Monica Yunus

Monica Yunus is one of America’s most promising young sopranos.  Described by The New York Times as “especially winning,” she is equally at home on the concert, recital, and opera stage.  With an operatic repertoire that extends from Gluck and Mozart to Verdi, Strauss and Stravinsky, the versatile soprano is in demand by opera houses from coast-to-coast and abroad. 

Miss Yunus’s many concert and recital appearances include programs in Dhaka, Bangladesh, at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall under the auspices of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Spain’s Manuel De Falla Hall and the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Norway, among others. 

Michael Chioldi

Michael Chioldi is one of the world's premiere operatic baritones. He has performed at nearly every major American opera house, including The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Spoleto USA and Santa Fe Opera. Internationally he has traveled extensively in Japan with Maestro Seiji Osawa, and has recently appeared in Brazil, France, Germany, Canada, Macau and Spain.

2010 opened with Michael's performance as Count Almaviva in Hawaii Opera Theatre's 50th anniversary presentation of Le nozze di Figaro.  His interpretation of Richard Nixon in Long Beach Opera's Nixon in China was received with great critical acclaim. He will appear with Washington National Opera as Hamlet in May and June. During the summer, he returns to Chautauqua Opera for Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci, appears with Opera Bordeaux in Carmen in October, and with Opera Cleveland in I Pagliacci in November.

In early 2009, Michael's performance as The Forester in Long Beach Opera's production of The Cunning Little Vixen was called authoritative, tonally burnished and smartly phrased.   In May, he sang Giorgio Germont in Connecticut Grand Opera's concert version of La Traviata, and in July made his Glimmerglass Opera debut as John Sorel in The Consul.  More recently he has appeared in a special gala performance at El Paso Opera, at Spain's Opera de Oviedo singing Scarpia in Tosca, and in a concert performance with the Oviedo Philharmonia. In November he performed at the Macau International Music Festival as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, and with L’Opéra Français de New York in Debussy & Poe: Fall of the House of Usher & Devil in the Belfry. In early 2010 Michael will sing Nixon in Long Beach Opera's presentation of John Adams' Nixon in China.

In Mr. Chioldi's May 2008 debut in the title role of Der Fliegende Holländer with Pforzheim Opera, the critics were unanimous in their praise of his performance as “Bayreuth worthy, well-focused, powerful, and sung with enormous intensity and dramatic vigor.” - Orpheus International. In March, New York City Opera's Emmy Award winning Madama Butterfly was telecast nationwide on the PBS television series Live from Lincoln Center. Michael's performance as Sharpless was widely acknowledged as being "focused, beautifully sung and sympathetic - he gave Sharpless a soul." - The New York Times.

The year 2008 opened with Mr. Chioldi's performance as Man in The Birth of Something with Musiqa in Houston. The role was written especially for him, and his interpretation drew high praise from the composer, Anthony Brandt. Singing Valmont, he debuted with Dicapo Opera Theater in NewYork in The Dangerous Liaisons.

Brandon McReynolds

"Handsome" and one who "delivers considerable thrills" are some of the phrases that critics use to describe young, American tenor Brandon McReynolds. The Sweetwater, Texas native has most recently been seen as Almaviva in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Oklahoma University Opera,  Rinuccio in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi with Chelsea Opera and Rodolfo in Puccini's La Boheme with Florida Grand Opera's In School Opera Program.  Other roles include Pilade in Handel's Oreste with The Spoleto Festival in Italy,  Alfred in Die Fledermaus  with Lyric Opera Cleveland, and Seneca Pupil in L'incoronazione di Poppea with Chicago Opera Theater as well as appearances with Sarasota Opera, Music Academy of the West, Central City Opera and The Liederkranz Foundation.

Brandon McReynolds is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, among them the Daniel R. Mandelker & Marlene N. Harris Fund Award, Caruso Memorial Scholarship and the Loretta Lewis Award in Voice.  He has been honored with a Lucrezia Bori Grant for foreign study from Juilliard as well as a tuition scholarship for the Centro Studi Italiano in Urbania, Italy.  He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University and a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School.

Michael Wanko

Bass-Baritone Michael Wanko loves to entertain audiences and has concentrated on comedic roles.  Mr. Wanko is a frequent performer at the New York City Opera performing Leporello DON GIOVANNI, Sacristan TOSCA, Dr. Bartolo THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO among other roles. He made his debut with the New York Philharmonic in concert performances of TOSCA conducted by Lorin Maazel.   Mr. Wanko has performed Dulcamara L'ELISIR D'AMORE with Opera Santa Barbara, Opera Grand Rapids & Lake George Opera.

He made his Longview Opera debut as Gianni Schicchi and recently reprised that role to great acclaim with the Utah Symphony & Opera. Mr. Wanko and his wife, renowned soprano Theresa Santiago, performed a duet concert for Volkswagen Corporation in Hamburg, Germany as well as the Matinee Musicale in Cincinnati and Cosmopolitan Club NYC. His European debut took place in Lucca, Italy, as Don Magnifico LA CENERENTOLA, followed by the Barga Music Festival.  Mr. Wanko debuted at Carnegie Hall with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. 

Other companies with which Mr. Wanko has appeared include the Kentucky Opera, Knoxville Opera, & Anchorage Opera. Mr. Wanko is also a frequent performer of Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire throughout the US in such roles as Ko-Ko THE MIKADO, Major-General PIRATES OF PENZANCE & Sir Joseph Porter H.M.S. PINAFORE.

Mike is thrilled to be back at Opera East Texas – “A wonderful community and Opera Company”.