Countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen brings his “ravishing…otherworldly” (Opera News) instrument to a broad range of repertoire spanning the Baroque to the contemporary. Acclaimed as both a “young star” and “complete artist” by the New York Times and as “extravagantly gifted… poised to redefine what’s possible for singers of this distinctive voice type” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Mr. Nussbaum Cohen’s passion for creating performances of great vocal beauty and dramatic intensity have earned him a reputation as “a redefining force in the countertenor field” (Limelight).

Mr. Nussbaum Cohen finds a close affinity between the ancient musical traditions of his Jewish heritage and the Baroque works composing much of his operatic repertoire. Equally content performing new works, Nussbaum Cohen’s first commercial recording project – the world premiere of Kenneth Fuchs’ Poems of Life performed with the London Symphony Orchestra under JoAnn Falletta – was honored with a GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Compendium in 2019; and his interpretation of the Refugee’s aria from Jonathan Dove’s Flight provided the centerpiece for his extensive catalogue of competition successes, including winning the Grand Prize at the 2017 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, taking top prize in Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum and the Dallas Opera Guild Competitions, and winning a George and Nora London Foundation Award. He counts among his career highlights his recent Metropolitan Opera debut as Rosencrantz in the U.S. premiere of Brett Dean’s Hamlet, and he looks forward to the upcoming world premiere of Mikael Karlsson’s Fanny and Alexander at La Monnaie de Munt.

In the 2023–24 season, Nussbaum Cohen returns to Glyndebourne to perform the title role in Sir David McVicar’s acclaimed production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto, led by Maestro Laurence Cummings. He will sing the role of Sesto in the same opera for his debut at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma under the baton of Rinaldo Alessandrini, followed by his debut at Deutsche Oper Berlin in the company premiere of Sir George Benjamin’s Written on Skin as First Angel/The Boy in Katie Mitchell’s original production. www.aryehnussbaumcohen.com/

One of the leading collaborative pianists of his generation, John Churchwell enjoys a career on the concert stage as well as in the nation’s leading opera houses.

In August 2011, Mr. Churchwell was named Head of Music for San Francisco Opera. Previously, Mr. Churchwell was an assistant conductor for both the Metropolitan Opera and the San Francisco Opera for 14 years.  He has assisted on more than 140 productions and has collaborated with some of the world’s leading conductors including James Levine, Nello Santi, Nicola Luisotti, James Conlon, Donald Runnicles, Sir Charles Mackerras, Marco Armiliato, and Fabio Luisi.

A champion of American music, John was involved in the world premieres of John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby and Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. In recent seasons, Mr. Churchwell has prepared the world premieres of Mark Adamo’s The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Christopher Theofanidis’ Heart of a Soldier, as well as the Philip Glass opera Appomattox, the Stewart Wallace/Amy Tan collaboration The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Tobias Picker’s Dolores Claiborne, as well as the world premiere of Girls of the Golden West by John Adams, all for San Francisco Opera. From 2005–2008 Mr. Churchwell was the official accompanist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions.

Last summer Mr. Churchwell appeared in recitals with Renée Fleming, Sasha Cooke, and Susanna Phillips. Mr. Churchwell has partnered some of today’s most sought-after vocalists including Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, Diana Damrau, Larry Brownlee, Lisette Oropesa,  Isabel Leonard, Frederica von Stade, Dawn Upshaw, and Carol Vaness.  Recent appearances include San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall and the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts in Davis, CA with tenor Michael Fabiano and the Hollywood Bowl for Prairie Home Companion with soprano Ellie Dehn. In addition to song recitals, Mr. Churchwell is an active chamber musician and has appeared regularly with members of the Metropolitan and San Francisco’s Opera Orchestras.