OPERA ARTISTIC STAFF
BREVARD MUSIC CENTER KAREN ROETHLISBERGER VERM Head Vocal Coach/Pianist Pianist Karen Roethlisberger Verm has been on faculty at Carnegie Mellon University as a vocal coach, accompanist, and opera coordinator since 2005. Originally from the Pittsburgh area, she has performed with the Mendelssohn Choir, Bach Choir, Pittsburgh Concert Society, and Pittsburgh Opera. She has also worked as a collaborative artist at Duquesne University, Point Park University, Aspen Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, and Opera Theater of Lucca (Italy), among others.
EILEEN DOWNEY Chorus Master, Pianist, Vocal Coach Eileen Downey is currently Lecturer of Piano at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she is a vocal coach and collaborative pianist, as well as a rehearsal pianist for Knoxville Opera. Ms. Downey has collaborated at AIMS in Graz, Austria, SongFest, Project Canción Española, Aspen Opera Theater Center, Opera North, and the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University.
JEFFREY BUCHMAN Stage Director Opera News calls director Jeffrey Marc Buchman “a formidable talent”, and the South Florida Classical Review claims “Buchman has mastered an art beyond the powers of many directors”. He has enjoyed great success for a wide range of productions, including the world premieres of Carson Kievman’s Intelligent Systems and Fairy Tales: Songs of the Dandelion Woman. His production of No Exit for Florida Grand Opera's Young Artists was named “the best & brightest" of that season. Next season he will return to Florida Grand Opera to create a new production of Eugene Onegin, and will also make his debut with Opera Colorado directing Laura Kaminsky’s As One.
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JESSICA HARIKA Assistant Director New York based mezzo-soprano Jessica Harika enjoys splitting her time in the opera world between singing and directing. She is thrilled to be returning as Assistant Director of the Janiec Opera Company for her fourth season. Ms. Harika received her master’s degree from New England Conservatory, and her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in her hometown of Richmond, VA. She will be a Resident Artist with Shreveport Opera for their 2016-2017 season.
MICHAEL GAERTNER Staff Pianist Michael Gaertner is a staff accompanist for the Mannes School of Music and a soughtafter collaborator and vocal coach. Past professional affiliations include the Nashville Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert Series, Titus Art Song Recital Series of the Dallas Opera, Emerging Artist Recital Series of Opera America, Shreveport Opera, and Music Academy of the West. Mr. Gaertner holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Ithaca College.
JONATHAN HEANEY Staff Pianist Jonathan Heaney is a master’s student in vocal accompanying at Manhattan School of Music. He recently graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in piano performance. Mr. Heaney served as a staff pianist for the Janiec Opera Company in 2014-15 for their productions of Rigoletto, Così fan tutte, The Ballad of Baby Doe, Albert Herring, Don Giovanni, Sweeney Todd, and Falling Angel.
DISTINGUISHED BREVARD MUSIC CENTER GUEST ARTISTS OVER 8 DECADES: Issac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Van Cliburn, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Richard Tucker, Jan Peerce, Beverly Sills, Samuel Ramey, Robert Shaw, Renata Scotto, Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, Renee Fleming, Kathleen Battle, Victor Borge, Benny Goodman, Peter Nero, Andy Williams, Tony Bennett, Doc Severinsen, Burt Bacharach, John Denver, Garrison Keillor, and many more...