Nicole Joy Mitchell
Photo by Kendra Irene
Home town: Brooklyn, NY
Nicole Joy Mitchell, contralto, is a proud native of Brooklyn, New York and has performed around the country and the world. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2019 as part of the ensemble in the GRAMMY Award winning production of the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. She has performed in several productions since including the historic GRAMMY Award winning opera by Terence Blanchard, Fire Shut Up in My Bones. She has performed at New York City Opera, Piedmont Opera, Tanglewood, Sarasota Opera, Portland Opera (Oregon), Teatro di San Carlo in Naples and Semperoper in Germany. In 2022, Nicole performed the role of iconic Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer at Santa Fe Opera in the world premiere of This Little Light of Mine, the Story of Fannie Lou Hamer by composer Chandler Carter and librettist Diana Solomon-Glover. As a NYC-based artist she has performed regularly with American Opera Projects (now The American Opera Project) singing and premiering the works of new composers and has workshopped new operas for the NYU Tisch Opera Writing Workshop. Nicole has worked in film, done voiceover work and in 2021 she composed and performed her own setting of Walt Whitman’s Poets to come! as a dedication to her dear friend Greg Trupiano who founded the Walt Whitman Project. She is a graduate of Buffalo State College and Manhattan School of Music, where she received her master's degree. Nicole currently serves on AGMA’s Board of Governors
Jason Eck
Jason Eck is positively thrilled to be joining the Metropolitan Opera Chorus this season. Mr. Eck was born and raised in Apalachin, NY and attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Indiana University. A versatile performer, Jason is an Operatic soloist (Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Atlanta Opera) an Oratorio soloist (Haydn ‘Creation’, Bach ‘St John Passion’) and a lover/performer of early music (Monteverdi ‘Vespers’, BWV 58, 82, 127, 140). He lives in Queens with his pianist/librarian husband Dustin and their two children: Miniature Pinscher Anna and Chihuahua mix Frank. Mr Eck is looking forward to many years of great music making with his new Met Chorus Family!
Hometown: Apalachin, NY
Kimberli Render
Hometown: Columbus, GA
Lyric soprano Kimberli Render made her Off-Broadway debut as a Swing in the Lincoln Center Theater’s critically acclaimed premier of the opera Intimate Apparel, directed by Bartlett Sher. Ms. Render made her Metropolitan Opera debut as a featured chorus soloist in the GRAMMY award-winning production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
Roles include Liu in Turandot, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow, Elisetta in Il matrionio segreto, the Governess in Turn of the Screw, and Lucinda in Into the Woods. Cover roles include Louise/Betty in the recent revival of X: The Life and Times of Malcom X, Leah in Southern Crossings (Jabri), Marguerite in Faust, and Micaela in Carmen.
Ms. Render’s career includes solo, concert, ensemble, and chorus work. Concert engagements include Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, and Bach’s Magnificat under the baton of the world-renowned conductor Helmuth Rilling.
Ms. Render completed a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Colorado State University and two Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music.
Eric Lindsey
Hometown: Fayetteville, GA
Celebrated by Opera News for his "fat, resonant bass" and proclaimed as "a singer to watch" by the Virginia Gazette, bass Eric Lindsey has sung under the direction of conductors Victor DeRenzi, Marcello Cormio, Brent McMunn, Dr. Raymond Harvey, Ward Holmquist, Pacien Mazzagatti, Chris Fecteau, and Jorge Parodi.
He was extremely excited to make his company debut as a Filene Artist for Wolf Trap Opera in their productions of Semele and Don Giovanni (portraying Cadmus & Somnus and the Commendatore, respectively). He will also be making his company debut as Il Sommo Sacerdote in Teatro Gratacielo's American premiere of La Vestale later this year.
He has worked as a young artist with Opera North, Sarasota Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera singing the roles of Bonze, Calchas, Sciarrone, Don Alfonso, Cadmus/Somnus, and Commendatore, respectively.
Mr. Lindsey resides in Manhattan with his wife, Jenny, and their two children, John and Josephine. He studies with Andrea DelGiudice and is represented by Peter Randsman of Randsman Artist Management.
Remy Martin
Hometown: Medford Falls, NJ
Remy Martin is a graduate from Appalachian State University. He has been a Metropolitan Opera Extra Chorister since 2017, and is honored to be a part of the regular chorus.
Remy’s previous solo experience basically immortalized his artistry with the roles of Tamino, Nemorino, Jenik, and Martin in venues such as Seagle Music Colony, Appalachian Opera Theatre, and Des Moines Metro Opera. He kindly invites you all over for drinks and good cheer at regular bass soloist and chorister Tyler Simpson’s place, but again please don’t tell Ned.
Chelsea Shephard
Praised for her “rich and vibrant artistry,” soprano Chelsea Shephard joins the full-time Metropolitan Opera Chorus for the 2022-2023 season after three seasons as an Extra Chorister. She first appeared with the company as Eurydice in composer Matthew Aucoin’s 2018 workshop presentation. The Michigan native made her solo Carnegie Hall debut in Brahms’ Requiem and quickly returned for Smyth’s The Prison (NY premiere). With New York Festival of Song, her repertoire spanned from Bel Canto/Can Belto to Protest Songs to Bernstein’s Songfest. She has also appeared with the Madison Bach Musicians as a soloist for six seasons in a wide variety of repertoire, including Bach’s B Minor Mass and Rameau’s Pygmalion. Operatic roles include Beth (Little Women), title roles (La Calisto, Dido and Aeneas, L'incoronazione di Poppea), and Mozart’s Pamina and Susanna with companies such as Madison Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Haymarket Opera, and Madison Bach Musicians. A graduate of Rice University (M.M), and DePaul University (B.M.), she studies with Susan Charles of The Music Institute of Chicago.
Hometown: Paw Paw, MI
Met Debut: 2018
Mikki Sodergren
Mikki Sodergren is a multi-genre vocalist, who equally loves all styles of music. Having developed new musicals for the National Theatre of Great Britain, Disney Theatricals, and NYU, she has also performed as Eponine (Les Miserables) in an all-Broadway regional cast, and Aldonza (The Man of La Mancha) opposite legendary Don Quixote, Ron Raines. She has developed and performed pops shows for the symphonies of Jacksonville, Asheville, Tallahassee, Hilton Head, and many others, and has toured internationally with The English Concert, under Harry Bickett’s leadership. Mikki also serves as the Executive and Artistic Director of the American Traditions Vocal Collection, where all styles of music are celebrated equally. www.atcsavannah.org
Hometown: Red Wing, MN
Met Debut: 2021
Jasmine Muhammad
Jasmine Muhammad is a multigenre vocalist with operatic roots. Her career spans vocal styles and venues with credits such as Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater to touring the "Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration" feat. Warren Haynes through Red Rocks Amphitheatre and stages across the country. Opera credits include Fire Shut Up in My Bones, Charlie Parker's Yardbird, Porgy & Bess, The Summer King, Rodelinda, Carmen, Aida, The Magic Flute, Dark Sisters, La Boheme, Rigoletto, and Ghosts of Versailles. Jasmine has also provided background vocals for live shows as well as studio recordings, including Kanye West Presents: Mary (David Geffen Hall), Nebuchadnezzar (Hollywood Bowl), “What’s Going On: Marvin Gaye Tribute” ft. John Legend with the LA Philharmonic (Hollywood Bowl), and “SuperJam” ft. Chaka Khan (SXSW). Background vocal credits include concerts with Kevin Morby, Benjamin Booker, Karen O, Warren Haynes, Michael Kiwanuka, and Mark Ronson.
Jasmine is a graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts and Manhattan School of Music. She is a former Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist and a Sullivan Foundation Award Winner.
Hometown: Reston, VA
Met Debut: 2019
Karolina Pilou
Greek mezzo-soprano Karolina Pilou has been hailed as having a “massive, sinfully rich voice” (New York Observer). She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the 2016-17 season as Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and returned as The Voice from Above in Parsifal, Albine (cover) in Thais, and Mistress Quickly (cover) in Verdi's Falstaff. She has sung with The British Youth Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Teatro Grattacielo, Intermountain Opera Bozeman, and LoftOpera. As a concert and oratorio singer she has performed at NJPAC, with the Little Orchestra Society of New York and at Carnegie Hall.
Hometown: Athens, Greece
Met Debut: 2017
Antonio Watts
Antonio Watts is a Grammy Award Winning, international, operatic baritone who has performed professionally in 7 countries on 3 continents.
He has collaborated and/or performed with Kathleen Battle, Phylicia Rashad, and Kanye West.
His benefit concert tours and masterclasses have raised money to build several hospitals for children in Ghana, West Africa.
Based in New York City, Mr. Watts enjoys a multifaceted career. Having appeared singing in a variety of genres, he has frequented many venues, namely The Barge at The Art Basel Festival, The Apollo Theatre, Birdland, The Broadway Theatre, Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Don't Tell Mama's, The Hollywood Bowl, The Kennedy Center, and The Metropolitan Opera.
Antonio may be followed on most social media platforms as @SingerAntonioWatts.
Hometown: New York, NY
Met Debut: 2019
Danielle Walker
Praised by Classical Voice America for a “sparkling technique and…deity-defying dramatic force,” soprano Danielle Walker has garnered accolades for performances that range from Viennese operetta to the staples of the Italian canon including Verdi and Puccini.
As a full-time member of The Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Ms. Walker has amassed almost 1,000 performances of over 70 operas under the tutelage of the world’s greatest conductors and directors.
Prior to joining the chorus, Danielle had an active career as a soloist. As a favorite of Maestro Victor DeRenzi and Sarasota Opera, Ms. Walker was seen in productions of Jerusalem (Hélène), Die Fledermaus (Rosalinda), Un giorno di regno (Giulietta di Kelbar), Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira), and Carmen (Micaëla). Additional performances include her Carnegie Hall debut in Adriana Lecouvreur (Mlle Jouvenot) with the Opera Orchestra of New York conducted by Eve Queler, and La bohème (Mimì) with El Paso Opera.
Ms. Walker is a graduate of the prestigious Young Artist Program at the Los Angeles Opera and completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.
Met Debut: 2014
Hometown: Chesapeake, VA
Helena Brown
Helena made her role debuts as Mrs. Dickson in Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater, Sieglinde in Die Walküre with Miami Wagner Institute, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Rioja Lirica/DIVAria Productions, Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia with New Camerata Opera, as well as Serena and Strawberry Woman in Porgy and Bess on the New York Harlem Theater European tour at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Chassé Theater, and Amsterdam RAI. She first appeared at the Metropolitan Opera as an ensemble soloist in Porgy and Bess. Additional appearances include the Glimmerglass Festival for multiple seasons, most notably to sing Isabella in the American premiere of The Siege of Calais; Bloody Mary in South Pacific at Opera Roanoke, concerts with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and New Haven Symphony Orchestra; and as a featured soloist with LOFTrecital and Out of the Box Opera.
Helena has received awards such as the Top Prize, Robert Lauch Award from the Wagner Society of New York, the Sergio Franchi Award in the Deborah Voigt/Vero Beach Opera Competition, Second Place in the Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera Vocal Competition, as well as awards/grants from the Gerda Lissner Foundation, Giulio Gari Foundation, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Philadelphia, the Jensen Foundation, Cooper-Bing Competition, Opera at Florham, Opera Birmingham, Opera Ebony Benjamin Matthews, and the MetroWest Opera Vocal Competition in Boston.
Hometown(s): West Haven, CT and New York City
Met Debut: 2019
Steven D. Myles
A nuanced communicator, American tenor Steven D. Myles has received praise for his “suave and heartfelt phrasing” and “ringing high notes, powerful enunciation” by The Boston Musical Intelligencer and Boston Classical Review. Mr. Myles has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Virginia Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Utah Festival Opera, Odyssey Opera, Teatro Regio di Torino and Teatro Petruzzelli. Mr. Myles received his Graduate Performance Diploma in Opera from The Boston Conservatory, and his MM and BM in Vocal Performance from The University of Central Oklahoma.
Chase Cornett
Chase Cornett is a graduate of the Mannes School of Music (Artist Diploma in opera) where he earned critical acclaim (Opera News) for his portrayal of the role of Friedrich Bhaer in Mark Adamo's Little Women. Also at Mannes, he sang the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro under the baton of Joseph Colaneri. Mr. Cornett earned a Master of Music in classical voice from New York University - Steinhardt as a recipient of NYU's Reinhold Scholarship, and prior to joining the Met Chorus, sang with Arizona Opera, Utah Opera, Utah Festival Opera, and The Phoenix Symphony.
Lee Steiner
Lee Steiner is a graduate of Susquehanna University (B.M.) and The University of Illinois (M.M), studying voice with David Steinau and Jerold Siena. In his itinerant days he apprenticed with Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and Opera North, before settling into New York and performing as a chorister with ensembles around the city, including the New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, and The Metropolitan Opera. You can read more about his professional activities at leealansteiner.com.
In his free time, Lee maintains The Opera Database, a collection of free aria PDFs and operatic resources for the community.
He lives with his wife Sandy, executive coach and founder of Dream Factory Coaching, twin daughters Autumn and Avery, and rescue pups Charlie and Ruby.
Hometown: Greensburg, PA
Met Debut: 2014
Rachele Schmiege
Rachele Schmiege is a graduate from the New England Conservatory and Western Michigan University. Prior to joining the Met Chorus in 2019, Rachele was a soloist with Odyssey Opera, Salt Marsh Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Columbus, Opera on the James, Pacific Opera Project, Resonance Works, Boise Philharmonic, among others in roles such as Donna Anna, Rusalka, Anne Truelove, Pamina, and Violetta. Rachele is a member of Beyond Artists, a coalition of artists who donate a portion of their income to organizations bringing important issues to light. Rachele supports and is a Charity Runner for The Herren Project with her hubs, Stefan Barner.
Hometown: Vicksburg, MI
Met Debut: 2017
Tyler Simpson
A native of the small town of Sabetha, KS, Tyler is thrilled to join the ranks of the Chorus after seven seasons as a principal soloist at the Met. Tyler is a graduate of the University of Kansas (B.M.) and Yale University (M.M). He lives with his wife, Debi, and son, Jack, in Manhattan. You are all warmly invited over for drinks and good cheer (though perhaps not all at once, and please don’t tell Ned).
Met Debut: 2010
Hometown: Sabetha, KS
Alexa Jarvis
A Seattle native, Alexa earned degrees from DePaul University School of Music and Mannes College of Music. Highlights include performances with the Ravinia Music Festival, Carnegie Hall, Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony and Theater Lüneburg in Germany. Alexa’s favorite works/roles to perform are Bernstein’s Mass, Chausson’s Chanson Perpetuelle, Barber’s Knoxville, Mimì in La bohème and Donna Elivra in Don Giovanni. Additionally, Alexa can be heard on several video-game/movie soundtracks including Grammy-nominated children’s fable The Shoe Bird. For more information please visit www.AlexaJarvis.com.
Met Debut: 2018
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Abigail Mitchell
Ms. Mitchell studied music at Indiana University and received her advanced training at the Royal College of Music, London and as an apprentice singer at the Santa Fe Opera. Her numerous awards include First Place at the Vokal Genial with the Munich Radio Orchestra, First Place at the Concorso Vincenzo Bellini in Sicily, and Second Place at the Washington International Competition for Voice. Favorite roles include Norina, Fiordiligi, Donna Anna, and Rosina--before and after marrying Count Almaviva. Visit her on the web at www.abigailmitchellsoprano.com
Met Debut: 2017
Hometown: Kirkland, WA
Jonathan Scott
Photo: joshlevinephoto.com
Jonathan Scott was born in Sparta, NJ and graduated from Westminster Choir College with a degree in music education. Mr. Scott has pursued a career as a soloist in both the United States and Europe with a focus on opera. He's also performed in various oratorios in Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fisher) and The Riverside Church in Manhattan to name a few.
As highlights in his career, Jonathan has performed the roles of Figaro in Rossini's Barber of Seville, the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Giorgio Germont in Verdi's La Traviata, Marcello in Puccini's La bohème and in 2017 he made his Italy debut in the title role of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. He was also a finalist in The Verismo Opera Company International Vocal Competition in 2013.
The 2018-19 season marks Jonathan's first year as a full-time member of The Met Opera Chorus and he is extremely honored and excited to be apart of the best opera chorus in the world!
Hometown: Sparta, NJ
Met Debut: 2012