Gateway Classical Music Society

Ida Angland, Artistic Director and Conductor, is dedicated to providing opportunities for artists on the rise and reconnecting audiences to great masterworks through Gateway's performances designed to achieve impact and intimacy. Gateway's Great Works of Art performances with the Gateway Orchestra have received enthusiastic response by audiences in Connecticut and New York and have been described in reviews as ''thrilling,'' ''compelling'' ''a revelation'' ''unforgettable,'' and ''amazing.'' Ida Angland has been characterized as having ''inner genius,'' ''flair,'' ''idealism,'' and ''grit.'' Ms Angland became an apprentice conductor with the New York Grand Opera in 2001. In 2002, she became the Director of The New York Grand Opera Chorus and assistant-conducted numerous operas as well as symphonic works, including such works as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. In her capacity as Director of the chorus, she organized regional choristers to participate with the New York Grand Opera Chorus in several concerts in Carnegie Hall. Ms Angland began her music training as a pianist. When she was 12 years old, she was the youngest of four contestants chosen by the National Federation of Music Clubs and the University of North Carolina as the state's ''most promising'' musical talents. She continued her music training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Peabody Conservatory and Indiana University studying with, among others, Konrad Wolff, Elaine Bonazzi and Margaret Harshaw. Ms Angland sang professionally as a soprano with regional opera companies. Other featured guest appearances have included the Metropolitan Museum of Art and WQXR.

Roberto Stivanello, Stage Director, represents a third generation on both sides of his family to be involved in opera. He apprenticed with his late father, Anthony L. Stivanello, from whom he took over the Stivanello Costume Co. of New York, which has been providing scenery and costumes for opera for over 80 years. Mr. Stivanello is also principal owner of the famous Sormani scenic studio in Milano, Italy, which has created scenery since 1836. He teaches dramatic movement for the Rosa Ponselle Foundation, and serves as a vocal judge for the Liederkranz Foundation Scholarship awards. He has also taught master classes in both directing and design. As a director, designer, and translator he has worked throughout North and South America and Europe. Mr. Stivanello has directed over 100 productions of opera; as well as designed over 400 productions, not including his studio work, and is a magna cum laude graduate of SUNY Albany. He directed Gateway's Rigoletto and Madama Butterfly productions in 2006 and 2010.

Rosa D'Imperio, Soprano, has been praised by Opera News, Mannheimer Morgen, New York Newsday and Tampa Bay Times for her ''agile and gleaming tone'', ''effortless dramatic soprano'', ''big, red-blooded, Italianate voice, ''soaring high notes'' and for her ''rich purity of tone, fluid range and impressive dramatic communication''. Recent roles include Aida for Opera Tampa this past season, Abigaille in Nabucco with Taconic Opera, Turandot with Opera New Hampshire, Vail Opera, Palm Dessert Opera, the Gold & Treasure Coast Operas and Panama City Opera, Lady Macbeth with Fresno Grand Opera and Opera Santa Barbara, Minnie in La Fanciulla del West, Elisabetta in Don Carlo for MCT and Norma with the Riverfront Opera in New York. Other career highlights in Europe and in the U.S. include principal roles in Nabucco, Attila, Aida, Otello, Oberto, La Forza del Destino, Il Trovatore, Un Ballo in Maschera, Tosca, Manon Lescaut, Il Tabarro, Cavalleria Rusticana, Andrea Chenier, Die Aegyptische Helena, Les Contes de Hoffman, La Boheme, Adriana Lecouvreur, Verdi's Requiem, Rossini's Stabat Mater and in the Zarzuelas Curro el de Lora and La Dolorosa, in Hamburg, Basel, Mannheim, Paris, Prague, Shanghai, Sardinia, Tampa, Palm Beach, Cleveland, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Ft. Myers, New Rochelle, Puerto Rico, New York City, Ft. Pierce, Long Island and Connecticut. Ms. D'Imperio recently debuted with the Metropolitan Opera Guild in an all Verdi concert as well as for the Teatro Colon in a Wagner concert. She has been a finalist in several contests including the George London Competition and was a winner of the Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation award. She sang the title role in her first Aida for Gateway Classical Music Society's inaugural performance in 2004 as well as for Gateway's New York debut in 2005. She has appeared frequently as a soloist in Gateway's Opera Highlights concerts and special events and was a soprano soloist for the Rossini Stabat Mater with the Gateway Orchestra.

Benjamin Sloman, Tenor, a native of Australia, has performed internationally on opera stages and as a soloist in recitals and concerts. Critics have described his voice as ''an absolutely splendid voice… so heroic and resonant'' (ConcertoNet) also as ''a voice of staggering power and technical excellence ... sophisticated and stylish'' (T. Howard, Australian Opera Review) and as ''a first rate tenor with a golden sound ... masterful ... his voice is exceptionally beautiful with superb breath control and a unique sense of phrasing'' (Brooklyn Eagle). Recent appearances include Alfredo in La Traviata, Ismaele in Nabucco, Rodolfo in La boheme, Tebaldo in I Capuleti ed I Montecchi, Radames in Aida, Pollione in Norma, Riccardo in Un Ballo in Maschera and Roberto in Roberto Devereux both Lincoln Center in New York City, The Duke in Rigoletto, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Don Jose in Carmen, Avito in L'Amore dei Tre Re, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Siegmund in Die Walküre, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Canio in I Pagliacci for companies that include Gateway Classical Music Society, the Taconic Opera, the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, The Sydney Lyric Opera, Opera Lancaster, Riverfront Opera, The Verdi Society of America, The Old Vic Theatre, Regina Opera, Bleecker Street Opera, Opera New York, The Martha Cardona Theater, One World Symphony, the New York Grand Opera, Amore Opera, Opera on the Hudson, Opera at Florham, and Opera of the Hamptons. Mr. Sloman has made numerous concert appearances including featured performances at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the Levitas Hall in Southampton, and a recital honoring Puccini's 150th Anniversary at the 92nd Street Y. Mr. Sloman sang the role of Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton in Gateway Classical Music Society's 2010 production of Madama Butterfly.

Martin Fisher, Baritone, has sung leading roles in numerous regional opera productions. Hailed as ''sturdy-voiced'' by Opera News, roles include Don Carlo in La Forza del Destino and Grand Prêtre in Samson et Dalila with the One World Symphony, the title role in Rigoletto with the Delaware Valley Opera, Crown in Porgy and Bess with Opera Delaware and Germont in La Traviata with the Queens Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Fisher has also appeared with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, the Connecticut Grand Opera, Dicapo Opera, Boheme Opera of New Jersey, the Natchez Opera Festival and the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv. He has appeared in concert debuts at the Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Mr. Fisher has performed as a soloist in the Beethoven Ninth Symphony, Handel's Messiah and Alexander's Feast, Milhaud's les Choephores, Schumann's Dichterliebe and Five Mystical Songs, Vaughan Williams' song cycle for baritone, chorus, and orchestra. He was a 2009 Finalist in The International Violetta DuPont Competition. The role of Scarpia in Tosca marks his debut with Gateway Classical Music Society.

Steven Fredericks, Bass-Baritone, has appeared with leading regional companies: The Dallas Opera as Antonio in Lee Hoiby's The Tempest, The Cinncinati Opera as Timur in Turandot and The Baltimore Opera as Reinmar in Tannhäuser. In past seasons, he sang Sparafucile in Rigoletto with The Chuvash State Theatre (Cheboksare, Russia), the King in Aida with Mobile Opera, Simone in Gianni Schicchi with Sarasota Opera, and Philip in Pala Opera's Don Carlo at the 1997 Opera America Convention in Philadelphia. He has sung numerous roles with the New York Grand Opera and has more recently been heard with the company as Lodovico in Otello, The King in Aida and Timur in Turandot. Mr. Fredericks has sung the roles of the King and Ramfis in Aida and the role of Zuniga in Carmen with Gateway Classical Music Society.

David Tillistrand, Baritone, has appeared most recently in Olivo e Pasquale as Pasquale with Amore Opera. Other stage appearances include: Papageno in Magic Flute with Regina Opera, Fred in Kiss Me Kate with Delaware Valley Opera, Morrell in Candida with Jean Cocteau Repertory and as the male swing in the off Broadway musical comedy, The Fartiste. The role of the Sacristan in Tosca will mark Mr. Tillistrand's debut appearance with Gateway Classical Music Society.

Anthony Tolve, Tenor, has sung in Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium, Shea Stadium, Central Park's Naumburg Band shell, Coney Island's Keyspan Park in Italy in the Teatro Nuovo and the Teatro Caio Melisso. Mr. Tolve's roles include Cavaradossi and Spoletta in Tosca, Don Jose and el Remendado in Carmen, Alfredo and Gastone in La Traviata, Lenski and Trinket in Eugene Onegin, Cassio in Otello, Nanki Poo in The Mikado, and un Messaggiero in Aida performed in regional opera companies in New York and elsewhere. A review in The New York Times following his performance in I Pagliacci with New York Grand Opera stated, ''Anthony gave an ardent mellifluous performance.'' Mr. Tolve sang the role of the Messenger in Gateway Classical Music Society's inaugural performance of Aida and has appeared in several other Gateway performances.

Kevin Rockower, Baritone, was most recently seen as Marcello in the Regina Opera Company's production of La boheme. Other credits include the title role in Gianni Schicchi and Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief. The role of Sciarrone marks Mr. Rockower’s debut appearance with Gateway.

Keiko Ueda, mezzo-soprano, performed Orlofsky for Nevada Opera's Studio Production of Die Fledermaus and Maria in their production of Final Fantasy VI, the Dream Oath Opera by Nobuo Uematsu. She also performed Vivvy (Polka by Patrick Soluri) for RTB's (Remarkable Theater Brigade) Opera Shorts at Zankel Hall as well as various roles with RTB for Lewis University's Arts and Ideas concert series and in other locations. Last season, Ms Ueda performed Bradamante in Satori Opera's production of Alcina in New York City and the Sorceress in the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute's production of Dido and Aeneas. The role of the Shepherd will mark her debut solo performance with Gateway Classical Music Society

Alina Kiryayeva, Pianist, has concertized internationally performing as a soloist with the Kharkov State Philharmonic and State Opera Theatre Orchestras, The Imperial Valley Symphony orchestra and New York Symphonic Ensemble Orchestra as well as in chamber ensembles in Weill Hall, Morse Recital Hall, Maiden Lane Concert Series, the Concerto Takes Manhattan Series at Yamaha Hall, Young Artist Concert Series in Bergenfield, NJ and the Concert Series at Jefferson'a Ferry, NY. Ms Kiryayeva has been the recipient of numerous awards that include the First Prize in the Senigallia International Competition, Italy, the Grace Welsh International Competition and the California Young Artist International Competition. She was honored by the Ukrainian President, Leonid Kravchuk, with the State Award for Achievements in Arts. She has also been awarded the Fannie Gottlieb-Harkavi Scholarship and Susan Rose Piano Scholarship. She has been a featured soloist on several of Gateway's special event concerts and works as a rehearsal pianist for Gateway.

Ming Kwong, Pianist, apprenticed with Florida Grand Opera for their 2008-2009 season. He held a fellowship coach position at the Aspen Summer Music Festival and was a vocal coach and pianist at the Music Academy of the West. Mr. Kwong recently made his Kennedy Center debut with Metropolitan Opera Grand Winner Lori Guilbeau. He was chosen to participate in the Cleveland Art Songs Festival in 2010. Other credits include performing on the Stephanie Blythe master class at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Joey Reynolds show - WOR news talk radio 710HD in October 2009. Mr. Kwong has acted as the Music Director of the Undergraduate Opera Theater at Manhattan School of Music. Other engagements as opera coach and rehearsal pianist include the Tanglewood Music Center and the Glimmerglass Opera. Mr. Kwong has been a prizewinner of numerous competitions including First Prize in the Advanced Improvisation and Second Prize in the Advanced Bach Session in the Twelfth Hong Kong Piano Open Competition. He holds a Masters degree in Piano Accompanying from Manhattan School of Music and a Masters degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory. He is a rehearsal pianist for Gateway Classical Music Society.

Karen Kyung-Eun Na, Pianist, has cultivated a multi-faceted music career as a performer, educator, opera coach, and radio program director. Ms Na has appeared as both soloist and collaborative artist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall and Town Hall New York as well as throughout the other venues in United States and Asia. She has served as adjunct faculty at Seoul Arts High School and Sungshin Women's University in Korea. Previously she worked as a Spectrum Resident Artist Coach and Education Tour Manager at Virginia Opera. In addition to performing and teaching, Ms Na served as an assistant program director for The Classical Collection at TBS English FM in Korea. As a winner of the Marilyn Horne Foundation competition 2007, Ms. Na has participated in recital tour projects and master classes with young singers under the auspices of the Marilyn Horne Foundation. Additionally, she has participated as a coach and a pianist at The Juilliard School, Music Academy of the West, and Aspen Opera Theater Center. Ms Na collaborated with composer John Corigliano in a solo appearance of a New York premiere of Mary Finsterer's Concerto Grosso ''NYX'' with the New Juilliard Ensemble's New York. She holds a bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from Yonsei University, an Artist Diploma from Oberlin Conservatory, and a master's degree in collaborative piano from The Juilliard School. She is currently working toward her doctorate degree from the Manhattan School of Music and is a rehearsal pianist for Gateway Classical Music Society.

Michael Pilafian, Pianist, has played for voice-studio of Carolina Segrera and performed concerts internationally with the Ambassadors of Opera. He was music-director of the After Dinner Opera Company with which he premiered several chamber-operas by Seymour Barab. Currently he plays for the New York Grand Opera, the Center for Contemporary Opera, Opera on the Hudson, Taconic Opera, and the Juilliard School of Music. Mr. Pilafian plays as a rehearsal pianist for Gateway.