Upcoming Events at the Little Cafe, 7-9 pm
Sunday, October 22, 2023: FLO Young Artists
Monday, February 12, 2024: Roberts Wesleyan Students
Monday, April 22, 2024: Eastman Students
ALL EVENTS LISTED ABOVE ARE FREE
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Introducing the October 22nd FLO Young Artists
Victoria Thomasch, mezzo
Mezzo-Soprano Victoria Thomasch recently performed the role of Jennie (Down in the Valley) with the Little Opera Theatre of New York and covered the role of Orsini (Lucrezia Borgia) with New Amsterdam Opera and is excited to be back at Finger Lakes Opera to sing the role of Goldie in Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears for their outreach program. Favorite roles include: Annio (La Clemenza di Tito), Cendrillon (Cendrillon), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Giulio Cesare (Giulio Cesare), Mercédès (Carmen), Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), and Ottavia (L'incoronazione di Poppea). Victoria received her Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from New York University and her Bachelor of Music degree from Baylor University, summa cum laude. Awards include: 2nd Place for the Elaine Malbin and Mario Lanza Competition in NYC, 2nd Place for the Internationaler Anton Rubinstein Wettbewerb online, and Finalist for the Lyra New York International Competition.
Nathaniel Catasca, tenor
Quoted as having “…[V]ocal strength and theatrical finesse” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), tenor, Nathaniel Catasca, is a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mr. Catasca was a Young Artist with Glimmerglass Opera Company as a cover in this season’s Candide. Before his arrival to Cooperstown, he finished a performance of Ferrando in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte with Opera Arlington. Previously, Nathaniel was a Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artist for Fort Worth Opera’s 2022/2023 season, where he partook in the World Premiere of Stand Up, written by Joe Illick and performed the role of The Messenger in Aïda by Verdi, among other concerts. Last summer, Mr. Catasca was an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera playing the role of Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus by Strauss in the 2022 season. He made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut portraying Nemorino/ Tamino in the children’s production of The Magic Victrola in the spring of 2022. Other contracts include the roles of Matteo Borsa in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Javier Moreno in Torroba’s Zarzuela in Luisa Fernanda, Le Comte Barigoule in Viardot’s Cendrillon, Arithmitique/ The Tree Frog in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, to name a few. Nathaniel was due to cover the role of Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème before its cancellation with Florentine Opera.
Other companies include those of Hawai’i Opera Theatre, and Finger Lakes Opera. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master of Music & Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Robert Swensen.
Casey Germain, bass-baritone
Casey Germain is a unique singer with vocal versatility ranging from pop ballads to opera. He is known for his rich, velvety low voice that resonates throughout multiple genres of music. Casey earned his Master of Music degree with the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland with and previously attended the New England conservatory of Music, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance.
He has performed with Bel Cantanti Opera, University of Maryland Opera Studio, and the New England Conservatory of Music. Upcoming, Casey will be performing with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Finger Lakes Ope
As a bass, Casey is known for roles of authority figures. Recently he sang Capellio in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi , Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Gus O’Neil in Later the Same Evening, and Officer Smith in the recent premiere of Sunder. Casey has also been cast in other roles such as King Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Littore in L'incoronazione di Poppea, and Colline in La bohème.
In spring 2023, Casey is joined the Young Artist Program with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and this summer he sang The King of Egypt in Aida with Finger Lakes Opera.
Erico Friere Bezerra, piano
Brazilian pianist Érico Freire Bezerra is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music at the Eastman School of Music, under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Harley. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Rio Grande do Sul Federal University in Brazil and his Master’s degree from Illinois State University, where he held a Piano Accompanying Assistantship and received the Lela Winegarner Scholarship for international graduate students. Érico has been a prizewinner in numerous piano competitions including at the Orquestra Sinfônica de Goiânia Young Soloist Competition where he performed Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major with orchestra. As a collaborative pianist, Érico is actively engaged in both instrumental and vocal repertoire, holding staff pianist positions in many festivals and competitions in Brazil and the United States, as well as working as a guest artist with orchestras and choirs throughout his career. Since 2015, he has served as staff collaborative pianist at Rio Grande do Sul Federal University in Porto Alegre/Brazil. Érico is a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and currently holds Graduate Assistantships in Studio Accompanying and Orchestral Keyboard at Eastman.
Rose Kearin, soprano
Award winning soprano Rose Kearin is a native of Houston, Tx. She is an active recitalist, performer, and teacher. Her students are teachers and performers around the Greater Houston Area. She is a member of the Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society chorus and Texas Master Chorale. Fall 2022 saw her as a Soloist for the Texas Master Chorale in Faure’s Requiem and as a finalist in both the Century Opera Competition and Palm Springs Opera Guild Aria Competition. The 2021-2022 season recital schedule took her to Rochester, NY and Eureka Springs, AR, as well as around Houston. During the Fall of 2021 Rose Kearin was awarded second prize in the Lyra International Art Song Competition. Summer of 2022, she spent time in Duxbury, MA as part of Mark Markham’s program Singing in Sicily. She also participated in The Art Song Preservation Society of New York Arts Song Festival 2022. She was recently seen in Houston’s Gilbert and Sullivan’s production of The Pirates of Penzance. She has been a Young Artist and part of Outreach with Finger Lakes Opera 2019, 2020, and 2021. January 2020 Rose performed Eleonora in Eastman Opera Theater’s production of Prima la Musica, e poi le parole by Salieri. The 2018-19 season found Rose performing Micaela in Carmen Suites with the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra as well as in a variety of roles and competitions. In July 2017 she sang the roles of La Contessa d’Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen with Opera in the Ozarks.