Introducing wonderful Gala singers!
Cuban-American soprano, Catherine Antonia Samartin, has been described as a passionate, and expressive performer with her dance, modeling, and stage/film-acting background adding a higher level of artistry and depth to each performance.
Most recently, she sang the role of Sally in Pacific Opera Project’s new libretto of Die Fledermaus, The Bat’s Revenge, and the principal role of Murderess-Charlotte Corday in the West Coast Premiere of Girondines. Other operatic roles consist of Juliette in Romeo et Juliette, Musetta in La Boheme, Gilda in Rigoletto, Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, performed in Berlin and most recently in Los Angeles. Alongside her operatic roles, she has had opportunity to perform major works including Stabat Matter Op. 58 - Dvorak, Symphony No. 2 Op. 14 - Shostakovich, and appeared as the Primary Soprano Soloist in Requiem D Minor K. 626 - Mozart, Magnificat in D Major BWV 243 - Bach, and Messiah HWV 56 - Handel.
Upcoming roles include Valencienne in Mission Operas production of The Merry Widow, June 2024, and Maritza in Mesopotamian Opera Company’s new opera, The Blur, August 2024.
Alongside her passion for music, she volunteers her time with Young Women's Task Force of Los Angeles working with homeless shelters assisting women with children, and manages a private scholarship fund supporting aspiring young musicians throughout Los Angeles. She hopes to one day continue her philanthropic efforts by combining her love of giving back to her community and music, with her own after-school music program catered towards the inner city high schools of Los Angeles, her hometown. Check her website at www.catherineantoniasamartin.com
Rachel Yeo is a classically trained high soprano. A Los Angeles native, she has been an active member of the local performance arts industry since a young age. Ms. Yeo will be joining Tonality, an award winning ensemble, for their 24/25 season and the LA Opera Chorus in 2025 for Ainadamar.
In past seasons, she has performed with LA Opera Connects in their production of On Gold Mountain, Independent Opera Company in their productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Cobweb and Cesar Cui's Puss in Boots as The Princess, and at Boston Court for a workshop premiere of a new opera, Dojyoji.
Ms. Yeo is an experienced choral singer and recitalist. She made her international solo debut with the Roger Wagner Chorale during their 2022 Japan Tour. She was a featured artist in the LA Korean Cultural Center’s 2022 Ari Project and in the St. Andrew Church’s 26th and 27th Annual Bach to Broadway Concert series. She is soprano section leader at St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in San Marino. Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Mount Saint Mary’s University where she attended with a full scholarship.
Alex Perkins, tenor, 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 Ahmal 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.
Michael Payne is a classically trained bass, based in Los Angeles. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degree from Lee University (Cleveland, TN) and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance degree from Missouri State University (Springfield, MO).
He made his Carnegie Hall solo debut with Manhattan Opera Studio in 2017 and was a part of the inaugural Teatro Nuovo (formerly Bel Canto at Caramoor) in 2018. He was an avid performer with Ozark Lyric Opera while living in Springfield, Missouri.
Memorable roles include Chelio (The Love for Three Oranges), Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Bartolo (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Timur (Turandot). Michael currently performs as the bass section leader at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church and is an adjunct voice faculty member at Cal State University Dominguez Hills.
