SASHA GUTIÉRREZ MONTAÑO is a Colombian soprano, opera performer, soloist, and impresario. Praised for her versatility and splendid vocalism, Ms. Gutiérrez is also the founder of The Opera Next Door, an independent opera company based in Brooklyn, NY.

HEATHER O’DONOVAN is a New York-based soprano and writer. She is the dramaturg and librettist of the award-winning Gilbert & Sullivan adaptation Princess Ida: The Glow Up, premiered by the Manhattan School of Music Undergraduate Opera Theatre, and is in the
process of developing the libretto for her first full-length opera.

Jake Elfner is a Wisconsin born, Baltimore based singer and guitarist. A thoughtful performer with a varied skillset, Jake has performed in choirs, operas, musicals, as a recitalist, and in bands. He earned his master’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory and now sings in the professional choir at St. David’s Church in Baltimore.

Described as having a “…highly individual sound world…” that is “… both beautiful and piercingly astringent at once, ” (Richard Sisson) Michael Mills composes music addressing topics of the human condition through an extremely personal lens. Michael is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh.

Michael Manganiello is a doctoral candidate and faculty of Voice and Professional Studies at the Peabody Institute. They graduated from Peabody in 2021 with a master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, and from SUNY Fredonia in 2012, with bachelor’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Dance, and a minor in Visual Art.

Peter Dayton is a composer, pianist, and amateur illustrator. He regularly curates public concerts within his immediate artistic community of Baltimore, Maryland. Dayton holds degrees in music from The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.

Mezzo-soprano Farah Kidwai (SAG-AFTRA) holds a Master’s in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. A session singer for film, TV, and video games, she performed eight seasons with the GRAMMY-winning LA Master Chorale and is also an accomplished voice actor and audiobook narrator.

Ashi Day writes vocally-driven music exploring the intersections between music and theater, the strategic use of humor and absurdity, and the experience of performers, as well as an unusually large number of animal songs. She is an Opera America Discovery Grant awardee and a DC Arts and Humanities Fellow. ashi-day.com

Elisheva Pront is a vocalist, stage director, and teaching artist based in Baltimore, MD. She enjoys collaborating on new works, amplifying unheard voices, and using vocal music to connect with the world and each other. Elisheva is a co-founder of TellTale Opera Theatre, Ladies Out Loud Ensemble, and SALLT Ensemble.

Gillian Rae Perry is a composer and songwriter whose work is dedicated to themes of mental health, vulnerability, and interconnectedness. She grew up on a bird farm in Texas; her first compositions were for birds. Perry released a collection of poetry titled What Will I Wish for Now?  in 2024.

Christa Lisette Beveridge is excited to bring David Fisher’s new work to life! A graduate of The Peabody Institute and Albright College, she is active as a performer in the DMV and Mid-Atlantic region. Christa also runs her own vocal studio. Recent credits include Wesley (Off-Broadway) and Die Fledermaus (Regional).

David Fisher (b. 1996) is a composer and poet based in Baltimore whose work has garnered acclaim for its poignancy and thematic relevance. Drawing inspiration from nature, memory, and grief, his music opens space for emotion and contemplation. David holds degrees from The Peabody Institute and Lawrence University.

Baltimore based soprano Caitlin Glastonbury is a performer, storyteller, and collaborator. As a recitalist, Caitlin is passionate about featuring new music, especially by Nonbinary and Transgender composers. Caitlin currently
attends the Peabody Institute in pursuit of a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, studying with
Tony Arnold.

Nicholas Edwards is a composer and published biologist chasing the intersection of art and science. His work includes an artist residency at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a piece written and performed in Denali National Park, and commissions from the Akropolis Reed Quintet and the Hopkins Medical Orchestra.

Blossom-Maryse Jaimes-Montano is a composer, soprano, pianist and music pedagogue from the DMV area. Blossom graduated from GWU’s Corcoran Music program in 2025 with a senior thesis project investigating historical silences of women composers in the Romantic period. She most recently debuted a piece with members of the BlackBox Ensemble.

Che Lu is a soprano, poet, and writer from Shanghai, China. She is currently a student at Swarthmore College, pursuing a major in linguistics and a minor in music. She seeks the beauty of words and music in various languages and is dedicated to the development of Chinese poetry and vocal music. She is actively collaborating with composer Yuheng Liu in writing Chinese art songs and choral works.