William Lewis, Tenor, President

A heralded leading tenor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1957 to 1992. Renowned internationally at Teatro alla Scala, Milano; Royal Opera Covent Garden, London; Vienna Staatsoper; Hamburg Staatsoper; Opera de Paris; San Francisco Opera; and the festivals at: Salzburg, Edinburgh, Spoleto Italy, Spoleto USA, Wexford, Ireland and Amsterdam. He is a distinguished professor of the Butler School of Music of the University of Texas and the president of FAVA.

Frederique Added, Soprano, Vice-President

The Parisian soprano Frédérique Added is recognized as one of the world's foremost interpreters of French Mélodies. She has graced concert stages in Paris, Dijon, Perigueux, Limoges, Nancy, Strasbourg, Salzburg, Minsk, Lodz, Warsaw and throughout the USA. Her vast knowledge of the Song Repertoire includes works by: Debussy, Poulenc, Rosenthal, Fauré, Duparc, Satie, Hahn, Chausson, Berlioz, Chopin, De Falla, Nin-Culmell, Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos. She is the vice-president of FAVA

 

Jan Zimmerman, Mezzo-soprano

New on the operatic scene, she was outstanding as La Belle Helene with Opera du Perigord in Perigueux, Thiviers, Excideuil and St Yrieix recently. Boston based, the mezzo received praise for her Principessa in Suor Angelica, Zia in Gianni Schicchi anf The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. With such prestigious musical organizations as: Boston Opera, Boston Opera Collaborative and Opera by the Bay. She will soon be heard in European houses as Amneris, Jeanne d’Arc, Eboli and Santuzza.

 

 

Teresa Zylis-Gara, Soprano

One of the most outstanding Polish singers of the 20th century. Her magnificent lyrical soprano of an unusual quality and dramatic possibilities draws audiences both to concert halls and operas. The stunning career, however, is the outcome of the artist's long and intensive effort. Born in Wilno, she studied in Lódz. The winning of an All-Polish Competition of Young Vocalists in Warsaw results in her first engagement. In 1956 she makes her début at the Cracow Opera as the eponymous heroine of Stanislaw Moniuszko's Halka. The next success at a radio competition in Munich in 1960 allows her to perform on German opera stages such as Oberhausen, Dortmund and Düsseldorf. In 1965 she makes a début at the renowned English festival at Glyndebourne, playing the part of Octavian in Strauss' Rosenkavalier. A real breakthrough in her career, however, comes the following year in Paris, where she performs the part of Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Juan. That part was to bring the Polish artist great fame. Teresa Zylis-Gara's career now takes on a staggering momentum. In 1968 she performs at the Mozart festival in Salzburg under the leadership of the famous Herbert von Karajan. That year she also makes a début at London's Covent Garden as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata, as well as being invited to the San Francisco opera to perform as Donna Elvira. Still in the same year she makes a début at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the stage with which she was connected the longest. She also cooperated closely with the opera theatres in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, as well as with Milan's La Scala and Vienna's Staatsoper.

 

Isabelle Aboulker, Composer

Isabelle Aboulker was born in 1938 into a family of artists and musicians. Her grandfather Henry Fevrier was a renowned composer and student of Massenet, Faure and Messager. Her father Marcel Aboulker was a cinematographer and writer. She studied piano, accompaniment and composition at the  Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, while composing for the cinema, theater and television. Early in her career she decided to dedicate her time to collaboration with singers, as the heiress of French Art Song tradition.

 

 

Michele Pena, Coloratura Soprano

Coloratura Soprano Michele Pena is well known in France as an interpreter of music of the baroque and classical periods, having made her debut at Aix en Provence in Mozart’s C Minor Mass, after winning the First Prize at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Paris. She has appeared in some of the most prominent theatres in Europe, including: Théâtre de la Monnaie (Bruxelles), l'Opéra de Paris, Sao Carlo (Lisbon) and Geneva (Switzerland).

 

 

 

Frederick Brurchinal, Baritone

Renowned dramatic baritone Frederick Burchinal made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Verdi’s Macbeth in 1988 and subsequently appeared there as Simon Boccanegra, Scarpia, Michele (Il Tabarro), and Barnaba (La Gioconda). He has been heard internationally at Opera de Paris, Deutsche Oper (Berlin), Frankfurt Oper, Deutsche Oper am Rhein (Dusseldorf), Koln Oper, and San Francisco. He is currently director of Opera and professor of voice at the University of Georgia, Atlanta.

 

 

 

 

Oleg Lessoun

Oleg Lessoun is a native of Zhodino, Belarus. He began as a piano prodigy, studying under renowned teachers: Tatiana Gajdamovich and Ivan Mozgovenko. His conducting talent was discovered and perfected by his mentor Nicolaj Koljadko, which led to his engagement with the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Belarus. He is Principal Conductor of the Minsk Philharmonia, touring annually throughout Europe and holds a position as Principal Conductor of the National State Symphony Orchestra of Radio and Television of the Republic of Belarus. His vast operatic and ballet repertoire includes works from Rossini to Stravinsky: Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossin),; Iolanthe and Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky), Il Trovatore and La Traviata (Verd),; Carmen (Bizet), I Pagliacci (Lencavallo), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mendelsson), Swan Lake and Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky), Bolero (Ravel), Firebird (Stravinsky).

 

Gabriella Torma

The Hungarian pianist Gabriella Torma has performed with some of the great orchestras of Europe in concert and radio : Hungary (National Radio and TV), Czechoslovakia   (National Orchestra of Prague), Yugoslavia (Belgrade Symphony), Russia (Notional orchestra of Moscow), France (National Radio, Grenoble Orchestra). She has appeared in solo recital internationally in : Gremany, Belgium, Hungary, France, Italy, Portugal, Mexico and the U.S. Although her repertoire spans the music from Mozart to Bartok, she is a passionate advocate of French piano, vocal and chamber music.

 

Dr. Soonmin Jeon

Soonmin Jeon was born in Inchon, Korea. She was awarded the Grand Prix from the Korean National Music Competition, the Third Prize from the Society of Korea Piano Competition, and the Third Prize from the Brahms Society Piano Competition of Korea and Germany. She received her Bachelor of Music with honors from Hanyang University, and her Doctorate in piano performance at the University of Texas at Austin. Since 2007, she has been working as pianist and coach for the Franco-American Vocal Academy in France.

 

 

Dan K. Kurland

American pianist Dan K. Kurland has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and France. Finalist: 2008 David O. Nilsson Solo Pianist Competition & Winner of the 2001 Music in the Parks Outstanding Accompanist Award. FAVA Faculty Since 2009. Artistic Director/Founder of University of Texas, Butler School of Music’s Research Week Concert series and Texas Hillel’s High Holy Day Choir. Has spent time working with notable artist-teachers Anton Nel, Margo Garrett, Brian Zeger, Kenneth Griffiths, and Cameron Stowe. Mr. Kurland continues his studies at The Juilliard School in New York City in 2010.

 

 

Rick Rowley

Pianist Rick Rowley is an exceptionally versatile musician, appearing extensively as recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber music performer. Mr. Rowley has appeared as conductor and soloist with the Texas Bach Aria Group and the Texas Baroque Ensemble. He is currently holding a position as lecturer at the University of Texas in Austin, working with pianists, singers and chamber music groups. He has recorded chamber music with cellist Peter Rejto, flutist Marianne Gedigian and clarinetist Patricia Shands. His many talents include those of actor and director.

 

 

David Asher Brown

David Asher Brown is a pianist / composer and conductor working on his M.M. in music composition at UT Austin. His compositions draw on a wide and diverse range of influences including Ashkenazi Jewish music, Balinese Gamelan, Early Music, Minimalism, and Jazz. He has won several awards and honors including a grant to compose in Prague, CZ. His music can be found at DavidAsherBrown.com

 

 

Dr. Hsiu-Wen Su

A native of Taiwan, Hsiu-Wen Su has been heard in concert at Jordan Hall in Boston, New England Conservatory, Colorado College Summer Music Festival and the National Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan. She has received her Doctoral Degree in Piano from the University of Texas at Austin.

 

 

 

 

 

Pedro Rosa, Dance/Movement
Director of Compagnie Ochossi