Soprano Erica Ancell graduated in May 2025 from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. In February she performed with composer Ricky Ian Gordon and baritone Nathan Gunn in a devised theatre piece of Gordon’s songs. In April Erica sang Proserpina in L’orfeo (Monteverdi) and in July made her debut with Chicago Summer Opera as Flavia in Silla (Handel).

In Lyric Theatre @Illinois’ Opera Scenes Erica sang Leïla (Les pêcheurs des perles), Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) & Béatrice (Béatrice et Bénèdict). Other performances include Die Fledermaus (2023) with the University of Illinois, Falstaff (2022) with Union Avenue Opera, Macbeth (2023) with Winter Opera St. Louis, and Handel’s Messiah (2022) with Greenville University as Soprano Soloist.

In 2023 Erica was the Bach Society of St. Louis’ Soprano Young Artist and Winner of Webster University’s Concerto and Aria Competition. She spent the summer of 2024 working with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ administrative team.

In December, Erica joins Opera Aeterna as Brigitta in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta.

Jessica Barnes, Soprano, attended Webster University for a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Jessica has appeared in several productions in St. Louis that include three seasons with Winter Opera St. Louis. Her recent roles include Un Musico in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Nanette in Naughty Marietta; Jessica was also in the chorus of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Verdi’s Macbeth. Jessica also performed with Union Avenue Opera in Verdi’s Aida last summer. Additionally, Jessica has been involved in premiering choral and solo pieces including Harmonices Mundi by David Werfelmann and Bluebeard’s Castle by Noah Valenti. Jessica is one of the founders of Magpie Opera Collective and has been acting as the Social Media Manager. She would like to thank you all for spending your Saturday evening with her and all of our brilliant collaborative artists, and hopes you enjoy this inaugural performance!

Margaret Beekman is so excited to be a part of Magpie Opera Collective’s first night of opera scenes! Margaret recently graduated from SIUE with a degree in Musical Theatre Performance and a minor in Theatre and Dance. Her most recent roles include: Rosalie Mullins in School of Rock (SUIE), Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance (SIUE), Professor Hidgens in The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (SIUE), and The Queen of Hearts in Alice and Wonderland (SIUE). She is currently stage managing Suessical Jr. at Tessitura Musical Productions. She would like to thank her sister, family, and friends for their endless support.

Anna Edwards is an accomplished singer, music director, and voice and piano teacher. Anna has a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Webster University. She is thrilled to continue singing with Magpie Opera Collective for her second season!

Anna has distinguished herself by winning several local and regional classical singing competitions, including CRESCENDO! in 2024, 2025, and 2026, as well as the Central Region National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition in 2025. Her most recent performance credit includes singing Cendrillon in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon with Webster University Opera Studio. She has also been serving as music director and curriculum developer for Wentzville Connection Theatre Company since 2021.

Japanese-American soprano Grace Yukiko Fisher is a St. Louis native that has performed extensively in the metro-region for over a decade. She has performed with Midwest Institute of Opera, Union Avenue Opera, Winter Opera St. Louis, Opera Edwardsville, Southern Illinois Music Festival, Gateway Festival Orchestra, and Arch City Opera Project. She regularly performs in concert as a soloist and serves as a soprano section leader at Union Avenue Christian Church under the direction of Scott Schoonover. In addition to performing, Ms. Fisher enjoys competing. Most notably, she placed as a live semi-finalist at Premiere Opera Foundation’s International Vocal Competition in New York City in 2021.

Ms. Fisher holds a Master of Music in vocal performance and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in vocal pedagogy from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In the past, she has served as a teaching assistant at SIUe and as an adjunct professor at Blackburn College where she was awarded the E. Ann Reichmann Outstanding Adjunct Award in 2022. In the spring of 2023, Ms. Fisher joined the voice faculty at St. Charles Community College as the new Director of the Opera and Musical Theatre Scenes program. She also serves on faculty at St. Louis University as an instructor of voice and on the board of directors for Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization. Ms. Fisher is thrilled to return to her alma mater this year as a lecturer in Music at SIUe (www.gracefishersoprano.com)

Rita Schien is a Soprano based in St. Louis, Missouri, who loves connecting with others through music. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri - St. Louis where she studied with Dr. Leslie Allnatt Mallory. Rita is the Soprano Young Artist with the Bach Society of St. Louis and also performs with Winter Opera St. Louis, The St. Louis Women’s Chorale, and the Recruits Youth Barbershop Chorus. When she’s not on stage, Rita works as the Enrollment & Production Manager for The St. Louis Children’s Choirs, supporting young singers as they grow in their musical journey. She is thrilled to collaborate with all the talented young artists at Magpie Opera Collective and is excited to share this performance with her community.

Audrey Sondag, a native of Norman, Oklahoma, graduated in the Class of 2026 from Webster University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Minor in Dance. During her undergraduate studies, she completed an eight-week study abroad program in Vienna, participated in three residencies with Grammy Award–winning soprano Christine Brewer, and was the winner of Webster University’s 2025 Aria and Concerto Competition. Her professional credits include performances with Cimarron Opera Company, Winter Opera St. Louis, and Union Avenue Opera. As an emerging artist, Audrey is excited to gain exposure in performance spaces of all varieties and is a passionate advocate for accessibility, diversity, and representation in the arts.

Emma Wittenauer is absolutely thrilled to work with the Magpie Opera Collective on this production! She is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with an Emphasis in Voice with a minor in French at Webster University. She has most recently been seen as the Child in Samson et Dalila with Union Avenue Opera, La Fée in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon with the Webster University Opera Studio, and in the chorus of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah with Arch City Opera Project. Coming up, she will be playing the role of Miss Pearl in Adolphus Hailstork’s Joshua’s Boots with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Emma is the 2026 Webster University Concerto and Aria Contest winner, as well as a Union Avenue Opera Crescendo! Young Artist Competition scholarship recipient in 2025 and 2026. Emma has received two second-place scholarships in Classical and Musical Theatre at the central region NATS competition and participated in her third residency with award-winning soprano, Christine Brewer. In May, Emma returned from studying abroad at Webster’s campus in Vienna, Austria!

Kelly N. Beekman is a mezzo-soprano based in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, focusing on training her voice in both operatic and contemporary singing styles. While at Webster, she was a recipient of the Christine Brewer Annual Scholarship in Vocal Music Performance and she received departmental honors for her tireless dedication to her craft and her outstanding performances. She has been selected by The Bach Society of St. Louis to represent their young artist program for four consecutive seasons and currently holds that position. She has had the privilege to represent other local music organizations such as Union Avenue Opera (Eugene Onegin, 2022, Carmen, 2024, L’elisir d’amore, 2026; Chorus) and Winter Opera St. Louis (Manon Lescaut, Naughty Marietta, 2024 and H.M.S. Pinafore, Anna Bolena, 2025; Chorus).

Kelly is a founding member of Magpie Opera Collective, a local arts organization dedicated to providing opportunities and performance experience to early-career classical vocalists. While she is a classically trained artist, she specializes in multiple genres. Outside of the classical realm, Kelly is currently a back-up singer for the local funk-rock band “Eldraco and Free Nation.” She was the frontwoman for her own rock band for five years and she still writes and records her own contemporary music.

Calista Goldwasser, mezzo-soprano, is one of the founders of Magpie Opera Collective. She holds a Master of Music from Webster University and a Bachelor of Music from DePauw University. For the past several years, Calista has held the title of Young Artist with the Bach Society of Saint Louis and sings in the opera choruses of Winter Opera of Saint Louis and Union Avenue Opera. Most recently, she performed as “Mrs. McLean” in Susannah with Arch City Opera Project and as “Zweite Knabe” in Die Zauberflöte with Winter Opera. In addition to performing, Calista also provides artistic and stage direction for Magpie Opera Collective, and she couldn’t be more grateful for your support of this artistic endeavor.

Mezzo-soprano and St. Louis native Stephanie Mossinghoff has appeared on stages across the St. Louis area. Notably, she has performed in five seasons with Winter Opera St. Louis. Her recent roles include Lolette in La Rondine and Inez in The Gondoliers; she was also in the chorus of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Verdi’s Macbeth, Herbert’s Naughty Marietta, and Romberg’s The Desert Song. Mossinghoff has also performed with Union Avenue Opera in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila, Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, and Loewe’s My Fair Lady. Additionally, Mossinghoff has performed in several opera outreach programs for children with Opera Edwardsville. These include performing as Pinocchio in Pinocchio, Wolfgang Bigbad in The Three Little Pigs, and the dual role of Jack’s Mother and the Giant’s Wife in Jack and the Beanstalk. Her vocal credits also include Dido in Dido and Aeneas as well as both Hänsel and Gertrude in Hänsel and Gretel.

Mossinghoff received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Truman State University, and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance and her Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from SIUE. Mossinghoff is also one of the founders of Magpie Opera Collective and has been acting as the resident graphic designer. She wants to welcome you all to Magpie’s second season, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Kevin Neace, tenor, is thrilled to perform with the Magpie Opera Collective. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Wheaton College and a Master of Music from the University of Memphis. Kevin made his professional debut in Union Avenue Opera’s Aida and has previously performed in the University of Memphis productions of Don Giovanni, The Cousin From Nowhere, and Trouble In Tahiti, where he received praise for his navigation of operatic and jazz vocal stylings as well as his impeccable comedic timing.

An Alton native, Kevin presently performs with the Bach Society of St. Louis, Continuum Vocal Ensemble and the Cathedral Basilica’s Schola Cantorum and has previously performed with ensembles such as Rhodes Mastersingers and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

Riley Cameron is an educator, conductor, and performer located in the St. Louis area. Born and raised in Kenosha, WI, he studied at Webster University under Dr. Jacob Lassetter. Riley is thrilled to return to this role after having been in the first act with Calista and Anna in 2024 in Webster’s Opera Studio program. Since graduating from Webster, he has been teaching choir, piano, and general music at Metro Academic and Classical High School. Aside from his teaching duties, Riley has performed with Magpie in their inaugural showcase last fall, as well as with other local companies like Union Avenue Opera and Winter Opera St. Louis. Riley is also thrilled to be joining the Bach Society of St. Louis as a principal singer for this upcoming performance season.

Baritone Javi Ojeda is a first-year master’s student at Ball State University, originally from Edwardsville, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis. Before beginning graduate studies, he became an active presence in the St. Louis opera community, performing regularly with Winter Opera St. Louis, Union Avenue Opera, and SIUE Opera Theater. His stage experience includes roles such as Harry in My Fair Lady, the Second Armored Man in Die Zauberflöte, Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance, Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Uberto in La Serva Padrona. In addition to his operatic work, Javi sang with the Schola Cantorum of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, where he appeared as a soloist in Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, and Fauré’s Requiem.

Noted for his “fine voice and comic timing” and his “robust and confident demeanor,” St. Louis-based baritone, Joel Rogier, is dedicated to sharing the joy and power of the human voice with audiences of all ages. While he is sad that he will not be able to attend this season’s performances of Bewitched in person, Rogier is excited to make his first foray into directing in collaboration with all of Magpie Opera Collective’s wonderful artists. This season Rogier can be seen with Winter Opera St. Louis in The Most Happy Fella (Pasquale) and Turandot (Mandarin) and as the Sea King in Opera for the Young’s Rusalka: A Mermaid’s Tale. Earlier this year, he appeared in the first preview performance of Flame and Shadow: The Passion and Pain of Sara Teasdale (Vachel Lindsay) at the St. Louis Art Museum. This summer, Rogier was featured at Union Avenue Opera in their house concert series, as the Rabbi in Fiddler on the Roof and as Second Philistine (and part of the “leading star” chorus) in Samson et Dalila. He also made his debut with Druid City Opera as the Notary and covering Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale. Favorite past roles at Union Avenue Opera include Harry Houdini (Ragtime), Crespel/Luther (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Mr. Lindquist (A Little Night Music), Moralès (Carmen), and First Soldier in Salome. With Winter Opera St. Louis Rogier has played Silvano (Un ballo in maschera), Paris (Roméo et Juliette), Boatswain Bill Bobstay (H.M.S. Pinafore), Speaker of the Temple (Die Zauberflöte), Harry Blake (Naughty Marietta), and Viscomte Cascada (The Merry Widow), alongside many other featured and ensemble appearances.

Rogier has dedicated a significant portion of his career to sharing opera with young audiences, appearing in many children’s operas both at home with Opera Edwardsville and throughout the Upper Midwest with Opera for the Young, where he has appeared in shortened versions of such classic works as The Elixir of Love (Sgt. Bill Corey), The Barber of Seville (Figaro), The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King and Major General), and The Magic Flute (Papageno). Other favorite past roles include King Melchior (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Father (Hansel and Gretel), and the title role in Don Giovanni. Rogier has also performed with Southern Illinois Music Festival (SIFest), American Chamber Chorale, St. Louis Fringe Festival, Music On Site, and the Brevard Music Center.

Sun Hye Chung (Sunny Lee) is a Pianist, Collaborative Pianist and Piano Instructor. She has performed across South Korea, Europe, and the United States, including an orchestra performance with Philharmonie Con Spirito Vienna in Vienna, Austria and a piano solo in Paris, France.

Sun Hye’s most recent works include classical performances such as Beethoven’s Piano Concerto Op. 37 and a charity piano trio concert for St. Louis tornado victims, as well as musical/theatre works like The Pirates of Penzance, Gypsy, The Addams Family, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and more.

She has served as a faculty member of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Community Music School of Webster University, and Seoul Theological University, and is currently a collaborative pianist at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and choir accompanist and organist at Eden Church.

Nancy Mayo is delighted to be part of Magpie Opera Collective’s second season – and back performing in the hall where she spent 20 eventful years as Adjunct Professor at Webster University. After receiving her MA in Piano Performance, she has been rehearsal pianist and chorus master for many companies: Columbia (SC) Lyric Opera, Hamburgische (Germany) Staatsoper, Union Avenue Opera, the Muny, Winter Opera St. Louis, Gateway Opera, and Opera Theatre St. Louis. She greatly enjoys helping companies present these wonderful works.

Currently, she maintains a private piano studio, is organist at Bonhomme Presbyterian Church, is involved with an opera premiere, Flame & Shadow by Nika Leoni, and collaborates in recitals and recording projects.

Nancy is grateful to her mother, who gave up her own adult piano lessons so that Nancy could begin studying at age 5.

A.J. Murgo is a tenor and conductor from Bristol, Rhode Island, currently based in St. Louis. A.J. received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Boston Conservatory and his Master of Arts in Music from Webster University, with a focus in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance. Highlights of A.J.’s vocal engagements include performances with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, the Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri’s Prometheus ensemble, and Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble VOCES8. As a conductor, A.J.’s primary focus has been on choral music. Engagements include performances with the Webster University Singers, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, and Christ Church Cathedral, as well as the premiere of new music by composer Dragomir Page. In addition to his skills as a conductor, A.J. brings a wealth of opera experience to Magpie’s production of Hansel and Gretel, drawing from his experiences performing the operas of composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Jake Heggie, Giuseppe Verdi, and Charles Gounod. Beyond his engagements with Magpie Opera Collective, A.J. is scheduled to appear throughout 2025 and 2026 in performance with the Christ Church Cathedral Schola, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis Schola Cantorum, and Early Music Missouri.

Mezzo-soprano and Webster University student Piper Billingsley is a senior vocal performance major. She has performed a number of roles during her time at Webster, including Le Baron de Pictordu in Viardot’s Cendrillon, the Second Witch in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and various other roles in opera scenes, including the Dritte Dame in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Billingsley’s other experience includes various cover roles, including the Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas and most recently the cover of Mrs. McLean in Floyd’s Susannah with the Arch City Opera Project. Billingsley will also be making her debut in the Winter Opera St. Louis’ chorus in both Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella and Puccini’s Turandot.

She hopes that everyone watching enjoys the show and the hard work that has been put into this production!

Holly Connor is a Soprano with roots in Seattle and St. Louis who studies with Dr. Jacob Lassetter. A senior at Webster University pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, Holly has appeared with Webster University Opera Studio as La Fée in Cendrillon, Spirit in Dido and Aeneas, and chorus in Susannah and Suor Angelica. She has also performed scenes as Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito, Adele in Die Fledermaus, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. Her greatest achievement to date was performing as a guest soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Holly sings with the Bach Society of Saint Louis Chorus, Webster University Chamber Choir, and Webster University Jazz Singers. She also studies classical and jazz piano and is a student member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Her honors include First Place in the Webster University Orchestra Aria Competition, Semi-Finalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Classical Competition, and winner of an alumni scholarship from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ Artists-in-Training Program. Holly has been a Young Artist in Union Avenue Opera’s Crescendo Program for the past three years, and a Young Artist at Arch City Opera Project for the past year.

Jude Fernandez is a senior at Webster University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, as well as a minor in Psychology. In their most recent Opera Studio performance at Webster, Jude sang the role of Armelinde in a production of Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon. In the fall, Jude will be singing in the chorus of Joshua’s Boots by Adolphus Hailstork with Opera Theater of St. Louis. Jude is an alumnus of the OTSL’s Artist in Training program for high school singers. In May, Jude returned to St. Louis from an 8-week long Study Abroad program in Vienna, Austria.

Delanie Glover is an incoming senior at Webster University, pursuing her degree in Vocal Performance. This is her first Magpie production, and she is thrilled to get to work again with some of her closest friends and colleagues. Delanie was last seen on stage as Maguelonne in Webster University Opera Studio’s production of Cendrillon, and is now super excited to dive into Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel as a member of the chorus and Gretel’s Act 3 cover!

Soprano Olivia Knopf is a senior vocal performance major at Webster University. During her time at Webster, she has performed a number of roles, including Cendrillon in Viradot’s Cendrillon, the First Witch and Dido cover in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Along with this, she recently was in the chorus in Floyd’s Susannah with Arch City Opera and the chorus in Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet with Winter Opera St. Louis. She will be making another appearance with Winter Opera in their upcoming show of Puccini’s Turandot.