Student Achievement

Tenor Brian Thorsett (SCU BA 2000, Music & Math) has been seen and heard in over 90 diverse operatic roles, ranging from Monteverdi to Britten, and often is heard in works composed especially for his talents. Brian has performed in concerts across the US and Europe. He is a graduate of San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, Glimmerglass Opera’s Young American Artist program, American Bach Soloists' Academy, and the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme at Aldeburgh, England. He also spent two summers at the Music Academy of the West. He is currently Associate Professor of Music at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Brian received his MM in Music and Artist Diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory, and his BA in music from Santa Clara University. Here are some recent reviews of this always in demand tenor. 

Click to listen to Brian sing a Mozart aria.

Amanda Villegas (SCU BA 2004, Music), a budding dramatic soprano, Amanda Villegas has appeared around the globe from San Francisco to Prague with New York, Vienna, Boston and the UK along the way. She was named a New York District winner and Eastern Region finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for 2009. Amanda ​was featured alongside renowned bass-baritone Simon Estes as soprano soloist in Dvořak’s Te Deum with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in Prague. As a Young Artist at the Britten-Pears Programme in Aldeburgh, UK, she focused on the lieder of Strauss and Mahler. Amanda received her Master of Music with Honors in Voice from Boston University, and graduated cum laude from Santa Clara University where she earned a BA with Honors in Music. 

Click to listen to Amanda sing Wagner.

Mezzo-soprano Gabriela Estephanie Solis (SCU BA 2013 Music & English) currently enjoys a varied performing career on both the East and West Coasts. San Francisco Classical Voice hailed her rich tone and "seemingly effortless melismatic lines" (full review here.) She performed in Handel's Orlando as "Medoro" in Boston Early Music Fesitval's Young Artist Program. She was heard in Handel’s Alcina (Bradamante), and Cavalli’s La Calisto (Endimione). She is a regular soloist with the California Bach Society and the American Bach Soloists. In Germany, she sang with the JSB Ensemble (Stuttgart), the Weimar Bach Cantata Academy, and as soloist in Golijov’s La Pasión según San Marcos with the Minnesota Orchestra. She received her masters degree in Sacred Music from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, and her BA in Music from Santa Clara University where she was awarded the Arrigo and Catherine Descalzi Prize.

Click to listen to Gabriela sing an aria by G. F. Handel.

Madeline Biddle Bersimina (SCU BA 2006, Music & French) Audience members described Madeline Bersamina’s recent solo work as “brilliant,” “sublime” and “perfect and true.” Madeline sings a wide array of music but specializes in Baroque and Classical repertoire. She was featured soloist with the Mother Lode Orchestra, the Seattle Promusica, and the American Handel Festival. Madeline has been featured on recital series in California and Washington, and recently toured in Germany performing a program of American art songs with her longtime musical collaborator, Christina Bach. She completed her master of music in Voice Performance at the University of Washington and her B.A. in music at Santa Clara University.

Click to listen to Madeline sing in a work by Heinrich Schütz.

Chinese American soprano Cecilia Cai (SCU BA 2014 Music) travels frequently between Europe, Asia, and North America. She earned a Master's degree in Operatic Singing from the Claudio Monteverdi Conservatory of Music in Cremona, Italy, under the training of golden age basso Mario Luperi. As an opera singer she is praised for her interpretations of 19th century heroines including: Nedda in I Pagliacci, Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Leonora in La Forza del Destino, Violetta Valery in La Traviata, Desdemona in "Otello" and the title role of Tosca. She performs frequently in the Bay area with Verismo Opera (Vallejo) and California Lyric Artists (Fremont). Her performance schedule can be found on her website.

Click to listen to Cecilia perform an aria from Verdi's La Forza del Destino. 

Soprano Ariel Estebez (SCU BA 2010 English & Music) grew up singing with the San Francisco Girls Chorus. She has performed with the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, Northwest Opera, and Crux Vocal Ensemble. She currently sings in Systir, and with the renowned Irish vocal ensemble ANÚNA. She joined San Jose Lyric Theater’s in 2014 where she performed many leading roles. As an educator, Ariel served founder and Director of the Music Education Program in Suchitoto, El Salvador. She worked as a teacher for Music for Minors, at Maoin Cheoil na Gaillimh in Ireland, and founded the Children’s Stage Workshop for Northwest Opera. She received her MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Redlands. 

Here is a video of Ariel in Iolanthe with the San Jose Lyric Theater.