Review from The City Choir of Washington's Mozart's Requiem:

"Urging on his chorus and orchestra, Shafer gave the Mozart a dramatic inevitability. The soloists were soprano Danielle Talamantes (a rising Metropolitan Opera star), mezzo Alexandra Christoforakis, tenor Norman Shankle (also a Met singer) and bass Kerry Wilkerson. I have heard countless fine vocal quartets in Mozart’s Requiem. But, so far, none have surpassed the higher realms of art that Sunday’s quartet reached. In powerfully burnished solos and seamless ensemble, the quartet voiced the overpowering, rapturous grief and piercing drama that comes right out of Mozart’s operatic writing."
Cecelia Porter - The Washington Post

Opera

Angie

Pepito

Washington National Opera

2019

Marianne

75 Miles

Washington National Opera

2019

Soloist

Mass in F Minor (Bruckner)

The City Choir of Washington

2017

Sister Lillianne

Dead Man Walking

Washington National Opera

2017

Regina

Addie

Maryland Opera Studio

2016

Emsemble

Lost in the Stars

Washington National Opera

2016

Ensemble

Appomattox

Washington National Opera

2015

Sister Catherine, Mother Jeanne (cover)

Dialogues of the Carmelites

Washington National Opera

2015

Arezoo Jazayeri

The Investment

Washington National Opera

2014

La Maestra delle Novizie

Suor Angelica

Baltimore Concert Opera

2012

Marcellina

Le Nozze di Figaro

Baltimore Concert Opera

2011

Fidalma

Il Matrimonio Segreto

Aurora Opera

2010

Fidalma

Il Matrimonio Segreto

Pine Mountain Music Festival

2009

Filippyevna

Eugene Onegin

Maryland Opera Studio

2009

Malacorpa

An Inspector From Rome

Wolf Trap Opera Company

2009

Brigitta

Die Tote Stadt

Summer Opera Theatre Company

2008

Alma March

Little Women

Summer Opera Theatre Company

2007

Phoenice, Melisse & Naiad

Armide (Gluck)

Maryland Opera Studio

2007

Marcellina

Le Nozze di Figaro

Bel Cantanti

2006

Zweite Dame

Die Zauberflöte

Pine Mountain Music Festival

2006

Fidalma

Il Matrimonio Segreto

Maryland Opera Studio

2006

Mrs. Malaprop

The Newport Rivals

Maryland Opera Studio

2005

Mary

Dakota Sky

Maryland Opera Studio

2005

Sesto (cover)

Giulio Cesare

Maryland Opera Studio

2005

Nursemaid

Street Scene

New York University

2003

Miss Todd

The Old Maid and the Thief

New York University

2002

Maria Callas Epstein

The Audition

New York University

2001

Sally

A Hand of Bridge

New York University

2001

Donna Elvira (cover)

Don Giovanni

Bay View Music Festival

2001

Maman

L'Enfant et les Sortilèges

New York University

2001

 

Oratorio/Concert

Soloist

Requiem (Mozart)

The City Choir of Washington

2014

Soloist

Lord Nelson Mass (Haydn)

Cathedral Choral Society

2014

Soloist

Gloria (Vivaldi)

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church

2014

Semi-Finalist

Annapolis Opera Competition

Annapolis Opera

2014

Soloist

Messiah (Handel)

Westminster Presbyterian Church

2013

Soloist

Requiem (Mozart)

Cathedral Choral Society

2013

Soloist

Gloria (Vivaldi)

Westminster Presbyterian Church

2012

Soloist

Coronation Anthems & Dettingen Te Deum (Handel)

The City Choir of Washington

2012

Soloist

Cultural Ambassador Tour to China

Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra

2011

Soloist

Magnificat (Bach)

Westminster Presbyterian Church

2011

Soloist

Das Lied von der Erde (Mahler)

Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra

2011

Soloist

Missa in tempore belli (Haydn)

The City Choir of Washington

2011

Soloist

Christmas Oratorio (Saint-Saëns) & Magnificat (Durante)

Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ

2010

Soloist

St. John Passion (Bach)

Shepherd University

2008

Soloist

Mass for a New Millennium (Nance)

Hagerstown Choral Arts

2008

Soloist

Elijah (Mendelssohn)

Shepherd University

2006

Soloist

Mass in A flat (Schubert)

University of Maryland

2006

Soloist

Mass in B Minor (Bach)

University of Maryland

2005

Soloist

Messiah (Handel)

Central Maryland Chorale

2004

 

Education

University of Maryland, Maryland Opera Studio, Class of 2006 (MM)
New York University, Class of 2003, Cum Laude (BM)

Young Artist Programs: The City Choir of Washington (2011, 2012); Pine Mountain Music Festival (2005, 2006, 2009); Opera and Music Theatre Festival of Lucca (2003); Bay View Music Festival (2001)

 

Teachers: LENEIDA CRAWFORD, DELORES ZIEGLER, ROBERT C. WHITE, JR., KAREN LYKES

Masterclasses: SHIRLEY VERRETT, MARTIN KATZ, JAKE HEGGIE, STEVEN BLIER, ROBERT PAGE, BACH ARIA GROUP, RICHARD HUNDLEY, CHARLES RIECKER

Directors: LEON MAJOR, JOSHUA MAJOR, ROBIN GUARINO, NICK OLCOTT, PAT DIAMOND, ELAINE WALTER, DAVID GRINDLE, PAOLO MICCICHÉ, BERNARD UZAN, CAROLANN PAGE

Coaches: JAMES HARP, MIAH IM, STEPHEN SULICH, CHARLES RIECKER, JANE BUNNELL, DANIEL RAGONE, GRANT WENAUS, TIMOTHY CHEEK