Yeoryia Megremis Contralto

Yeoryia Megremis possesses a rare voice: a true contralto with the ringing upper extension to do full justice to the great mezzo-soprano roles as well. The unique quality of this Greek-American artist has been recognized ever since her student days. After graduating from the University of Indiana with a major in opera, she won first prize in vocal and operatic studies at the Athens Conservatory in Greece. Upon her return to the United States, Yeoryia Megremis was a winner of the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions and made a successful New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall. Since then, she has been acclaimed on both sides of the ocean not only for the extraordinary richness of her voice, but also for her powerful acting and remarkable versatility in a wide variety of roles. She has achieved special success for her performances of Azucena in Il Trovatore, Amneris in Aida, and the Principessa in Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur. Connecticut's The Advocate wrote:"Yeoryia Megremis was the star of the evening, with a perfectly focused contralto, making her performance of the old gypsy woman, Azucena, a brilliant one. In addition to her superb vocal technique, her dramatic interpretation sent shivers down the spine", and the Daily Record of Northwest, New Jersey wrote: "A vigorous young singer, Yeoryia Megremis had the agility of a Navajo medicine woman. She sang Azucena to perfection". "Yeoryia Megremis brought welcome power and good stage presence to her role as the Principessa", wrote Bill Zakariasen of New York Daily News. In addition to her operatic appearances, she is heard frequently in oratorio, where she has a large repertory at her command, ranging from Bach to Mahler, and has received great acclaim for her performance of the Verdi Requiem in New York's Avery Fisher Hall. Ms. Megremis sang the role of the Princess in the Lubo Opera's Premiere Production of Kalman's operetta The Dutchess of Chicago and La Principessa in Suor Angelica with the Genesis Opera and the Verismo Opera of New Jersey. Ms. Megremis is also the Music Manager of the Long Island Opera, Secretary of the Hellenic Music Foundation and is affiliated with the Siena Program in Italy.

Kate Bony Vocalist

Kate Bony is considered one of the best interpreters of Greek popular music in Greece and a great recording artist. Her musical career spans countless appearances in TV and clubs such as Perivoli t'Ouranou, Plakiotiko Saloni, Pigi tou Rempetikou, Rempetiki Nihta among others and in theaters (Vempo, Dinotiko Theatro, Minoa and Noturno). She collaborated with many great artists such as the unforgettable George Ikonomidis, Aristidi Mosho, Manoli Daskalaki, the composers Mimi Plessa, Theodore and Thanasi Polikandrioti and others, and toured extensively in the United States, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Australia etc. Born in Athens Greece and raised in New Jersey, Kate Bony begun composing her own music since she was nine years old. Her musical talent was recognized in 1976 at a Greek Festival where the great and unforgettable Sophia Vempo, who was the head of the committee, presented her with the Golden award. This resulted for her career to take flight. In 1980 she won another first prize in "NA I EFKERIA" and immediately she signed a recording deal with the great recording company LYRA. Future recordings followed such as the album " Manolis Hiotis "TA OREOTERA TRAGOUDIA" - Kate Bony, her own music and lyrics PALI EDO. Many great singers have interpreted her songs such as Giota Lydia "MIA SPITHA SOU AKOMA", Stratos Dionysiou "EGO NA THIS", her daughter Teresa a young modern rising star singing a duet with the authentic popular singer George Margaritis. She is currently appearing on her own Greek Radio Show at Hellas FM.

Irini Res Vocalist

Singer, dancer, actress Irini Res, was born in Chios, Greece, sings in four languages and has been performing internationally. She has performed at popular mid-town clubs such as Don't Tell Mama, Le Bar Bat, and Dillons. She studied ballet, jazz and modern dance at Broadway Dance, Ballet Arts and Steps in New York. Irini is an accomplished dancer and has worked as a principal dancer in various companies. She has also studied acting and musical theater at HB Studios in New York City. She has performed extensively in repertory companies where she played Anna in "The King and I", Alice in "I Never Sang for My Father", Shirley in "Shirley Valentine", Evy in "The Gingerbread Lady" and Celemine in "Misanthrope".

Eric L. Blomquist Tenor

Hendentenor Eric Blomquist, is quickly establishing himself as a major artist. His heroic voice has delighted audiences in such diverse roles as Loge in Das Rheingold, Herodes in Salome, Siegmund in Die Walküre, Titus in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito, and as Prince Danilo in Lehar's The Merry Widow. Other operatic appearances include roles in Ariadne auf Naxos, Das Rheingold, and Die Zauberfl�te. No stranger to Twentieth Century Opera, Eric has also appeared as Satyvan in Holst's Savitri, and as the Reverend Pollard in the New York premiere of American composer Stephen Paulus' opera The Village Singer. In the Concert Hall, Eric has been heard as Parsifal in Act II of Parsifal, as well as, the Tenor Soloist in Handel's The Messiah, Bach's The Christmas Oratorio, Honneger's Le Roi David, and Mendelssohn's Elijah. As a recitalist, Eric has specialized in the Lieder of Schubert, Schumann, and Loewe, which he studied with noted accompanist David Garvey. Martin Bernheimer of The London Financial Times praised his Herod as "Delightfully Lecherous" and Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times called his singing "Fully Professional". Eric's work has also been featured on the acclaimed PBS program City Arts. Order his CD.

Constantine Gajdjis Tenor

Constantine Gajdjis is the Choir Director of St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church in Astoria, NY and Music Director in the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Music Foundation. He is a graduate of the High School of Music and Art, where he majored in music and studied piano and violin. He also studied voice at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. He holds a B.A. Degree from Queens College and a Master's Degree from New York University. He spent a sabbatical year in Greece where he was a member of the chorus of "Pieridon Mouson" which toured Greece under a cultural program sponsored by the Greek government. Constantine arranges most of the music sung by St. Catherine's Choir and likes to incorporate into the Liturgy the Byzantine Chants he is currently studying. He is a strong advocate of keeping both choral and Byzantine music in the church, and appeals to our youth to join their church�s choir and maintain this wonderful tradition. He is a strong believer in promoting and preserving the Greek musical heritage part of which is expressed in the CD albums "Romantic Greek Nights" and "Great Musical Hits of Greece" produced by the Hellenic Music Foundation.

Marko Lampas Tenor

Marko Lampas, tenor, is a native of Florina, Greece. He came to the United States in his youth and won scholarships from The Metropolitan Opera, Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School as a member of the American Opera Center. There his talents were fostered by the legendary Maria Callas when he won a scholarship to participate in her memorable Master Classes. "Singing with Mme. Callas in the Master Classes was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life." The moments he spent singing the aria "A te o Cara" from Bellini's I PURITANI with her are an unforgettable treasure. It can be heard on his website www.millerlampas.com Mr. Lampas' temperament and dramatic skills make him a particularly gifted interpreter of Verdi and Puccini roles, which he has performed throughout the U.S. He salutes his heritage in Concerts of Greek Folk, Classical and Modern songs. In Athens, Greece, he sang in the Inaugural Concert, which opened the Civic Theater. He toured South America where he sang Turiddu in Mascagni's CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA opposite Nicola Martinucci's Canio in a season at the Teatro Municipal in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In addition to his many operatic appearances are included excerpts from Otello with the Staten Island Symphony Orchestra, Cavaradossi in Puccini's TOSCA with many companies including the Pensacola Opera , and the BMCC Downtown Symphony Orchestra with his wife, soprano Barbara Iona Miller, as Tosca. He has also appeared with her in "La Voix D'Adrienne Lecouvreur," an encapsulated version of the Cilea's opera and in a series of Duet Concerts, "Around the World in Opera & Song."

Rodnie Nelson tenor

Rodnie Nelson, tenor, was born and raised in Edmonds, Washington. He graduated in 1977 from Princeton University, where he performed with Triangle, the musical comedy organization, and the Tigertones, an a cappella singing group. For the next nine years, he built a career in international commodities finance that took him to Europe, South America and throughout the United States. At the same time, he began vocal and acting classes to serve his musical interests. In 1986, he left the finance arena to devote himself to becoming a concert and operatic artist. During the past seventeen years, he has studied in New York and in Los Angeles with a number of teachers and coaches. He currently studies with Maestro Joshua Greene; Soprano Sonja Karlsen; and Maestro Juan Felipe Orrego-Benavente. He has studied with Cornelius Reid; Miss Margaret Hoswell; Maria Farnworth; Soprano Nova Thomas; Seth Riggs; and Madame Marina Koshetz. Recognizing that acting is a critical ingredient in any performance of music, Rodnie has studied acting with Robert Ravan, Ron Burrus, Caren Adorni and Donna Moryn. Rodnie currently studies acting in New York with Sam Schacht, the Chairman of the Acting Department of The Actor�s Studio. He has studied Alexander Technique extensively with Jean-Louis Rodrigue, as well as with Jessica Wolf and Hope Gillerman. A serious head injury in 1991 led to a plethora of health problems and nearly derailed his career. Various medical treatments and continued study enabled Rodnie to get back on track with the development of his career. He has been a member of AGMA since 1986. Performance highlights are a Croix Rouge (Red Cross) Benefit before Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg; a debut concert performance of a new orchestral/vocal/dance work at the National Academy of Science, UC Irvine; and the debut of "One Blade of Grass" by composer Jim Berenholtz. Composer Berenholtz has adapted a number of his compositions for Rodnie. Since 1989, Rodnie has performed numerous solo recitals with piano in Los Angeles and Seattle, as well as Carnegie Recital Hall (Weill Recital Hall) in New York. Future engagements will include solo recitals in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, as well as San Francisco, Portland, London, Paris, Norway, Luxembourg and Caracas. Rodnie, and his wife, Jean Smith, reside in New York City and in Santa Monica. Rodnie's email address is rodnie@rodnie.com. His website, www.rodnie.com, although still "under construction," will note concert dates, recordings and other information. Correspondence can be sent to jeansmith@enspiremanagement.com or to Jean Smith, enspire management, 130 E 12th Street, #5B, NY, NY 10003.

Franco Rosati Tenor

Since his early childhood, Franco Rosati has shown an interest in music, acting and dancing. He appeared in an Off-Broadway Show "A Doll House" was a Ford model, did TV commercials and extensive print and catalogue work, performed at the Childrens' Cabaret in NYC, and appeared on Saturday Night Live. He attended The New York Military Academy for 7 years and after graduating in 1998 with high honors as Captain, he enrolled at Adelphi University where he is currently pursuing a degree in Business Management and will be graduating in the Spring of 2004. Born in New York City, Franco was exposed to classical music since he was two weeks old, having been born into a musical family [his father an Italian impresatio and his mother a Greek opera singer]. He became interested in classical music and decided to study voice after listening to his mother perform a duet of the beautiful Christmas song Ges� Bambino at Crystal Palace in Astoria, NY, the night of December 19th, 1999. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that night that he promised himself that within one year he would be singing the same song with his mother. His dream came true when, after 27 singing lessons with the renowned voice teacher and author Shirlee Emmons, Franco was able to make his debut, singing the same duet with his mother at the Inauguration of The Hellenic Music Foundation on December 9th, 2000 at Saint Peter's Church in Manhattan. Among Franco's many other hobbies and interests, singing remains his main hobby and is proud to have had as his godfather the late legendary Spanish tenor Alfredo Kraus and as his godmother the renowned voice teacher Rita Patane. Franco is the Treasurer of The Hellenic Music Foundation and the son of Katia Zallas-Rosati, president and founder of The Hellenic Music Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, promoting the full spectrum of the musical heritage of Greece, worldwide.

Timothy Sarris Tenor

Timothy Sarris, a native of Bethesda, Maryland, is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His operatic debut was with the Wolftrap Opera Company in Don Giovanni as a baritone. While attending Curtis, he was chosen by Gian Carlo Menotti to sing the lead in Amelia Goes to the Ball at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. In 1989, he made his New York City recital debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall as soloist in Ned Rorem's Mourning Scene. Timothy, then, returned to the Wolftrap Opera Company in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and The Love for Three Oranges. Subsequently, he performed leading operatic baritone roles with Opera Pacific, Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera, Caracas Opera, L�Opera de Montreal, and the San Francisco Opera. In addition, Timothy toured with the San Francisco Western Opera Theatre as Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus. His next foray into operetta and the zwischenfach repertoire was as Danilo in The Merry Widow with Connecticut Opera. Timothy made his official tenor debut as Rodolfo in La Boheme with Orchestra X of Houston. Immediately following his performances there, he sang Tamino in The Magic Flute with Commonwealth Opera and the role of Fernando in Goyescas by Granados with the Monmouth Civic Chorus. He then returned to the Calgary Philharmonic for Rimsky-Korsakov's Mozart and Salieri, following his success there during the previous season as The Celebrant in Bernstein's Mass. He then sang Alfredo in La Traviata to critical success for the Verismo Opera Company, and was tenor soloist in Mendelssohn's Elijah for the Fairfax Choral Society. On the concert stage, Timothy has performed with the San Francisco Symphony,Savannah Symphony, Smithsonian Chamber Players, Louisville Orchestra, Long Beach Symphony and The Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia under the direction of Maestro Max Rudolf. Most recently, he made his tenor debut at Avery Fisher Hall in a Tribute to the Hellenic Spirit with Ted Lambrinos and Maestro Anton Coppola. Mr. Sarris also premiered and recorded Ten Inventions by Dimitri Mirtopoulos at Merkin Hall. In a live telecast sponsored by the Mexican Cultural Institute of America, Timothy performed highlights from La hija de Rappacini by Daniel Catan on Mexican Public Television. Mr. Sarris is a winner of the National Society of the Arts and Letters Competition and the Mario Lanza Voice Competition.

Theodore Lambrinos Baritone

Theodore Lambrinos's career encompasses nearly 60 major baritone roles and he has performed with opera companies throughout the United States and internationally. His powerful voice and compelling stage presence make him one of the finest Verdi baritones appearing before the public today. Early in his career he made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Herald in Lohengrin, and returned in 1995 to sing the title role in Rigoletto. "His gripping performance brought down the house" and he was hailed as the "Metropolitan Opera's A-Team." (New Jersey Star Ledger). Mr. Lambrinos has also been involved in the new Metropolitan Opera productions covering the leading baritone roles in Stiffelio, Simon Boccanegra, La Forza del Destino and Andrea Chenier. In the 1999-2000 season, Mr. Lambrinos brought his gripping interpretation of Rigoletto for the historical first-ever performance of opera in Hanoi, Vietnam. He, then, sang the role of Barnaba in La Gioconda with Arizona Opera, and Renato in Un Ballo in Maschera with Nevada Opera. This was followed by an extensive tour throughout France and Spain with the Teatro Lirica d'Europa as Rigoletto, and he appeared with this company in Denmark as Amonasro in Aida and in the title role of Nabucco in 2000. In the 1997 season Mr. Lambrinos was heard at the Metropolitan Opera as Amonasro with Sharon Sweet in Aida. He then traveled to Beinjing, China where he received ovations for his "compelling and faithful portrayal" of the title role in Rigoletto (China Daily), which "clearly demonstrated why the famous baritone performs regularly throughout the world." He then sang Germont in La Traviata, with the Arizona Opera, High Priest in Samson and Delilah with Nevada Opera, and 30 performances of Nabucco, La Traviata, and Aida throughout France, Spain and Switzerland, followed by Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in France with the National Bulgarian Opera. Recent seasons have included the role of Roger in the New York premiere of Verdi's Jerusalem at Carnegie Hall. For the New York Grand Opera's Verdi Festival in Central Park, Mr. Lambrinos sang Egberto in Aroldo, the title roles in Macbeth, Nabucco and Oberto, Don Carlo in Ernani, the 1854 version of Simon Boccanegra and the original uncut version of La Forza del Destino. For Opera Quebec he sang Aida and Nabucco, and Scarpia in Tosca throughout France with the National Bulgarian Opera. Mr. Lambrinos performed the role of Emile de Beque in South Pacific in over 50 performances in Auckland, New Zealand and was invited to return in the title role in Don Giovanni. He was heard, on May 26, 1999, at Avery Fisher Hall in the "A Salute to the Hellenic Spirit" and has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East and Far East performing in opera productions and orchestral concerts throughout China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, India, Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Africa. A nativc of Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Lambrinos began his professional career as soloist with the famed Don Cossacks on their North American tour and gained extensive stage experience performing in musicals and on and Off-Broadway. Immediately after winning the Gladys Axman Taylor Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions, he made his professional operatic debut as Lt. Redburn in the New York premiere of Billy Budd at Carnegie Hall, conducted by Sir Georg Solti.

Scott Lefurgy Baritone

Scott Lefurgy (baritone), made his New York City singing debut at the 2nd Annual Gala Benefit Classical Concert of the Hellenic Music Foundation at Merkin Concert Hall. Mr. Lefurgy has performed with Dicapo Opera Theater, Pacific Opera Company, and University of Michigan Productions. His roles include Marco (Puccini's Gianni Schicchi), Grosvernor (Gilbert & Sullivan's Patience) and Samuel (Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance). He also appeared in Pacific Opera's Great Moments in Music at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall as the featured baritone in five opera scenes. This summer Mr. Lefurgy will perform the role of Silvio (Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci) with Manhattan Chamber Opera. Currently, Mr. Lefurgy sings with the St. James Schola Cantorum in New York City. His oratorio credits include Faure's Requiem with the Detroit Oratario Society and Durufle's Requiem with the 1st Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, MI. Mr. Lefurgy is an active recitalist and has performed art song and operatic recitals throughout New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, specializing in lieder and chanson. He is also featured on the recently released HMF recording Romantic Greek Nights with his wife, soprano Christina Rohm. Mr. Lefurgy received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan in the Artist and Scholar Honors Program, where he was a student of Rosemary Russell and the winner of the Undergraduate Concerto Competition. He also completed a degree in biochemistry at Michigan and is presently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at Columbia University.

Constantinos Yiannoudes Baritone

A native of Cyprus, baritone Constantinos Yiannoudes has received critical praise for "his deep, rich, powerful voice", "�of considerable luster which he uses with intelligence" and "splendid singing." He has appeared with great success as Belcore, Count Almaviva, Enrico, Escamillo, Dr. Falke, Ford, Figaro, Germont, Marcello, Malatesta, Schaunard and Sharpless. He has performed with Opera San Jose, Portland Opera Repertory Theatre, Taconic Opera, Maine Grand Opera, Hudson Opera Theatre and others. Other roles in his current repertoire include the Count di Luna in Il Trovatore, Rodrigo in Don Carlo, Riccardo in Il Puritani, and Valentin in Faust. His recent concert experiences have included his Carnegie Hall debut under the direction of John Rutter in Faure's Requiem. Upcoming performances include Don Giovanni with Annapolis Opera and Escamillo with Nevada Opera. He is currently completing his Doctorate at the Graduate Center of CUNY, where he is writing the biography of the countertenor Russell Oberlin.