Cast and Crew
GIACOMO PUCCINI’S
La Bohème
Rhea Olivaccé
Soprano
Dr. Rhea Olivaccé is known for her “vibrant color” and “vivacious abandon”. She is celebrated for her interpretation of lyric soprano roles, including Mimi and Musetta from Puccini’s La Bohème, La Contessa from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Tatyana from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Suzel in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz. She has performed with Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Opera Western Reserve. She has been widely recognized for her performances of the Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, and Rutter Requiem Masses, Bach’s St John Passion and Magnificat, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Handel’s Messiah and Strauss’ Four Last Songs. She has graced the world-renowned stages of Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Dr. Olivaccé is a frequent masterclass clinician and sought-after recitalist who specializes in African-American Art Songs and Negro Spirituals. She holds a DMA and MM from University of Michigan Ann Arbor and a BM from Florida International University. She is an Associate Professor of Voice at Western Michigan University and founder of Tuttavia Voice Studio in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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Elizabeth Schleicher
Soprano
Soprano Elizabeth Schleicher is delighted to be returning to the SBLO stage after recent roles including Circe in Our American Odyssey (World premiere), Sandman and Dew Fairy in Hansel & Gretel, Mimì in La Bohème and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte. As as soprano soloist, Elizabeth has been heard in Handel’s Messiah (Ancilla College and the Vesper Chorale of Indiana), Vivaldi's Gloria (South Bend Symphony), Brahms Requiem and Haydn's Stabat Mater (Vesper Chorale), Beethoven's Mass in C, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Fauré's Requiem, and the Rutter Requiem (Notre Dame Orchestra and Basilica Choirs) and as Anne Frank in Annelies (South Bend Chamber Singers). Elizabeth has sung with Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus. Elizabeth is on the voice faculty at Saint Mary’s College and serves as a vocal coach in campus ministry at Notre Dame. When she is not teaching or singing, she enjoys being outdoors with her husband and three children.
Emanuel-Cristian Caraman
Tenor
Throughout his career Romanian tenor and recording artist, Emanuel-Cristian Caraman has appeared with opera companies, symphony orchestras and on the recital stage in Europe, South America and North America. Mr. Caraman has performed with Los Angeles Opera, George Enescu International Music Festival in Bucharest, Miami Lyric Opera, Die Deutsche Kammerphilarmonie in Bremen, CBA Symphony in Chicago, South Bend Lyric Opera, Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis, Opera in the Heights in Houston, New England Chamber Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra and New Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Caraman has performed on the stages of many prestigious concert halls including Carnegie Hall in New York, Ateneul Român in Bucharest, and Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna.
Thomas Gunther
Baritone
Thomas Gunther performs a diverse repertoire spanning opera, musical theatre, and concert works. He was recently seen as Fiorello in Opera Omaha’s The Barber of Seville and as Elder McLean in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, and has appeared as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. His concert credits include Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Handel’s Messiah, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Britten’s War Requiem, and the requiems of Duruflé and Fauré. Notable stage roles include Marcello and Schaunard (La bohème), Germont (La traviata), Scarpia (Tosca), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Billy Bigelow (Carousel), Javert (Les Misérables), and the title roles in Sweeney Todd and Don Giovanni. He has worked with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Merola Opera Program, Des Moines Metro Opera, Soo Opera Theatre, and others. Upcoming engagements include Tonio in I Pagliacci with Soo Opera Theatre. He serves on the voice faculty at Doane University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and maintains a private studio.
Mary Martin
Soprano
Mary Martin happily returns to SBLO for her sixth mainstage role! Originally from Michigan, her recent operatic roles include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Alice (Falstaff), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), and Antonia (The Tales of Hoffmann). Mary has performed with Central City Opera, Detroit Opera, Brevard Music Center, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Battle Creek Symphony, Livingston Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Chorale Society, Midland Symphony Orchestra, and New York Opera Exchange. Mary annually directs with Detroit Opera and also directed Gianni Schicchi and The Little Prince at the collegiate level. She recently served on the voice faculty at DePauw University, and joins the faculty at Texas Tech this fall. Mary earned her BM and MM degrees in voice from the University of Michigan and her Doctor of Music from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music where she studied with Carol Vaness.
Victoria Schemenauer
Soprano
Victoria Schemenauer is an avid vocal performer, with a particular interest in premiering new works in opera, musical theatre, and chamber music. Recent premieres include the role of Esme in Jamey Guzman’s chamber opera Open Heart Surgery and The Girl in Paul Herman’s The Gift with South Bend Lyric Opera. Her world premiere recording of Yves Haguenauer’s 3 mélodies de captivité is scheduled to be released in the 2027 volume of Encyclopedia Thesaurus Musicae Concentrationariae, an anthology devoted to music composed in concentration camps during World War II.
Originally from Elkhart, Indiana, Schemenauer earned her Bachelor of Music from Indiana University South Bend and her Master of Music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Based in Chicago, she performs regularly with the Chicago Chamber Choir and serves as Adjunct Instructor of Voice at IUSB. She continues to seek opportunities to connect with audiences and bring new works to life.
Ian Michael
Bass-Baritone
Ian Micheal (he/him) is a versatile singing actor who resides in South Bend, IN. An Indianapolis native, Ian has performed as a soloist in various concerts throughout Northern Indiana, including Handel’s Messiah, the Mozart Requiem, and Shawn E. Okpebholo’s Songs in Flight. His theatrical credits include Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime: The Musical (Art 4), Drifter/Ensemble in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Wagon Wheel Theatre), Simone in Gianni Schicchi (Purdue Fort Wayne), Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, Antonio/Figaro (Cover) in Le nozze di Figaro (Indianapolis Opera). He is also a three-time finalist of the Lotte Lenya Competition. Ian Michael is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BMA in Voice Performance and Bachelor of Theatre Arts. In addition to performing, he has a passion for education and community outreach. He is currently the chair of the Community Engagement and Education committee for South Bend Lyric Opera and the owner of the Ian Michael Vocal Studio. He most recently was the baritone Resident Artist for Indianapolis Opera in the Spring of 2026.
Matthew Giallongo
Baritone
Dr. Matthew Giallongo has been praised for his “beautiful voice and singing with great depth of feeling.” Equally at home on the operatic and concert stages, he has appeared with Opera Fort Collins, Indianapolis Opera, Actors Theatre of Indiana, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, and South Bend Lyric Opera. Favorite roles include Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Nardo (La finta giardiniera), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), Silvio (I pagliacci), and Picasso in Tom Cipullo’s After Life. Matthew serves as Director of Vocal Studies at Purdue University Fort Wayne and holds a D.M.A. from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He is thrilled to be returning to South Bend Lyric Opera for their 10th anniversary season!
Timothy Schmidt
Baritone
Timothy Schmidt joined the music faculty at Indiana University South Bend in 2025. His operatic repertoire include roles in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, and Die Zauberflöte, Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, Britten’s Albert Herring, Weill’s Street Scene, Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Debussy’s Pélleas et Melisande, Verdi’s La Traviata, and numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. He recorded roles in two operas by Nancy Van de Vate on the Vienna Modern Masters label: Isaiah Bartlett in Where the Cross Is Made and Claudius in her setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet. His concert repertoire includes solos in Bach's St. John Passion, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis and Symphony No. 9, Fauré's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Paukenmesse, “Lord Nelson” Mass, and Harmoniemesse, Mozart’s Requiem, Coronation Mass, and Great Mass in C Minor, Schubert's Mass in G, and Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs.
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George Zielke
Baritone
2026 marks the 6th season George has performed with SBLO, in various capacities- from chorus, to supernumerary to role. George started with the troupe as a chorister in Cavalleria Rusticana in 2021 and has since appeared in Don Giovanni as Il Commendatore, The Merry Widow as Cascada, and in the premieres of The Gift and Our American Odyssey. Outside of SBLO, George has performed with Jerome Hines and the Southwest Michigan Council for the Arts in I Am the Way and onstage with Opera Grand Rapids in Faust, The Student Prince, Der Fliegende Hollander.
He has performed locally with South Bend Chamber Singers and was a singing member, frequent soloist, and Board Member and Chair with Vesper Chorale/Musical Arts Indiana. Additionally, he has extensive theatrical experience throughout Western Michigan and Northern Indiana and studied improvisation with Second City Chicago.
Casey Constant
Tenor
Casey Constant is delighted to return to the South Bend Lyric Opera as Parpignol and chorus member. A familiar face on the SBLO stage, he has previously appeared in Don Giovanni, Cavalleria Rusticana, Tosca, The Gift, Our American Odyssey, and in The Merry Widow, as the spirited Raoul de St. Brioche. An active participant in local arts organizations, Casey has also performed with the South Bend Symphony and South Bend Civic Theater choruses, bringing energy and warmth to every performance. He is also proud to have sung with the Vesper Chorale for more than 20 years, continuing a long-standing passion for choral music and community performance. Casey also serves as organist of the South Bend Elks lodge #235 and is an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Quin Wezeman
Tenor
Quin Wezeman is a tenor currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in vocal performance at IUSB, studying under acclaimed tenor, Emanuel Caraman. Recently Quin has been seen performing with The South Bend Lyric Opera, in their productions of Rigoletto, as well as Cavalleria Rusticana. In addition to the South Bend Lyric Opera, Quin has also been seen in Art 4’s production of Songs for a New World. In addition to the theatrical and operatic side of the stage, Quin has also been heavily active in the Indie music scene, performing at festivals and concerts extensively with the band The Dream Eels, and is currently performing with his latest band Naive Joy.
Production
Jameson Cooper
Conductor
Multi-faceted performer and teacher, Jameson Cooper was born in Sheffield, England. He rose to national attention when he was selected to be Concertmaster of the National Youth Chamber Orchestra for its debut performance at the BBC Proms. Following graduation from the Royal Northern College of Music he came to the U.S. to continue his violin studies with Dorothy Delay and Roland and Almita Vamos. As a founding member of the Euclid Quartet, Jameson has won numerous prestigious competition prizes and performed to high acclaim across the U.S in such venues as Carnegie Hall and the Library of Congress. With the Euclid Quartet, Mr. Cooper is Artist in Residence at Indiana University South Bend. The quartet was awarded an American Masterpieces grant from the NEA for its innovative educational programming. As an experienced orchestral conductor, he has an extensive repertoire from baroque to contemporary music. Notable performances include IU South Bend’s first ever fully staged ballet of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and South Bend Lyric Opera’s performances of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Mr. Cooper lives in Mishawaka, Indiana, with his wife and children. He loves to cook Indian food and his Chicken Tikka Masala is nicknamed “the most delicious chicken in the world!”
Carl Ratner
Stage Director
Carl Ratner, stage director, is Professor Emeritus of Voice and Opera at Western Michigan University and former Artistic Director of Chicago Opera Theater. He began his career assisting directors at the world’s major opera houses: Covent Garden, Metropolitan Opera, Munich Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and San Francisco Opera. He received a Fulbright grant to sing, direct, and teach at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia.
He has performed the title roles of Falstaff and Gianni Schicchi and the leading baritone roles in The Magic Flute, Madama Butterfly, and The Crucible, among others. Well known for recitals and concert work, he has sung in 15 languages in 10 states and 6 European countries.
He previously directed and performed roles in SBLO productions of La Traviata and Our American Odyssey. He now serves as Associate Artistic Director of Bellissima Opera for whom he has directed world premieres and created new roles.
Coley Mroczek
Stage Manager
Coley Mroczek has been involved in theatrical productions for more than 30 years, principally in behind-the-scenes roles. He has been active with South Bend Lyric Opera since its inaugural production in 2016 and has served on the SBLO Board of Directors since 2017. A dedicated supporter of the arts in South Bend, Coley has served as Stage/Production Manager for nearly every SBLO production, supporting cast and crew and helping ensure each performance is presented at the highest artistic standard.
Emily Chidalek
Costume Designer
Emily Chidalek holds a master’s degree in Clinical Counseling and a bachelor's degree in Theatre Performance with a minor in Psychology, both from IU South Bend. With a passion for using theater as a therapeutic tool, she aims to become a drama therapist. Emily operates "Love, Emily," a sustainable art business, alongside her roles as Resident Costume Designer and Stage Manager at Culver Academies. She has collaborated with institutions like South Bend Lyric Opera, IUSB Theatre Department, Notre Dame FTT and Shakespeare, and Art 4. Notable credits include Ghost Quartet (South Bend’s Costume Design of the Decade, BroadwayWorld 2020), Puffs, Don Giovanni and She Kills Monsters. Emily's diverse experience spans regional and international stages as a costumer, scenic artist, stage manager, and performer. She is also part of a theatrical team that broke a world record—an anecdote she enjoys sharing.
Monique Caraman
Set Designer
Monique Caraman is a native of South Bend, Indiana with Romanian roots. She has been working in media communication and production for the last three years. She worked as the hair and makeup technician at the Great River Shakespeare 2025 season. She was one of the makeup artists on the Asbury University production of The Tempest. She has worked on many student films, winning the Highbridge Film Festival Award for best hair and makeup in 2025. In 2026 she worked as an Audio Assistant at the Cortina Sliding Center for the Milano Cortina Games. In the fall of 2026, she will travel to Japan to spend a semester abroad. She will graduate in the spring of 2027 with a degree in Media Communications with an emphasis in Production Design and a minor in History from Asbury University.
Ivy Jones
Lightings Designer
Ivy Jones (Lighting Designer) is pleased to be working their 6th show with South Bend Lyric Opera. Their credits with the company include The Scarf & Bon Appetit (2024), The Merry Widow (2024), The Gift (2023), and Don Giovanni (2022) as the Lighting Designer/Board Operator; Three Decembers (2021), Light Board Operator. Ivy has studied at Indiana University (South Bend) where they earned their Bachelors in Theatre Design and Technology, specializing in Lighting and Stage Management. Ivy has been working as a freelance lighting designer since graduating college in 2022. They are the Assistant Technical Director for Saint Mary’s College (2024). Ivy is also a Journeyman with IATSE Local 187 (2022).
Ellis Anderson
Rehearsal pianist
Ellis Anderson, pianist, was born in Tennessee but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a Professional Specialist in Piano and Accompanying at Saint Mary’s College, where he also teaches Music History and Appreciation. Ellis also works for Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. This is his first season with South Bend Lyric Opera as a repetiteur and pianist.
Brittney Hale
Chorus Master/Chorus Member
Brittney Hale is a soprano stepping into her first role as Chorus Master. She graduated from IUSB with a Bachelors and Masters in Vocal Performance under Dr. Emmanuel Caraman and now focuses on building a vocal studio. She has been singing with SBLO since 2018. She sang Praskovia in The Merry Widow and has been in multiple choruses, including Lucia di Lammermoor, Cavalleria Rusticana, La Traviata, Tosca, and Don Giovanni. Brittney also sings in the South Bend Chamber Singers as an alto under Dr. Nancy Menk and performs regularly for SBLO’s outreach performances, Opera on Tap.