Algirdas Janutas is a Professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA) within the Departments of Vocal Performance and Choir Conducting. He specializes in vocal performance and teaches in both departments. As a professional tenor, he has performed with renowned singers like José van Dam, Barbara Bonney, and Anatoly Kocherga, and has collaborated with distinguished conductors including Mstislav Rostropovich, Andris Nelsons, and Yuri Temirkanov. His performance venues span prestigious international halls such as the Royal Albert Hall (London), Gewandhaus Leipzig, and Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow). Janutas has participated in festivals like the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Bath Mozartfest, and Richard Strauss Festival Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He is involved in the Nordplus and Intermusic projects at LMTA, reflecting his engagement in cross-border academic and artistic initiatives.
Monta Martinsone is a Lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Music 's Department of Vocal Performance. Her academic work focuses on vocal pedagogy, operatic training, and performance techniques for classical singers.
Osman Musaoğlu is an Assistant Professor at Trakya University Faculty of Education , specializing in Music Education . He holds a Doctoral Degree in Music Art from the National Music Academy of Bulgaria Pancho Vladigerov (2011), where his thesis focused on vocal and creativity culture in contemporary opera singers. He previously served as a Lecturer at Trakya University from 2010 to 2014. Educational Background : BA in Music Education from Uludag University (1996) MA in Music Art from New Bulgaria University (2003) PhD in Music Art from National Music Academy of Bulgaria (2011) Research Interests include vocal performance, opera dramaturgy, classical music pedagogy, and contemporary opera singer training. His work bridges historical analysis of opera (e.g., Verdi’s works) with modern vocal creativity. Professional Experience : Member of Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra since 2007 Extensive international concert performances in Germany, England, Italy, France, and China Academic tenure at Trakya University (Lecturer 2010–2014, Assistant Professor since 2018)
Sarah Holman is a mezzo-soprano and Professor of Voice at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music , where she has also served as Director of Opera . Her distinguished career spans operatic roles, oratorio, recital, and master teaching on four continents. Education: Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), University of Kansas Research & Artistic Focus: Dr. Holman’s scholarly and artistic work centers on Musical Performance , embracing the full spectrum of classical vocal repertoire from Baroque to contemporary opera and oratorio. She is especially known for interpretations of Mozart, Handel, Dvořák, and Bruckner, and for fostering advanced vocal technique and dramatic interpretation among emerging artists. Performance Highlights & Master Classes: Internationally active, she has appeared with the Rockford Symphony, Lake Forest Symphony, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Chicago Chamber Opera, and many others. Recent engagements include Haydn’s Missa in Tempore Belli , Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, and the title role in Regina . She has taught and performed at the International Congress of Voice Teachers in Stockholm, the Southern Young Artist Opera Project in Beijing, and the Asian Opera Festival in Kunming. Leadership & Service: Director of Opera, Wheaton College Conservatory Board Member, National Association of Teachers of Singing Foundation Goldovsky Opera Directing Internship, Harrower Opera (Atlanta)
Shawn E. Okpebholo is a Nigerian American composer, educator, and ethnomusicologist currently serving as the Jonathan Blanchard Distinguished Professor of Composition at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. His work bridges history, culture, and community through compositions that reimagine Negro spirituals, American folk hymns, and contemporary classical music. A GRAMMY®-nominated artist, his solo album Lord, How Come Me Here? and Songs in Flight have received international acclaim, including a double five-star review from BBC Music Magazine . Education: D.M.A. and M.M. in Music Composition from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; B.A. in Music Composition and Music History from Asbury University His creative practice is informed by ethnomusicological research in East and West Africa, which has shaped his scholarly voice and commitment to community outreach. His compositions range from chamber operas like The Cook-Off (with librettist Mark Campbell) to orchestral works performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and have been featured at festivals including Tanglewood and Aspen. Okpebholo’s accolades include recognition as 2024 Chicagoan of the Year in Classical Music by the Chicago Tribune and one of Musical America ’s Top 30 Professionals of 2023. He has held residencies at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Florida State University, and the Green Lake Festival of Music, while also teaching at Stanford, Vanderbilt, Duke, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Scientific/Award Highlights 2024 Chicago Tribune Classical Music “Chicagoan of the Year” Musical America Top 30 Professionals of 2023 Leslie Adams–Robert Owens Composition Award ASCAP, American Academy of Arts and Letters, and Music Publishers Association honors His collaborations with artists like J’Nai Bridges, Rhiannon Giddens, and Karen Slack have reached audiences at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Media appearances include PBS NewsHour, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, and SiriusXM’s Living American series.
Lois Roach serves as Senior Lecturer in Theatre Studies at Wellesley College, where she teaches courses like THST106: Speaking Truth to Power. Her career bridges academic instruction with award-winning creative practice in playwriting, directing, and community-focused performance art centered on African American narratives and social justice. Her educational background includes: B.S. from Emerson College M.A. from Lesley University Roach's research and creative practice focuses on Theatre Studies, Playwriting, and Directing with emphasis on Social Justice Performance and African American Theatre. She develops community-engaged works addressing systemic racism, women's political impact, healthcare disparities, and cultural heritage through projects like Museum of African American History programs on Juneteenth and pandemic-era racism. Her methodology integrates historical research with participatory performance to foster dialogue across diverse communities. Analysis of her recent creative output reveals consistent exploration of African American identity through multiple mediums. The 2023 production of A Raisin in the Sun and 2021 screenplay Waking Up demonstrate her signature approach: adapting historical narratives into contemporary performance frameworks that examine systemic inequities while celebrating cultural resilience, spanning disciplines from community theatre to film studies. Her honors include: IRNE Best Director Award for The Old Settler IRNE Award for Best Production for The Old Settler Elliot Norton Award for Best Production (Small Theater) Emmy award for AIDS public service campaigns 2021 NYWIFT Writers Lab Semifinalist Roach mentors students in narrative development and public speaking through structured coursework, emphasizing empathetic communication and constructive criticism. While specific grant details aren't documented, her community projects receive institutional support from organizations like Museum of African American History and Northeastern University, including commissions for Casa Myrna Vazquez's 25th anniversary and The Partnership's diversity initiatives. Her work consistently translates academic concepts into public-facing social impact. She maintains active collaborations with Boston's theatre ecosystem including New Rep Theatre (where she served as Resident Artistic Director until its 2023 closure), Black Folks Theatre Company, Company One Theatre (which established the Lois Roach Theatre Community Award in her honor), and Opera Providence. Her community-centered approach extends to initiatives examining peacebuilding in Northern Ireland and healthcare equity, positioning her as a bridge between academic theatre and civic engagement.
Kyoko Hida-Battaglia serves as an Oboe and English Horn Instructor in the Department of Music at Wellesley College, with additional teaching appointments at Winchester Community Music School and Manchester Community Music School, establishing her as a multi-institutional music educator in the New England region. Her educational foundation includes: Bachelor of Music (B.M.) from Tokyo College of Music Master of Music (M.M.) from The New England Conservatory of Music Ms. Hida-Battaglia's professional identity centers on instrumental performance pedagogy, specializing in oboe and English horn across classical and theatrical contexts. Her extensive performance resume—spanning the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Boston Ballet, and Broadway in Boston's "Wicked"—directly informs her teaching methodology, emphasizing real-world orchestral and theatrical applications. This practical expertise positions her at the intersection of academic instruction and professional performance. Her teaching trajectory includes prior roles at the Boston Conservatory and New England Conservatory Preparatory School, with current mentorship focusing on woodwind technique and ensemble preparation. While no specific research grants are documented, her active performance career with organizations like the Boston Lyric Opera and Colorado Music Festival constitutes ongoing professional development that enriches her instructional practice. As a collaborative artist, she engages with diverse musical ecosystems including symphony orchestras (Boston Philharmonic, Lexington Symphony), opera companies (Boston Lyric Opera), ballet ensembles (Boston Ballet), and theater productions (North Shore Music Theatre), demonstrating exceptional versatility across classical, contemporary, and theatrical repertoire.
Susan Huff is a soprano and voice teacher at the Horne School of Music, Utah State University, celebrated for her vocal warmth and technical precision in Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Mozart repertoire. Her pedagogical approach emphasizes accessibility and transformative growth, particularly with singers initially deemed "less gifted," fostering instant student connections through good-natured cheer. Performance highlights include featured roles with the Utah Symphony, Teton Music Festival, CityRep Theatre, Lagoon Opera House, South Davis Civic Chorale & Orchestra, and The Sterling Singers. Her charismatic presence makes her a perennial favorite at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Huff earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Utah under Master Teachers Naomi Farr and JoAnn Ottley. Born in Bountiful, Utah, she excelled in vocal performance, piano, and violin from youth, transitioning from high school musical leads to college opera productions. She collaborates extensively with her husband, conductor-pianist Michael Huff, balancing six children while residing in Utah's Sanpete Valley.
Laura English-Robinson is an adjunct voice instructor at Spelman College, Georgia, with a long-standing faculty affiliation spanning 1974–1979 and 1992–2019. Her expertise centers on vocal performance, opera, and music education. Education B.A., Spelman College M.M., College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati Her career includes performances with major orchestras like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and recitals at iconic venues such as Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. She has toured internationally and performed operatic roles, including the title character in Curtis Bryant's "Zabette" premiere. Notable accolades include the Golden Puccini Vocal Competition win and honors like the Sullivan Foundation Awards. She co-founded the Singing Sisters and is affiliated with organizations like the National Association of Teachers of Singing and Delta Omicron Music Fraternity.
American-born composer Jacquelyn Hazle (b. 1993) holds a PhD in Composition from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (awarded 2025) accredited by University of St Andrews, where she is actively engaged in research and composition. Her institutional affiliations include the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Research Engagement Department and collaborations with the Laidlaw Music Centre at University of St Andrews. Her research spans three interconnected domains: Music Composition : practice-as-research, vocal music, opera and libretto writing, and the role of text in composition Philosophy : intentionality, conscious mind in composition, music semiotics, and meaning-making processes Theology : 'sacred' music in secular spaces, catholicity in composition, and Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutics Her compositional style defies categorization, alternating between flowing melodicism, assertive motifs, dissonant textures, and atmospheric soundscapes. Analysis of her recent compositions reveals consistent exploration of human expressivity through unconventional vocal forms (including her invented 'loqua' genre), narrative storytelling, and thematic engagement with suffering, hope, and environmental themes. Her work demonstrates interdisciplinary connections between musical composition, philosophical inquiry, and theological reflection. Her notable recognitions include: 2018 Berklee College of Music Contemporary Compositions Award Feature in the 2022 PLUG New Music Festival Editorial role for Music Performance Research Journal (2024-2025) Hazle actively contributes to academic discourse through conference presentations, including the International Network for Music Theology Conference 2024 which she organized, and her talk 'Music, Mind and Method: behind the veil of the composer's perspective.' She has secured research engagement through multiple commissions and has developed innovative performance concepts like Keys2, establishing recurring collaborations between academic institutions. Her creative practice integrates with academic research through projects like her debut opera 'The Witnesses' (2024) which tackles profound questions of suffering and hope, and her editorial work connecting composition practice with scholarly inquiry in music performance research.
Melissa Peña serves as Associate Professor of Oboe and General Music at the University of Oregon's School of Music and Dance, maintaining an active dual career in academia and professional performance. She currently holds the position of Associate Principal Oboe/English Horn with the New Mexico Philharmonic while performing with major orchestras including the Oregon Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera. Her educational credentials include a Master of Music in Oboe Performance from the University of Missouri–Kansas City (1998) and a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance from the University of Illinois (1996), where she studied under Barbara Bishop and Nancy Ambrose King. Peña's research focuses on oboe performance practice, contemporary music interpretation, and chamber music collaboration. She specializes in expanding the oboe repertoire through partnerships with living composers, particularly in interdisciplinary contexts that integrate spoken word and new media. Her performance philosophy emphasizes technical precision within expressive contemporary frameworks. Her recorded works demonstrate consistent engagement with 21st-century classical trends, featuring premieres of works by prominent American composers. These projects reveal thematic patterns in desert-inspired soundscapes, collaborative new music creation, and innovative approaches to traditional wind instrumentation. As a chamber musician, Peña is integral to the Oregon Wind Quintet and serves as a core performer in Albuquerque's Chatter series—a weekly program combining chamber music with spoken word. She has also appeared at prestigious festivals including Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and Music from Angel Fire with Ida Kavafian.
Camille Ortiz is an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance , where she contributes to vocal pedagogy and performance. Education: D.M.A. in Vocal Performance (2017), University of North Texas M.M. in Vocal Performance (2007), Manhattan School of Music B.M. in Vocal and Violin Performance (2004), Oral Roberts University Pre-college graduate, Puerto Rico Conservatory Research Interests focus on Vocal Performance and Choral Studies , with specialization in Baroque repertoire , Latin American art song , and operatic roles spanning classical to contemporary works. Her performances highlight historical and cross-cultural musical traditions. Scientific Awards include recognition from prestigious foundations and competitions: Gerda Lissner Foundation Encouragement Award (2008) Liederkranz Competition finalist (2009) Koussevitzky Young Artists Competition finalist (2010) As an internationally acclaimed soprano, Ortiz has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall , Lincoln Center , and Kennedy Center , with engagements in major opera productions and collaborations with ensembles such as Boston Baroque and Opera Lafayette .
Shirly Laub serves as Violin Professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels since 2003 while maintaining an international performance career as concertmaster and ensemble leader. Her work bridges academic pedagogy and professional artistry across global stages. Education: Koninklijk Muziek Conservatorium Brussels (Clemens Quatacker); Utrecht studies with Wiktor Liberman & Philippe Hirshhorn Her research interests center on artistic expression through instrumental mastery, specializing in Classical/Contemporary Music Theater, Early Music, Jazz Education, and Rhythmic Systems. She pioneers pedagogical approaches that eliminate physical obstacles to musical interpretation while fostering lifelong artistic development beyond formal education. Laub's distinguished awards reflect her early-career excellence: Young Soloist of French-speaking radio communities (1997) Juventus laureate, Council of Europe (2001) As an educator, she has conducted masterclasses at Royal College of Music, Trinity College London, and conservatories in Madrid, Kumamoto, Beijing, and Miami. Her mentorship philosophy emphasizes mutual esteem and self-directed learning to sustain artistic growth post-graduation. Performance grants include Silk Road Ensemble collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and recordings for BBC, RAI, and Fuga Libera label. She co-founded the Oxalys ensemble (1993-present) and TrioFenix, performing at Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Berlin Konzerthaus, and Library of Congress. Current projects integrate her Erasmus HarMa+ faculty role with global concertmaster engagements for Covent Garden Opera and BBC orchestras.
David Rey is a Professor of Trombone at the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels since 2018, previously teaching at Haute école de musique de Lausanne (HEM) during 2012/13. An internationally acclaimed orchestral musician, he served as solo trombonist of the Brussels Philharmonic (2008-2023) and performed under legendary conductors including Levine, Rostropovich, and Gergiev. His educational background includes: Degree in socio-economics Graduate of Geneva Conservatory of Music (HEM) with first prize of virtuosity (2001) Orchestral musician degree (2002) Pedagogic master (teaching diploma) (2003) Rey's expertise spans Trombone Performance, Music Education, Classical Music, Contemporary Music Theatre, Early Music, and Jazz. He is renowned for versatility across solo, chamber, and orchestral settings, premiering dedicated compositions and performing transcriptions of non-trombone repertoire. His Bach Artist affiliation since 2014 reflects technical mastery. His distinguished awards include: Ernst Göhner Award Irene Dénériaz Award Valais Championship All-Categories Champion (1995) Swiss National Trombone Champion (1996) First Prize with Distinction from Jeunesses Musicales (1996) Semifinalist at Porcia Competition (2000) First Prize at Riddes Competition (2003) As an educator since age 17, Rey mentors students of all levels with emphasis on practical experience. His international reputation stems from masterclasses exploring diverse musical boundaries, from brass bands to symphony orchestras. He founded the Geneva Brass Quintet and maintains active performance-teaching balance between Brussels and Switzerland. Rey collaborates with leading ensembles including Verbier Festival Orchestra (2002-2007) and has held principal positions with Durban Orchestra (2003-2004) and Malmö Opera (2006). His equipment features custom Bach 42GH trombone with Servette modifications.
Jacopo Spirei is a Professor of Opera at the Opera Academy, Oslo National Academy of the Arts. His work focuses on gender fluidity in operatic contexts, particularly through historical and cultural lenses of Baroque and classical opera. He actively engages in academic lectures and performing arts projects. Academic Rank: Professor Institution: Oslo National Academy of the Arts Email: jacospir@khio.no Spirei's research explores intersections of gender identity , queer theory , and Baroque opera , with recent publications analyzing fluid gender representation in operatic dramaturgy. His artistic projects include directing major classical and Baroque operas like Mozart’s and Rossini’s works. Recent research outputs cluster around Baroque operas , gender studies , and performance analysis , emphasizing reinterpretation of historical works through contemporary cultural frameworks.
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