Page 23 - NWS January 2025 Digital Playbill

CELENA SHAFER Soprano
After two summers as an apprentice at the Santa Fe Opera,
the career of soprano Celena Shafer was launched to critical
raves as Ismene in Mozart’s Mitridate, Re di Ponto. Since that
breakthrough debut, Shafer has garnered acclaim for her
silvery voice, fearlessly committed acting and phenomenal
technique. She spends much of her time on the concert stage
and has appeared with orchestras in New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with leading conductors such as Christoph
von Dohnanyi, Bernard Labadie, Robert Spano, Sir Donald Runnicles, Michael Tilson
Thomas, David Robertson and Sir Andrew Davis.
ARNOLD LIVINGSTON GEIS Tenor
Praised by Opera Today for his “sizable lyric instrument” and
“honeyed tone on all registers,” in the 2024-25 season tenor
Arnold Livingston Geis returns to the role of Josef Bader
in Zigman’s Emigré with Beijing Music Festival, Deutsches
Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and Hong Kong Philharmonic. He
also joins Opera Carolina for Rodolfo in La bohéme, Cincinnati
Opera for Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Opera in the Heights for
his first performances of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, San Francisco Symphony for
Carmina Burana, and the Baltimore Symphony for Tenor I in Stravinsky’s Renard. Last
season, he sang performances of Carmina Burana with both the Phoenix Symphony
and Erie Symphony.

JOSÉ ADÁN PÉREZ Baritone
Baritone José Adán Pérez is an alumnus of Los Angeles
Opera Placido Domingo’s Young Artist Program, the AVA
of Philadelphia, Aspen Opera Theater, IVAI Israel and SIVAM
Opera Program. He made his operatic debut at the Los Angeles
Opera, performing the role of Marcello in La bohème, under the
baton of Plácido Domingo. Since then, he has performed in Europe, Asia, North and
Central America, at prestigious venues and with renowned artistic institutions such
as the New York City Opera (Lincoln Center), Los Angeles Philharmonic (Hollywood
Bowl), Los Angeles Master Chorale (Disney Concert Hall), San Diego Opera, Hawaii
Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Aspen Music Festival and more.

NEW WEST SYMPHONY CHORUS
DR. WYANT MORTON Director
The New West Symphony Chorus is a
group of dedicated skilled volunteer
members who make performances of
choral works for New West Symphony
possible. The chorus members go through a competitive audition, rehearse and
perform throughout the season. The New West Symphony Chorus has been led by
Chorus Director Dr. Wyant Morton since 2023.
NewWestSymphony.org | 23