiah was praised by The Washington Post as “outstanding…a large, resonant voice, filled with both power and clarity.” His vast oratorio repertoire includes Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, performing with ensembles like the Abilene Philharmonic and the Cathedral Choral Arts Society. As an accomplished recitalist, he has graced world-renowned stages, including the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Jeffrey holds degrees from Tennessee Temple University and the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. A prize winner in the Annapolis Opera and Orpheus Vocal competitions, his advanced training includes Middlebury College’s German for Singers and the American Wagner Project of the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices.

Adeniyi Samuel, bass-baritone, is recognized for his commanding stage presence, resonant  tone, and versatility across operatic, sacred, jazz, pop, and cross-cultural repertoire. On the Opera Arlington stage, he recently performed Zuniga in Bizet’s Carmen and Le Baron de  Pictordu in Viardot’s Cendrillon. Recent operatic roles include Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro with Sunnyside Opera and Temple University Opera Theater, Baron Campo-Tasso in Offenbach’s The Brigands with  VLOC (Washington, D.C.), and Arkel in Impression de Pelléas. He has also covered  Commendatore in Don Giovanni and Frank in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, and performed as Blitch in scenes from Floyd’s Susannah and Sarastro in scenes from Die Zauberflöte.

Beyond opera, Adeniyi’s theatrical credits include Onochie in Ije the Musical (Los Angeles),  the Psalmist in Cry Innocent (Salem, MA), Caesar in In Open Rebellion, and Alabi in Journey  to Africa (New York). A composer, playwright, producer, and founder of the Fort Worth– based nonprofit SamOye Musical Consort, Inc., he created Renewal (A Two-Man Musical), and We Need a Savior (A Christmas Musical). These works blend classical technique with  African musical traditions, gospel, jazz, pop, and storytelling and have toured multiple U.S.  states. 

Adeniyi is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary,  where he serves as adjunct voice instructor while maintaining an active virtual teaching  studio. He holds a master’s degree from Temple University, a bachelor’s degree from  Gordon College, and an associate degree from MUSON (Nigeria). He is the first-place winner  of the 2021 Greater Philadelphia Chapter NATS Adult TTB Classical Voice Competition.

Lara Lignitz is a soprano and citizen of the Cherokee Nation who has recently appeared in concert with Opera Arlington, as well as covering Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) and the title role of Viardot's Cendrillon. Currently based in Dallas, Texas, Lara is actively involved with the opera community in North Texas. It is her belief that opera uniquely expresses the most human of experiences and it is her job to bring those to life on stage. 

Lara's career has taken her to the stages of Chicago Summer Opera, the MITK Opera Festival, Spotlight on Opera, New Orleans Opera, and more. Selected recent roles include Magda (The Consul), Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Madame Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), and the title role of Suor Angelica. She holds a Master of Music degree from Loyola University New Orleans and completed her bachelor's studies at McNeese State University.

Rebecca Germany, soprano, is a native of Arlington, Texas and an active performer in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. She returns after making her Opera Arlington debut as the Foreign Princess in Rusalka in 2024. Rebecca was seen as the Mother in Amahl in the Night Visitors with Fort Worth Opera and was a semi-finalist in the Dallas Opera Guild Biennial Lone Star Vocal Competition. She has appeared on the stage of the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia (ISOFOM) in the title role of Suor Angelica, and as First Lady in Die Zauberflöte. She has also performed with the Fort Worth Opera Chorus in Aida and An African American Requiem. During her studies, Rebecca undertook the roles of Armelinde in Pauline Viardot's Cendrillon as well as the Mother in Alejandro Rutty’s world premiere of Alison’s Voice. 

Rebecca is the founder of Her Story, an annual benefit concert that educates the community about women-composed works. She received her Master of Music degree in vocal performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and holds a bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education from UT Arlington.

Hannah Park, mezzo-soprano, is currently based in Waco, Texas, and is an active  performing artist in both Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth. Her most recent stage credits include  Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and La badessa in Suor Angelica at Opera in the Ozarks, Young Jana Horáková in Unbroken by Jane Kozhevnikova with Atchley Opera, and Hänsel in Hänsel  und Gretel with Music On Site. As a Resident Artist with Austin Opera, she also appeared in the  2026 Resident Artist Showcase and in the chorus of La bohème.

Hannah graduated from Baylor University in 2025 with her M.M. in Vocal Performance,  studying under Dr. Jamie Van Eyck. During her time at Baylor, she was seen in roles such as  Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Armelinde in Cendrillon, and Mariana in Luisa Fernanda. In  addition to performing, Hannah choreographed ensemble scenes for several Baylor productions,  including the Umbrella Chorus in Luisa Fernanda and the Prince’s Ball in Cendrillon. She  has continued to support the Baylor Opera Theatre as choreographer for Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo,  and as assistant director for their upcoming production of The Merry Widow. This fall, Hannah will be seen as Myrtale in Thaïs with Austin Opera.

Soprano Christen May Mayer is an Oklahoma- and Florida-based artist active in opera, music theatre and arts outreach. She was a recent Arkansas District winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and is a current Education Committee Artist with Painted Sky Opera. Christen has performed as Sieglinde (Die Walküre) with Dramatic Voices Midwest, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) with Opera DeMetro, Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia) with First Coast Opera, Patience (Patience) with Cimarron Opera and First Witch (Dido and Aeneas) with Opera Kansas. Roles she has covered include Leonore (Fidelio) with Sotto Voce, Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) with Painted Sky Opera, Clotilde (Norma) with New Jersey Opera Theatre, and Monica (The Medium) with Bold City Opera. 

Christen’s upcoming roles include Leonora (Il trovatore), Gianetta (L'elisir d'amore), and Foreign Princess (Rusalka). Christen earned her bachelor’s degree from Stetson University, Florida (2019) and her master’s from Oklahoma City University (2024).

Basil Ceniseros, a born and raised Dallas-based mezzo-soprano, recently appeared as Mercédès in Carmen with Opera Arlington. Utilizing their stylistic versatility, Basil has been in a range of other operatic roles spanning from baroque to contemporary, performing with the American Baroque Opera Company, Dallas Opera, New Orleans Opera, Czech Music Festival, and Opera in Concert.

During its lifetime, Basil was a regular collaborator with the American Baroque Opera Company. Here, they cultivated a deep love for early music in roles as Eduige (Rodelinda), Dido (Dido and Aeneas), Mitrena (Montezuma), and Bradamante (Alcina). Other role highlights include Jo March (Little Women) and Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites). Beyond the opera stage, Basil is also an active choral singer and concert soloist with ensembles such as the Allen Philharmonic, Dallas Bach Society, St. Michael and All Angel's Compline Choir, Highland Park Chorale, and Orpheus Chamber Singers. Basil studied Vocal Performance at the University of North Texas with Dr. Stephen F. Austin, and at Loyola University of New Orleans with Lauretta Bybee and regular coach Greer Grimsley.

Sarah Harvey, a mezzo-soprano from Texarkana, Texas, is a multifaceted vocalist, performer, and music educator. She has appeared in a range of operatic roles, including her debut as the Witch (Hänsel und Gretel) with Opera Arlington, as well as Mercédès (Carmen) and the Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), among others.

Sarah has performed with The Dallas Opera, joining the chorus for their 2026 production of Don Carlo. An accomplished ensemble artist across the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Sarah performs with professional choral groups such as The Orpheus Chamber Singers and Verdigris, and serves as a staff singer at St. Rita Catholic Church where she recently appeared as mezzo-soprano soloist in Duruflé’s Requiem.

Holding degrees in both Music Education (B.M.E., Texas A&M–Commerce) and Performance (M.M. and Graduate Artist Certificate, University of North Texas), Sarah’s pedagogical style combines classical bel canto training with a focus on artistry, confidence-building, and comprehensive music literacy. 

Ariel Juliette is a rising young soprano active in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and making her debut with Opera Arlington. She has performed the roles of Mabel (Pirates of Penzance) and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), and appeared as a Villager in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Fort Worth Opera. She also performs in Once Upon a Tale through the Bass Hall Children’s Education Program.

Emily Hansen is a soprano from Houston, Texas who has performed with opera companies such as Chicago Summer Opera, Utah Vocal Arts Academy, International Performing Arts Institute and Houston Grand Opera. Emily is the recipient of the Artist Empowerment Grant from the National Endowment of The Arts which helped her commission her first song cycle: Marking The Land. Emily has performed the roles of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Laurie in The Tender Land, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas and Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica.

Emily is currently pursuing her Performance Diploma in Voice Performance from Southern Methodist University. She received her Bachelor of Music with honors and a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate from the University of Utah in 2022, and her Master of Music in Voice Performance from Southern Methodist University in 2026.

Payton Fortner is a young tenor from Midlothian, Texas making his debut with Opera Arlington. He received his bachelor’s  degree in music  education from the University of Texas at Arlington, and is currently pursuing his M.M in Vocal  Performance at Texas Christian University. Payton’s notable performances include Rinuccio and Ferrando in Atchley Opera’s Gianni Schicchi and Così  fan tutte, as well as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with UT Arlington.

John Guess is a tenor from Flower Mound, Texas, making his debut with Opera Arlington. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at the University of North Texas, where he has studied with Dr. Jeffrey Snider and Dr. Richard Novak. Before singing the role of Monostatos with Opera Arlington, John made his debut in the role with UNT Summer Opera in May, sung outdoors in English. John will also be seen in the chorus of UNT Opera’s production of Florencia en el Amazonas this season.

Jayda Ennis, soprano, has recently been heard on stage as Thérèse/Tirésias in Les Mamelles de Tirésias, Nettie Fowler in Carousel, and La Princesse in L'Enfant et les sortilèges with Meadows Lyric Theatre, as well as Una Noviza in Suor Angelica with La Musica Lirica. Jayda earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Texas State University, where she appeared in scenes from Le nozze di Figaro, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Don Giovanni. She is a Master of Music candidate in Vocal Performance at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, where she studies with Barbara Hill Moore. 

Hadassah Misner is a Dallas-based soprano whose performances have taken her across the United States and internationally. She returns to Opera Arlington following appearances as a chorus member in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and as the spunky Turnspit in Dvořák’s Rusalka. Her operatic credits also include Miss Pinkerton (The Old Maid and the Thief), Nannetta (Falstaff), and Adina (L’elisir d’amore). An active performer in the DFW community, she has appeared with Dallas Classical Singers, North Texas Opera on Tap, and Her Story, presenting repertoire that spans opera, art song, and concert works. Beyond the stage, Hadassah is passionate about advocating for foster youth and using music to build community and meaningful connections.

Ethiopian-American soprano Hanna Atsedewoin has gained valuable experience on the concert stage performing as a featured soloist in Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s concert entitled “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” where she performed the song cycle Heart on the Wall by Robert Owens. As an emerging artist with the Milnes VOICE Studio, she had the opportunity to perform in the 2021 VOICE Gala hosted by Thomas Hampson, singing “Dream Variation” from Three Dream Portraits by Margaret Bonds. Hanna holds a Master of Music from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. During her studies, she performed roles such as Monica (The Medium), Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore), Lola (Gallantry), Madame Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), Amelia (Whaling Women), and partial roles such as Constance (Dialogues des Carmélites) and Adele (Die Fledermaus). When exploring new repertoire, Hanna is dedicated to sharing and performing works by historically underrepresented composers to celebrate their contributions and bring their rich, diverse voices to the forefront.

Sara Barkouras, soprano, is a legally blind crossover artist based in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music (Voice) and Corporate Communication and Public Affairs (Nonprofit & Arts Leadership) from Southern Methodist University. Having previously appeared with Opera Arlington in the chorus of Don Giovanni and at their Masquerade Soirée, Sara is making her OA principal role debut. Her recent roles include Ensemble in The Prince of Egypt: The Musical (Grand Prairie Arts Council) and Edith in The Pirates of Penzance (Wedgwood Community Theatre). In addition to performing, Sara serves as a voice teacher at Euless Trinity High School and as Soprano Section Leader at St. Patrick Catholic Church. She is dedicated to cultivating confident singers and increasing representation in the arts.

Onyx Macklin is a mezzo-soprano from Mansfield, Texas, currently studying at the University of Texas at Arlington and making their principal role debut with Opera Arlington. The recipient of the inaugural Opera Arlington Scholarship as an outstanding vocal student, Onyx previously appeared with OA as a chorus member in Bizet’s Carmen, where they also made magic happen from behind the curtain as a Production Assistant.

Onyx is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance at UTA, studying under Dr. Jessica Ferring-Glenn. They received the Outstanding Student in Opera Workshop Award from the UTA Department of Music in spring of 2025. In previous opera productions at UTA, they have performed as Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel) and as the Third Lady/Third Spirit (Die Zauberflöte). They have also performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in their production of Der fliegende Holländer as a chorus member. Their upcoming roles include Cherubino (Le nozze Di Figaro) at UTA.