Studio Artists Program

The Sarasota Opera Studio Artists are members of the more advanced level of Sarasota Opera’s two training programs. The Studio Artists receive the same intense training as the Apprentices, but they participate in main stage productions by performing supporting roles and covering principal roles. With many roles needing covers each season and our extended performance schedule, Studio Artists are often called on to substitute for an indisposed principal artist, sometimes with little notice. The Studio Artists occasionally augment the Apprentice Artists in choruses for larger productions.

The Studio Artists are often Sarasota Opera's musical representatives outside the Opera House. Serving Sarasota and Manatee counties, they perform in various locations. These outreach initiatives take place in schools, retirement homes, community centers, and at guild meetings as well as other locations.

Studio Artists Program participants have often returned to Sarasota Opera as principal artists, and many have gone on to perform with major companies in the United States and internationally.

2024 Winter Studio Artists

Jeremy Brauner
Jeremy Brauner

Tenor • Maplewood, NJ
STUDIO ARTIST 
SARASOTA OPERA
Debut: Apprentice Artist (2013)

Mary Burke Barber
Mary Burke Barber
 
Soprano • Centreville, VA
STUDIO ARTIST 
SARASOTA OPERA 
Debut: Apprentice Artist (2023) 

Nathaniel Catasca
Nathaniel Catasca
 
Tenor • Albuquerque, NM
STUDIO ARTIST  
Sarasota Opera Debut 

Heeseung Chae
Heeseung Chae

Baritone • Busan, South Korea
STUDIO ARTIST 
SARASOTA OPERA 
Debut: Yamadori, Madama Butterfly (2023)

Sarah Ann Duffy
Sarah Ann Duffy
 
Mezzo-Soprano • Cortlandt Manor, NY 
STUDIO ARTIST
The Ron and Barbara Archbold Endowed Artist
SARASOTA OPERA
 
Kate Pinkerton, Madama Butterfly (2023)  
Studio Artist (2023) 
Debut: Apprentice Artist (2022)

Luke Harnish
Luke Harnish
 
Bass-Baritone • Lancaster, PA 
STUDIO ARTIST 
Sarasota Opera Debut

Bryn Holdsworth
Bryn Holdsworth 

Soprano • Atlanta, GA 
STUDIO ARTIST
SARASOTA OPERA
Debut: Resident Artist (2022)

Nicholas Huff
Nicholas Huff
 
Tenor • Kenosha, WI 
STUDIO ARTIST
Sarasota Opera Debut

Anna Kelly
Anna Kelly

Mezzo-Soprano • Atlanta, GA
STUDIO ARTIST
Sarasota Opera Debut 
The Gabriel and Valerie Schmergel Endowed Artist

Paul Leland Hill
Paul Leland Hill

Bass • Clinton, UT
STUDIO ARTIST
SARASOTA OPERA

The Imperial Commissioner, Madama Butterfly (2023)
Studio Artist (2023, 2021)
Debut: Apprentice Artist (2020)

Virginia Mims
Virginia Mims
Soprano • West Palm Beach, FL 
STUDIO ARTIST  
SARASOTA OPERA
Debut: Apprentice Artist (2023)

Samuel Schlievert
Samuel Schlievert
 
Tenor • Genoa, OH 
STUDIO ARTIST 
SARASOTA OPERA 
Cavaradossi, Tosca (2022)
Dormont, La scala di seta (2021)
Tybalt, Roméo et Juliette (2020)
Pang, Turandot (2019)
Debut: Apprentice Artist (2017)
 
Jake Stamatis
Jake Stamatis
 
Baritone • Tunkhannock, PA 
STUDIO ARTIST 
The Olga and John Olenick Endowed Artist
SARASOTA OPERA
Hortensius, La Fille du régiment (2022)
Debut: Resident Artist (2021)

Ángel Vargas
Ángel Vargas
Tenor • San Juan, Puerto Rico 
STUDIO ARTIST 
Sarasota Opera Debut 

Eric Luis Viñas
Eric Luis Viñas
Baritone • New York, NY 
STUDIO ARTIST 
SARASOTA OPERA 
Sharpless, Madama Butterfly (2023)
Morel, Thérèse (2023)
Debut: Studio Artist (2023)