featured performers

Kelly Holst, coloratura soprano, is an active performer of operatic, concert and recital repertoire, appearing with organizations such as Michigan Opera Theatre, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Arbor Opera Theater, the Battle Creek Symphony, the Lafayette Symphony, the
Handel and Haydn Society of Boston, Indiana University Opera Theatre, and the University of Michigan Opera Theatre. In recent seasons she has appeared with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra and the Livingston Symphony Orchestra. In June of 2010 she performed the title role in the Arbor Opera Theater production of Lucia di Lammermoor.  In 2008 Kelly performed the Coloratura Soprano role in Argento’s Postcard from Morocco with the University of Michigan Opera Theatre and the role of Zerlina in the Arbor Opera Theater production of Don Giovanni. Other operatic roles include Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Elizabeth Taylor in Michael Daugherty’s Jackie O, Tisbe in Hasse’s Piramo e Tisbe, and Cupid in Purcell’s King Arthur. Kelly has received a number of regional awards including an Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera District Auditions in St. Paul, Minnesota. Most recently she won third place at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards Vocal Competition in Nashville. She was a winner of the Upper Midwest Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions in 2000. Ms. Holst holds degrees from Luther College, Indiana University and the University of Michigan. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. A dedicated teacher, Kelly is currently an adjunct professor of voice at Oakland University.

Drake Dantzler is a frequent performer of Opera, Oratorio and song. Mr. Dantzler was recently hailed in Opera News as “a real find: he has a voice of molten silver, immaculate musicianship and an expressive stage persona.” Recently, Mr. Dantzler appeared with the Ohio Light Opera as the Caliph in Kismet, Rene in The Count of Luxembourg, and the Duke of Dunstable in Patience, recorded and released on Albany Records.   Mr. Dantzler also recently debuted the role of Mr. Bingley in Pride and Prejudice: the Musical for Chicago Chamber Opera, where his voice was lauded as “honey-toned” (Steadystyle Chicago).

Mr. Dantzler has appeared with Central City Opera as Mr. Erlansen in A Little Night Music and as Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor. In 2008 Mr. Dantzler was seen as Ufficiale in Sarasota Opera’s Barbiere di Siviglia, as Camille from The Merry Widow with the Breckenridge Music Festival, and with Des Moines Metro Opera’s Apprentice Opera as Charlie in Mahagonny Songspiel. Mr. Dantzler has portrayed Ernesto in Don Pasquale with both Opera Iowa (2007) and The Living Opera (2006). In 2005, he made his Austin Lyric Opera debut as Ruiz in Il Trovatore and he appeared with the Astoria Music Festival as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. As a young artist, Mr. Dantzler has appeared with Sarasota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Central City Opera.

Recent concert engagements for Mr. Dantzler include the Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings with the Pontiac Oakland Symphony, Oakland Chamber Orchestra and the Adrian Symphony, a recording of Friml’s Katinka with the Comic Opera Guild of Ann Arbor, Messiah with the Adrian Symphony, performances with the Macomb Symphony, Rochester (MI) Symphony Orchestra, Canton Symphony, and Verrada in Sousa’s El Capitan with the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Dantzler was also a resident artist at the Vancouver International Song Institute this past summer as well as giving recitals in Michigan, Tennessee and Ohio. Upcoming engagements include recitals in Michigan, Illinois and New York, the Tenor Soloist in Haydn’s The Creation with the Ann Arbor Cantata Singers, Nanki-Poo with the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra and Mr. Dantzler’s debut at Rodolfo in La Bohéme with Arbor Opera Theater.  Mr. Dantzler is an assistant professor at Oakland University. More information can be found at www.DrakeDantzler.com.