We are so excited to announce that Opera on Tap has arrived in Rochester, NY!
Throughout our existing musical landscape, there has become a more pressing need for the embodiment of new works by living composers representing historically excluded populous demographics. This need has encouraged an actionable push towards augmenting the narratives of the members of these communities and their vast experiences.
In the creation of Opera on Tap (Rochester), our central mission and vision leads with the focus of highlighting the celebration and commissioning of new works by living composers and the revitalization of thought-provoking recital series.
As we partake in offering new voices and new works, we are committed to serving as an example in the holistic overview of offering a pathway for encouraging, inspirational, and soul-stirring stories of the 21st century and beyond.
We look forward to contributing to the ever-evolving lineage of culture, history, and musical experiences that make the city of Rochester special and unforgettable.
Warmly,
Opera on Tap (Rochester)
Masterclass with Lisette Oropesa
Our inaugural Jay-Red-Koh mentee, Thalia Moore, was presented in a masterclass with Lisette Oropesa. This event was sponsored by Opera on Tap (Rochester).
Lisette Oropesa is a Cuban-American lyric coloratura soprano acclaimed for her dazzling vocal agility, emotional depth, and commanding stage presence. Born in New Orleans, she began her musical journey as a flutist before turning to voice, studying at Louisiana State University. Her major breakthrough came after winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, leading to her induction into the Met’s prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Program.
Since then, Oropesa has become one of the most sought-after sopranos of her generation. At the Metropolitan Opera alone, she has performed over 100 times, in roles such as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Gilda in Rigoletto, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Violetta in La traviata, and Manon in Manon. Her interpretations have been praised for their clarity, finesse, and emotional truth.
Internationally, she has triumphed at the Royal Opera House as Norina in Don Pasquale, at Teatro alla Scala as Lucia and Elvira (I puritani), and at Opéra National de Paris as Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) and Juliette (Roméo et Juliette). She has also made memorable appearances in roles such as Marguerite in Faust, Marie in La fille du régiment, and Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, showcasing her versatility across French, Italian, and baroque repertoire.
In recent seasons, she has added new heights to her career with critically lauded performances of La traviata at Covent Garden, Lucia at the Met, and a groundbreaking tour debut in Spain, Germany, and South America. Her artistry has earned her top honors including the Richard Tucker Award, the Beverly Sills Artist Award, and the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government. Beyond the stage, Oropesa is also known for her discipline and endurance—she’s a dedicated marathon runner and wellness advocate, often speaking about the connection between physical health and artistic performance. Lisette Oropesa is not only a consummate vocal technician but a transformative artist whose performances leave an indelible mark on audiences around the world.
09/01/2024
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
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George Shirley Vocal Competition
The George Shirley Vocal Competition: African American Vocal Repertoire (GSVC) is an annual competition held at the University of Michigan. The competition offers singers and composers the opportunity to work with and receive feedback from world-renowned judges, including George Shirley. More than $44,000 in prizes are awarded annually. The competition is open to singers ages 14-35 of all races and ethnicities and composers ages 18-35.
Opera on Tap (Rochester) Sponsored Prizes:
In honor of Dr. Terri Carson Braxton, Opera on Tap (Rochester) will be awarding an annual $1,000.00 “Dr. Terri Braxton Encouragement Award” to a singer cross the competition that identifies as a member of the Black Diaspora (encompassing a wide populous demographic) beginning in the 2024-25 competition cycle. This award is given to an individual artist possessing significant promise and/or talent showing the interest and potential of having a professional career as a 21st century artist. This award is offered as an opportunity to provide young artists with supplemental funding to support their study in the form of coaching sessions or lessons, as an emergency grant for unexpected expenses, and/or as a cash award to support artists in whatever form they feel will benefit their professional and/or personal endeavors.
The Catherine Russell Composer Award will be given biennially in honor of my grandmother, Catherine Russell, who learned about the art of classical and/or operatic literature throughout my high school studies. She didn’t always know what to think of it but grew to understand the impact and influence it had on my training and thus the awakening of my life through the power and world of music. In her legacy, we would like to provide a $2,500 cash prize, roundtrip airfare to and from Rochester (up to $800 value), sponsored single housing, food voucher, and the commissioning of a 12- minute new work in the following year at our local partnering venue here in Rochester. This award is to raise awareness, to educate and enlighten, and to provide multi-dimensional experiences through the lens of newly commissioned works.
The Jay-Red-Koh Encouragement Award will be given biennially in honor of the administrative board— Jay St. Flono, Jared, & Seiko — to a LGBTQIA+ singer demonstrating incredible potential and promise to encourage thought-provoking change in the world of music through the power of their voice/s. This $1,000.00 award is to help generate the transparency and visibility of LGBTQIA+ singers in the ever-evolving world of our existing musical landscape. And, more importantly, to encourage a push toward being and sharing the most authentic versions of ourselves while building a safe space for a community of artists who are often some of the most vulnerable.
05/16/2025
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
University of Michigan
500 S State St
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
George Shirley Vocal Competition
The George Shirley Vocal Competition: African American Vocal Repertoire (GSVC) is an annual competition held at the University of Michigan. The competition offers singers and composers the opportunity to work with and receive feedback from world-renowned judges, including George Shirley. More than $44,000 in prizes are awarded annually. The competition is open to singers ages 14-35 of all races and ethnicities and composers ages 18-35.
Opera on Tap (Rochester) Sponsored Prizes:
In honor of Dr. Terri Carson Braxton, Opera on Tap (Rochester) will be awarding an annual $1,000.00 “Dr. Terri Braxton Encouragement Award” to a singer cross the competition that identifies as a member of the Black Diaspora (encompassing a wide populous demographic) beginning in the 2024-25 competition cycle. This award is given to an individual artist possessing significant promise and/or talent showing the interest and potential of having a professional career as a 21st century artist. This award is offered as an opportunity to provide young artists with supplemental funding to support their study in the form of coaching sessions or lessons, as an emergency grant for unexpected expenses, and/or as a cash award to support artists in whatever form they feel will benefit their professional and/or personal endeavors.
The Catherine Russell Composer Award will be given biennially in honor of my grandmother, Catherine Russell, who learned about the art of classical and/or operatic literature throughout my high school studies. She didn’t always know what to think of it but grew to understand the impact and influence it had on my training and thus the awakening of my life through the power and world of music. In her legacy, we would like to provide a $2,500 cash prize, roundtrip airfare to and from Rochester (up to $800 value), sponsored single housing, food voucher, and the commissioning of a 12- minute new work in the following year at our local partnering venue here in Rochester. This award is to raise awareness, to educate and enlighten, and to provide multi-dimensional experiences through the lens of newly commissioned works.
The Jay-Red-Koh Encouragement Award will be given biennially in honor of the administrative board— Jay St. Flono, Jared, & Seiko — to a LGBTQIA+ singer demonstrating incredible potential and promise to encourage thought-provoking change in the world of music through the power of their voice/s. This $1,000.00 award is to help generate the transparency and visibility of LGBTQIA+ singers in the ever-evolving world of our existing musical landscape. And, more importantly, to encourage a push toward being and sharing the most authentic versions of ourselves while building a safe space for a community of artists who are often some of the most vulnerable.
05/17/2025
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
University of Michigan
500 S State St
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
George Shirley Vocal Competition
The George Shirley Vocal Competition: African American Vocal Repertoire (GSVC) is an annual competition held at the University of Michigan. The competition offers singers and composers the opportunity to work with and receive feedback from world-renowned judges, including George Shirley. More than $44,000 in prizes are awarded annually. The competition is open to singers ages 14-35 of all races and ethnicities and composers ages 18-35.
Opera on Tap (Rochester) Sponsored Prizes:
In honor of Dr. Terri Carson Braxton, Opera on Tap (Rochester) will be awarding an annual $1,000.00 “Dr. Terri Braxton Encouragement Award” to a singer cross the competition that identifies as a member of the Black Diaspora (encompassing a wide populous demographic) beginning in the 2024-25 competition cycle. This award is given to an individual artist possessing significant promise and/or talent showing the interest and potential of having a professional career as a 21st century artist. This award is offered as an opportunity to provide young artists with supplemental funding to support their study in the form of coaching sessions or lessons, as an emergency grant for unexpected expenses, and/or as a cash award to support artists in whatever form they feel will benefit their professional and/or personal endeavors.
The Catherine Russell Composer Award will be given biennially in honor of my grandmother, Catherine Russell, who learned about the art of classical and/or operatic literature throughout my high school studies. She didn’t always know what to think of it but grew to understand the impact and influence it had on my training and thus the awakening of my life through the power and world of music. In her legacy, we would like to provide a $2,500 cash prize, roundtrip airfare to and from Rochester (up to $800 value), sponsored single housing, food voucher, and the commissioning of a 12- minute new work in the following year at our local partnering venue here in Rochester. This award is to raise awareness, to educate and enlighten, and to provide multi-dimensional experiences through the lens of newly commissioned works.
The Jay-Red-Koh Encouragement Award will be given biennially in honor of the administrative board— Jay St. Flono, Jared, & Seiko — to a LGBTQIA+ singer demonstrating incredible potential and promise to encourage thought-provoking change in the world of music through the power of their voice/s. This $1,000.00 award is to help generate the transparency and visibility of LGBTQIA+ singers in the ever-evolving world of our existing musical landscape. And, more importantly, to encourage a push toward being and sharing the most authentic versions of ourselves while building a safe space for a community of artists who are often some of the most vulnerable.
05/18/2025
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
University of Michigan
500 S State St
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Catherine Russell Composer Residency at SUNY (Brockport)
In collaborating with Suny (Brockport), we are eager to help curate an artistic residency that will afford musical and professional enrichment opportunities through a new music incubator series. This series will play an integral role in the commissioning of new works by in-house composers and it will help create masterclasses and workshops that will highlight genre-bending musical interpretations and the correlation between music and the human experience.
09/25/2025
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
State University of New York Brockport
350 New Campus Dr
Brockport, New York 14420
