Introducing Fair at the Sorotchintsi wonderful cast

Phil Meyer is delighted to return to IOC as

Phil Meyer is delighted to return to IOC as Cherevik.  Hailed for a singing voice that is “not half bad,” his opera repertory consists of Bad Guys, Old Guys, and Funny Guys (and a recent spate of non-humans).  Phil has sung major roles in many California companies, including Pacific Opera Project, Lyric Opera of Orange County, Opera Modesto, VOPA, Repertory Opera Company, Mission Opera, and the Mendocino Music Festival.  Concert appearances include soloist in the Verdi, Mozart, and Faure Requiems, as well as Handel’s Messiah.  Engagements in 2026 include the March 28th world premiere of Derrick Skye and Diana Farrel’s Gilgamesh at the Cerritos Center and a double bill of Brooke deRosa’s Gunfight at the Not-So-OK Saloon and Does Not Compute at the Cullum Theater in New York City in May.  

ALEXIS WESLEY, Mezzo-Soprano

Cuban-American actor/mezzo-soprano Alexis Wesley (Khyvria, Cherevik's wife) is a frequent performer with Independent Opera Company. Equally at home in opera, oratorio, musical theatre, stage plays and film, she is also a writer and producer of independent film and theatre. Locally, she has performed principal roles with Pacific Opera Project, Mission Opera, The Definiens Project, Independent Opera Company and Palisades Symphony. Favorite roles include Mme. de Croissy (Dialogues des Carmélites), Miss Todd (The Old Maid and the Thief), Madame Flora (The Medium), Spring Beauty (The Snow Maiden), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Gertrude (Roméo et Juliette), Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Charlotte (A Little Night Music) and Prudie Cupp (Pump Boys & Dinettes). Favorite oratorio solo work includes Verdi’s Requiem, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah, Kodály’s Missa Brevis, Buxtehude’s Jesu Meine Freude and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, she holds an MM in Voice from CSUN and is a graduate of the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting in NYC.

Jessica Berns-Garner, Dramatic Coloratura Soprano, is an up-and-coming performer in the Los Angeles area, known for her warm, rich timbre and powerful instrument.  Her operatic roles have included Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Frasquita (Carmen), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Fortuna (L’incoronazione di Poppea), both First and Second Lady and also Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), First Witch (Macbeth), and multiple roles in Suor Angelica including Dolcina, Nursing Sister, and First Touriere.  Additionally, she has covered the title role in Anna Bolena, Blanche (Dialogues des Carmelites), Gilda (Rigoletto), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), die Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte), Adele (Die Fledermaus) and Genovieffa (Suor Angelica).  Operetta roles Ms. Berns-Garner has sung include Gianetta (The Gondoliers), Constance (The Sorcerer), Phoebe (The Yeoman of the Guard), Countess Stasi (The Gipsy Princess), and Sylviane (The Merry Widow).  In addition to her operatic work, Ms. Berns-Garner is also an accomplished concert soloist, having performed as a soloist in the Rutter Requiem, The Messiah, Handel’s Foundling Hospital Anthem, The Creation, and the Vivaldi Gloria.  Ms. Berns-Garner holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Arts Performance from California State University, Northridge, which she received in 2013, and continues to study voice with Jessica Tivens-Schneiderman.  

David Ingram, Baritone, (Kum/Chernobog)is an American singer known for his warm tone and strong stage presence.

He has performed leading and supporting roles with companies such as Arizona Opera, Independent Opera Company, Lawrence Opera Theater, and CSUN Opera. His memorable roles include Il Conte (Le Nozze di Figaro), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Escamillo (Carmen), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), and Marcello (La Bohème).

In addition to opera, David has appeared as a soloist in major oratorio works including Faure’s

Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and Mozart’s Requiem. He has sung with ensembles such as the

Arizona Opera Chorus, Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and sang with the Tucson Arizona

Boys Chorus since he was 9 years old. David is a scholar of gregorian chant and earned his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from California State University, Northridge, and his Bachelor of Music from the University of Arizona.

He currently resides in Los Angeles, continuing to perform across the West Coast.

Timothy Simon (Gritsko, lad) is a captivating opera singer whose voice resonates with power, nuance, and

emotion. He is a Tenor based in Los Angeles, born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. His operatic

journey has included performances with esteemed programs such as Arizona Opera, the Tucson

Symphony Orchestra, and Lawrence Opera Theatre, as well as in school productions at the

University of Arizona and California State University, Northridge.

He holds a Master of Music in Voice from CSUN and a Bachelor of Music from the University

of Arizona. His most significant roles include Lord Percy in Anna Bolena by Donizetti

(Independent Opera Company), Le Remendado (cover) in Carmen by Bizet (Arizona Opera),

Tamino in Die Zauberflöte by Mozart (CSUN), Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des

Carmélites and Don Juan in The Stone Guest (Independent Opera Company). Beyond the

operatic realm, Timothy finds inspiration in his relationships with the friends and family around

him, discovering new depths of emotion and understanding through their shared experiences and

perspectives.

Alex Perkins, tenor, (Afanasiy Ivanovich, a priest's son) has always had a passion for music. Alex studied voice at El Camino College in their Applied Music Program under the tutelage of Rhona Klinghofer, M.M., Julliard, and was a featured soloist with the El Camino College Orchestra. It was also there where he debuted his first opera role, King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Alex continues to study voice with Ms. Klinghofer and has since performed with Long Beach Opera in their productions of The Death of Klinghofer and Difficulty of Crossing a Field. He is also an alumnus of the Angel Vocal Arts program under the baton of Kristof Van Grysperre, performing in several of their arts and oratorio recitals. For the past 11 years, Alex has performed with The Ensemble, a South Bay based group of classical singers who produce an annual concert series of opera favorites. In 2023, Alex had the pleasure of working with Source/Filter Music Collective in the Los Angeles debut of Doggone! A Micro Opera by Gary Carpenter, text by Simon Nicholson. Since 2020, Alex has had the pleasure of working with Independent Opera Company in their productions of Die Fledermaus, Puss in Boots, and The Love For Three Oranges.

Ethan Miller, baritone, (The Gypsy) is a Missouri native and current master’s student at California

State University Northridge. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of

Missouri Columbia. Mr. Miller currently studies under Dr. Hugo Vera, previously studying under

Christina Ray. Most recently Mr. Miller seized the opportunity to make his acting debut, taking

part in the film “Plump Jack” as a chorus member. He is currently waiting for the first official

showing. Over the summer Mr. Miller played Lord Rochefort in IOC’s (Independent Opera

Company) performance of Anna Bolenea as well as Sam in LOT’s (Lawrence Opera Theatre)

performance of Blue Monday. Ethan has played and understudied for many roles such as Bob in

The Old Maid & the Thief, Antonio, Bartolo, Le Count and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Don

Magnifico from La Cenerentola, and Demetrious from A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Niko Murakami (Parasya cover, chorus) is a Japanese-American soprano. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music -

Vocal Performance from California State University Long Beach and earned her Master’s

degree in Vocal Performance at California State University Northridge. Ms. Murakami’s credited roles in opera include Rose Maurrant in Street Scene, The Princess in L’enfant et les Sortiléges, and Sister Mathilde in Dialogues of the Carmelites. She has collaborated with organizations like Pacific Opera Project (Superflute, Iolanta, Elixir of Love,

Madama Butterfly), Independent Opera (Love for Three Oranges, Daphne), and Los Angeles Opera Connects (On Gold Mountain). She has also performed as a guest soloist hosted by the Japanese Consulate of Los Angeles.

Her work includes singing as the soprano soloist for a Japanese rendition of Handel’s The

Messiah with The Japanese Messiah Project. She recently sang in Vibra Voce’s Voices of Asia

concert at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. Niko studies classical voice with Shigemi Matsumoto.

CHORUS

Chelsy Cordon is a Los Angeles based actress and lyric soprano. She performs in multiple

genres spanning from opera to contemporary musical theatre to experimental theatre.

Her musical theatre credits include Sibella Holland in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,

Johanna Barker in Sweeney Todd, and performed both as a dancer and the Sally Bowles

understudy in Cabaret. Her opera credits include Mme. Lidoine, the Second Prioress in Dialogues of the Carmelites,

Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera, and Blanca Presencia 1 in the United States premiere of Marea Roja. Upcoming performances include Musetta in La Boheme, Vi in Blue Monday, and Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera. She has also worked in experimental theatre including multiple Blackbox productions including 30/60, a blend of improvisational, audience participatory, and pre-written theatre. She has also worked in multiple short films. Chelsy holds her undergraduate degree in Musical Theatre and her Masters degree in Vocal Performance and has been the recipient of multiple awards and has graduated with distinction in both her undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Maureen Mihalik is a Mezzo-Soprano based in Los Angeles, CA. She regularly performs as a soloist with the “Opera Ensemble” and has performed the roles of Junon (Orpheus in the Underworld), Narrator/Lumberjack (Red Riding Hood), Armelinde (Cendrillon) and Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus). 

Bianca Galicia began honing her craft at renowned institutions such as, The Los Angeles Music

and Art School, The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and East Los Angeles

College. With over 18 years of choral experience, she has performed as a soloist in iconic works

including, Handel's The Messiah, Mozart's Requiem and Coronation Mass, Bach's Magnificat,

and Schubert's Mass in G. She has been a part of various productions as both a lead and

chorus member, such as, Mozart's The Magic Flute (Queen of the Night), Bizet's Carmen

(Michaela/chorus), and Menotti’s Ahmal and the Night Visitors (chorus). After a hiatus, Bianca is

determined to perform again. She has participated as a chorus member in the productions of

Rachmaninov’s Aleko and Leoncavallo's Il Pagliacci with Pacific Lyric Association, Strauss's

Daphne with Independent Opera Company, Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro at Santa Monica

College, where she also had the opportunity to be the understudy for the role of Contessa, and

most recently performed as The Sandman and Dew Fairy in Humperdink's Hansel and Gretel

with Opera à la Mode. Bianca is currently performing with the vocal group Voces de Amarilis,

who specializes in a repertoire that ranges from operatic trios to Hispanic boleros.

Laura Jackson is thrilled to be joining Independent opera company once again. She has received her Bachelors of Music from Cal State University Northridge. She has most recently appeared as the Wardrobe in Beauty and the beast with Actors Repertory Theater of Simi Valley and Papagena in Landmark Opera’s production of The Magic Flute.  Laura has played many roles with VCGSRC including Utopia (Zara) , The Pirates of Penzance(Mabel), Patience(Patience), The Sorcerer(Aline) and Yeoman of the Guard (Elsie). With The Musician Club she performed in Dido and Aeneas (Belinda). She has been a part of Riverside lyric opera in Amahl and the night visitors, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, and HMS Pinafore. She has performed in many musicals including A Little Night Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret, Gypsy, Pippin and Into the Woods. She is excited to be joining this cast and crew and is grateful for this wonderful opportunity.