2020 young artists
ELARY MEDE is a soprano studying voice at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her love of singing started at a young age in church and school choirs. Elary has participated in many of the productions at IUP, singing the roles of Barbarina (Figaro! Figaro! Figaro !), Johanna (Sweeney Todd) and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni). During her time at IUP, Elary has competed in both district and regional NATS where she was awarded first place in her category. Most recently Elary won the Butler Symphony Collegiate Concerto Competition and performed the winning selections with the symphony in concert.
Mezzo-soprano THEREZA LITUMA is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she received a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and Music Education under the tutelage of Sylvia Stone. There, she performed the titular role in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and was praised by The News-Gazette for singing with a “sweeping emotive power.” Her past opera credits also include Ježibaba/Third Wood Sprite (Rusalka), the Owl (The Cunning Little Vixen) and Albanact (King Arthur). Last summer she was a Project Inclusion Voice Fellow with the Grant Park Music Festival, where she had the opportunity to perform as a soloist in multiple Chicago summer concert series and as a professional chorus member with the Grant Park Chorus. She made her Italian debut at the Scuola Italia Summer Program for Young Opera Singers, where she performed scenes as Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Quickly (Falstaff), and Cornelia (Giulio Cesare). This fall she will begin her graduate studies at the University of Illinois with research focuses in Quechua and Andean operatic/art song repertoire. therezalituma.com
GRAHAM BROOKS is a tenor from Bellevue, Nebraska. A recent graduate of Simpson College, Graham participated in multiple choirs, bands, and the opera program while earning bachelor's degrees in music performance and mathematics. Notable Simpson College opera credits include Damon (Acis and Galatea), Laurie (Little Women), Don Pelagio (La Canterina), Hortensio (Kiss Me, Kate), and Tamino (The Magic Flute). He has also competed in many NATS voice competitions, earning awards at the state and regional levels. Last summer Graham was a young artist in the CORO program of the Des Moines Choral Festival. He has interned with the Des Moines Metro Opera as a member of the house staff. In the fall, Graham will be continuing his vocal studies at Florida State University, where he will pursue a master's degree in music performance in voice and work as a teaching assistant in the voice department.
COLE BELLAMY is a baritone from Olathe, Kansas, and is a student at Wichita State University, where he is double-majoring in vocal performance and music education. With the WSU Opera Theatre, Cole has performed as Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Frank (Street Scene) and Betto (Gianni Schicci). Additionally, Cole had the opportunity to perform in Wichita Grand Opera’s production of All is Calm.