Featured Artists

Meet our Featured Artists for SUOR ANGELICA!

PRODUCTION TEAM

Alex Huddleston – STAGE DIRECTOR

Alex Huddleston is a Buffalo-based multi-media artist, originally from St. Louis MI. After completing his PhD in May 2020 from SUNY University at Buffalo in composition, he began pursuing artistic expression beyond the limitations of absolute concert music. These activities include art installations, multimedia performances, and experimental and narrative filmmaking. In the last year he has presented and performed his work at the UUCB as part of its Casual Concert series, as has been an artist-in-residence at Rust Belt Books, and completed his second film score in collaboration with photographer Eric Weeks. He recently made his directorial debut for UUCB’s 2023 production of Dido and Aeneas, and followed this with a double-bill of Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Suor Angelica with Operallora.  His concert music has won highly competitive awards and has been performed in numerous cities in the United States, including New York City, Austin, Boston, and Buffalo, as well as in Italy and Portugal. Among his many freelance activities is as a music critic for University of Cambridge press’s TEMPO and producer for the ScoreFollower, Incipitsify, and MediatedScores YouTube channels. In February, he presented his first screenplay and directed his fourth opera through Sotto Voce’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and he is excited to direct Suor Angelica this June.

Jonathan Vogtle – PIANIST

Jonathan Vogtle is a collaborative pianist native to Rochester, New York. He received his Bachelor’s of Music in piano performance from Ithaca College under the tutelage of Dr. Jennifer Hayghe. He has worked as a music minister at several churches, including St. Paul’s of Webster, Caroline Center Church in Brooktondale, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, and St. Joseph’s of Penfield, where he currently serves. Major works he has covered include Vox Balaenae by George Crumb, Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 by Johannes Brahms, and Sonata in B Minor by Franz Liszt. Additionally, he served as the rehearsal and ensemble pianist for Opera Magnifico’s 2023 production of L’elisir d’amore. He is excited to have joined the Sotto Voce team for their 2023 relaunch, serving as pianist for both The Magic Flute and Suor Angelica.

Ky VerHoef – STAGE MANAGER, FLAUTIST, and CHORUS MEMBER

Ky VerHoef (b.2001) is a baritone based in Buffalo NY. Originally from the lower Hudson Valley, Ky currently serves as a staff singer with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and as a key member of the Holy Trinity Chancel Choir and INCIPIO. Ky recently made waves as the bass soloist for Bach’s Magnificat with the BPC and Buffalo Philharmonic Chamber Players. He was also the baritone soloist for the UU Church of Buffalo’s recent performance of the Fauré Requiem. Ky served as the Choral Bass Section Leader and a Priest in Sotto Voce’s The Magic Flute and is excited to be helping out in a variety of capacities for their upcoming Suor Angelica.

Na’Mia Kelly – ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Na’Mia Kelly (b. 2004) is a mezzo-soprano born and raised in Buffalo, NY. Na’Mia is currently a junior at Wellesley College majoring in Public Health and is a part of Harambee House Singers, a gospel choir, singing soprano and tenor. Na’Mia is a music student with Jessie’s private studio and has assistant stage managed for Sotto Voce’s premiere of The Second Sight (2021). She is excited to help and see Suor Angelica take form for the stage. 

VOCAL ARTISTS

Jessie Downs – SUOR ANGELICA (Sister Angel) and ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Jessie Downs (b. 1991) is a soprano from central NJ, now a resident of Buffalo NY. Jessie is known for her complex full lyric sound and dramatic control of vocal colors and dynamics. Jessie is the Music Director for the UU Church of Buffalo, the Founding Director of Sotto Voce, and voice teacher to students from many different walks of life through her private studio. Recent operatic roles include Pamina in Sotto Voce’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute (NY, 2024), Suor Angelica in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with Operallora (NJ, 2023), Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme with Opera Magnifico (NJ, 2022), and Sashatya in her own The Second Sight (NY, 2021). She is very excited to be reprising the role of Suor Angelica with a new team of artists this summer, as it is one of her favorite roles. Other recent vocal accolades include being awarded 3rd place in the 2020 North International Music Competition for her performance of “Regnava nel silenzio” from Lucia di Lammermoor and making her Carnegie Hall debut as a classical concert soloist at the 2018 Night of Inspiration. Jessie also served as the Music Director for The Magic Flute, UUCB’s 2023 production of Dido and Aeneas, and Opera Magnifico’s 2023 production of L’elisir d’amore, as well as for numerous other musical events – from choral concerts to cabarets. She holds a BMus from Oberlin Conservatory and a PhD from the University at Buffalo and has studied bel canto pedagogy extensively since the age of 14. Since the age of 19, she has worked with master pedagogue Franco Bertacci – himself a pupil of Franco Corelli and Cornelius Reid – whose teachings continue to guide both her own practice and her way of working with other singers.

Ola Rafalo – LA ZIA PRINCIPESSA (the Princess Aunt)

Ola Rafalo, dramatic mezzosoprano, has been called a “Vocal Powerhouse”, and “the next Cossotto”. She has earned critical acclaim in a variety of roles and venues with her “voluptuous”, “deep contralto-like sound” and mesmerizing acting. Ola is the recipient of a career grant from the Olga Forrai foundation, as well as the winner of the Maria Callas prize at the Giulio Fregosi competition in 2019, and Second Prize in the Altamura-Caruso Competition. Ola has performed Azucena in Il Trovatore, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Fenena in Nabucco, as Amneris in Aida, and Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera. Her most celebrated role is Carmen, which she has sung with Syracuse Opera, the Lyric Orchestra, Gulfshore Opera, New Jersey Verismo Opera, and highlights with the Pacific Symphony. Other roles performed include Charlotte in Werther, Fricka in Die Walkure, Brangaene in Tristan und Isolde, La Frugola in Il Tabarro, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. Notable concert works performed have been DeFalla’s El Amor Brujo, Brahms two songs for voice and viola, Verdi Requiem, Beethoven’s 9^th, and Vivaldi’s Gloria. She has been featured at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Opera Tampa, Springfield Symphony, Orlando Opera, Baltimore Lyric, Opera Carolina, Teatro Curci di Barletta, Paderewski Symphony, Opera Festival Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, Florentine Opera, the Eugene Symphony, the Evanston Symphony Orchestra, Opera Project Columbus, and more. Sotto Voce is thrilled to welcome back Ola Rafalo – who previously premiered the role of Diskana in The Second Sight – as a special guest artist for their production of Puccini’s Suor Angelica.

Julia Anne Cordani – SUOR GENOVIEFFA (Sister Genevieve) and CHORAL DIRECTOR

Julia Anne Cordani (b. 1997), originally from Lewiston NY, has been described as “a clear, sparkling soprano” by Buffalo Rising and “dazzling… and sweeping” by Cleveland Classical. She has sung nationally with Ensemble Signal, Slee Sinfonietta, the Cleveland Syndicate, The Resonance Collective LA, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Julia has appeared onstage as Belinda in Dido and Aeneas and Anne Truelove in The Rake’s Progress with UB Opera; Marguerite in Faust, Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, and Lucy in The Telephone with Buffalo Opera Unlimited; and premiered the role of the Bird Spirit in The Second Sight with Sotto Voce. Julia recently played one of her dream roles – The Queen of the Night – in Sotto Voce’s February 2024 production of The Magic Flute, and is excited to be back to sing Suor Genovieffa and help guide the Chorus of the Nuns for Suor Angelica. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance from SUNY Buffalo, and also founded and directs INCIPIO, an innovative choir for young professional singers in WNY.

Jamie Gangemi – LA SUORA ZELATRICE (The Monitor)

Jamie Gangemi (b. 2000) is a Mezzo Soprano from Buffalo, NY. She received her bachelor’s in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia where she studied under Lisa Layman. She is a lead singer in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Chancel Choir and member of local choir INCIPIO, as well as a private vocal instructor for young singers. Jamie also vocal directs theater productions around the area, working with Nardin Academy and Iroquois High School this season. She has appeared on stage as Fidalma in Il Matrimonio Segreto with the Hillman Opera, as a chorus member in Un Ballo In Maschera and La Bohème with Buffalo Opera Unlimited, and the Second Spirit in Sotto Voce’s 2024 production of The Magic Flute. She is thrilled to be singing the role of the overbearing Monitor in this production of Suor Angelica.

Erin Alexander – LA MAESTRA DELLE NOVIZIE (The Mistress of the Novices)

Erin Alexander (b. 1998) is a mezzo-soprano and an emerging choral conductor based in Buffalo, NY. Erin is currently teaching chorus and general music at Clarence Middle School. She actively serves as Alto Lead Singer, Conducting Assistant, and Youth Choir Director at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Buffalo. She also serves as Alto Section Leader and Conducting Assistant for the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. In 2023, Erin appeared as a Chorus Member in a performance of Jean Sibelius’ The Tempest with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. In the same year, Erin also performed as the Alto soloist in the BPC’s production of Bach’s Magnificat. Erin completed both her graduate and undergraduate work at SUNY Fredonia, earning her M.M. in Choral Conducting Performance in 2023, and her B.M. in Music Education in 2020. Erin served as Music Director and Conductor of the Fredonia Student Opera Theater Association’s production of Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti (2022). As an undergraduate at Fredonia, Erin performed in multiple Hillman Opera productions, first as a chorus member in Mozart’s Don Giovanni (2018), and later in the role of Dorothée in Massenet’s Cendrillon (2019). Erin made her debut with Sotto Voce in the role of the Third Spirit in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and is happy to be returning for their production of Suor Angelica in the role of the Mistress of the Novices!

Laurie Pastena – LA BADESSA (The Abbess) and LA SECONDA CONVERSA (The Second Lay Sister)

Laurie Pastena, mezzo-soprano, originally from Brooklyn, NY is excited to debut with Sotto Voce Vocal Collective as both the Abbess and the Second Lay Sister. Laurie currently performs as a member of the Community Music Chorus under the direction of Paul Waara and sings with the Opera-Lytes. Her previous performances include scenes at the Hunter College Opera Workshop and the Cheektowaga Community Chorus. She is a student of Christina Santa Maria at the Santa Maria Voice Studio.

Aleksandra Tirone – LA PRIMA CONVERSA (The First Lay Sister) and LA SECONDA SORELLA CERCATRICE (The Second Traveling Sister)

Aleksandra Tirone is a young dramatic soprano from Buffalo, New York. After transferring from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, Aleksandra currently attends SUNY Buffalo State University, and plans to pursue a career as an operatic singer. She studies voice under Dr. Holly Bewlay, formerly under Nancy Maultsby and Jill Neuhaus. Past operatic roles include Chorus in La Bohème with Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Demon in Virtually Dead, from Operas in Place commissioned by Baldwin Wallace Opera, and more. Past Music Theater roles include Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods, and Berthe in Pippin, at Grand Island Senior High School. Aleks recently had her first experience Music Directing, directing the Parish Players’ May 2024 production of The Spongebob Musical. She enjoys choral singing and has sung in many choirs. Aleks hopes to help others experience the full range of human emotion through music, and to live every day in kindness, empathy, and compassion. She is looking forward to portraying the First Lay Sister and Second Traveling Sister in Sotto Voce’s production of Puccini’s Suor Angelica.

Emily Yancey – LA PRIMA SORELLA CERCATRICE (The First Traveling Sister)

Emily Yancey is a professional actress and classically trained, multi-genre crossover vocalist, performing in plays, musicals, and operas across WNY for over a decade.  Critical reviewers have expressed that she “sings like an angel” with her “glorious” and “soaring soprano.”  Emily recently performed the title-role in the televised opera SUSANNAH, produced and recorded by WNED-PBS & Buffalo Opera Unlimited, reaching tens of thousands of viewers in their homes.  Prior to that, she starred in Buffalo Opera Unlimited’s productions of DIE FLEDERMAUS (Adele) & THE MAGIC FLUTE (Pamina), and in Nickel City Opera’s production of THE IMPRESARIO (The Ingénue).  She has been recognized by WNED/WBFO as a two-time group Artie-Award winner and four-time individual Artie-Award nominee: DISASTER! (Sister Downy) with MusicalFare Theatre (Winner – Outstanding Musical Ensemble & Nominee – Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role), 1776: THE MUSICAL (Edward Rutledge) with O’Connell & Company (Winner – Outstanding Musical Ensemble & Nominee – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical), KILLER RACK: THE FEMINIST HORROR MUSICAL COMEDY (Betty Downer) with Alleyway Theatre (Nominee – Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical), and FACTORY FOR MURDERERS (Kate/Perlman) with Alleyway Theatre (Nominee – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play).  Other favorite credits: THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE (Eliza) with Road Less Traveled Productions, A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER (Phoebe/Miss Barley), NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT (Eileen) with MusicalFare Theatre, OKLAHOMA! (Laurey), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Hodel), CLUE ON STAGE (Miss Scarlet) with Lancaster Opera House, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Belle et al), GIRLS WHO WALKED ON GLASS (Katrina) with Alleyway Theatre, SPRING AWAKENING (Martha) at Shea’s 710 Theatre with MusicalFare, SHE KILLS MONSTERS (Agnes) with Subversive Theatre, and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Margaret) with Shakespeare in Delaware Park.  She is happy to be joining Sotto Voce for their production of Suor Angelica. Emily holds a BA in Vocal Performance and a BS in Biology & Psychology from Canisius University.  www.eyancey.com 

Maria Parker – LA SUORA INFERMIERA (The Nursing Sister)

Maria Parker, mezzo-soprano, is a full-time licensed clinical social worker and certified trauma therapist who owns her own private practice. She earned a Bachelors with honors from the University of Pittsburgh in Psychology and Music in 2011 and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Buffalo in 2013. Maria has performed as a professional soloist since 2008 in many concert works including Bach Cantata No. 4, 23, 39, 80, 124 and 182; Vivaldi’s Gloria, Haydn’s Mass No. 9 in C Major Missa in tempore belli, Aaron Copland’s In the Beginning, and Jake Runestad’s We Can Mend the Sky. Maria performed as the mezzo-soprano soloist (Faerie 2) in the production of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Irish Classical Theatre and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Grammy Award winner JoAnn Falletta. She also performed in Fredonia’s Bach and Beyond Festival as the solo alto choir member and the second witch for Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Maria has performed with various choral groups and orchestras as a soloist including Ars Nova, Camerata di Sant’Antonio, Buffalo Philharmonic Choir, Buffalo Chamber Players, Buffalo Master Chorale and the Women of Vivaldi. She has been a member and soloist with Harmonia Chamber Singers since 2021 and with Vocalis Chamber Choir since 2012. She is delighted to be making her debut with Sotto Vocein the role of La Suora Infermiera in their production of Suor Angelica.

Maria Jacobi – LA NOVIZIA (The Novice)

Maria Jacobi moved back to Buffalo in 2018 and is the Performing Arts Director at The Park School of Buffalo. She has enjoyed leading educational theater and choral programs throughout Westchester County, working on several pilot productions with Disney Theatrics.  As a vocalist she made her Lincoln Center debut in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra under maestro Valery Gergiev, she also has performed at Carnegie Hall and Symphony Space with New York Lyric Opera. She is looking forward to playing the role of the Novice in Sotto Voce’s production of Suor Angelica!

Rosa Vu – SUOR DOLCINA (Sister Sweet)

Rosa Vu (b. 2002) is an emerging soprano from Buffalo NY. She is known for her sweet tone and precision. Rosa is currently studying at UB  under the guidance of Dr. Tiffany Du Mouchelle where she sings with the UB Choir and Chamber Singers. She also sings with The Westminster Choir, St. Luke’s Lutheran Chorale, and INCIPIO – under the direction of Julia Anne Cordani. This past winter, she was in UB Opera Studio’s production of The Impresario as Mademoiselle Silberklang. She made her operatic debut with Sotto Voce as the First Spirit (Papagena cover) in their February 2024 production of The Magic Flute, and is joining their production of Suor Angelica as the sweet-loving Suor Dolcina!

Sarah Arrowsmith – SUOR OSMINA (Sister Osmina)

Sarah Arrowsmith graduated from Canisius College with her bachelors in business with a minor in psychology. Here she was involved with the school’s Little Theater club where she held many lead roles and music directed Grease the musical. She was also a part of the a capella group where she held the position of music director. Post college, Sarah is involved in a choir group called Incipio and has been called back to Canisius to music direct Pippin for this years musical. She loved being involved in Sotto Voce’s The Magic Flute as well and thanks everyone for the opportunity to do what she loves and that is to act and sing! She cannot believe the amount of talent she is surrounded by in this company and she cannot wait to be a part of Suor Angelica.