Artists of Greater Worcester Opera, Inc.

Elaine Crane- executive director Elaine Crane- Soprano and Executive director
Elaine Crane has been hailed by critics as “brilliant”, “…a charming actress”, “…a beautiful voice and a very fine comic actor.” She has performed with Longwood Opera, Salisbury Lyric Opera Company, New England Light Opera, Savoyard Light Opera Company, Lowell Opera, Booth Theatre, Wachusett Theatre, Sterling Theatre, Worcester County Light Opera Company, Sudbury Savoyards, Valley Light Opera, Commonwealth Opera, New England Theatre Company, Mass Theatrica, Theatre at the Mount, Theatre III and New Life Fine Arts. Gilbert and Sullivan operas are a particular favorite, and “… Crane’s voice and demeanor (are) perfect G&S heroine material…” Personal highlights of Elaine’s many stage roles include performing the role of Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof opposite Tony-nominated stage and screen personality Eddie Mekka. Equally at home on the recital stage, Elaine's voice and stage presence have been described by critics as "sparkling", "exquisite", and "absolutely radiant". As recitalist and oratorio singer, Elaine has been a featured soprano soloist in many esteemed groups. She is a cum laude graduate of the Boston Conservatory, where she studied opera and vocal performance. She is the founder and executive director of Greater Worcester Opera, with whom she is also an active performer. She is a member of the New England Gilbert and Sullivan Society (NEGASS). Elaine invites you to visit her website- www.elainecrane.com.

Sandra Fritze- Mezzo Soprano and Trustee
This past year has been so rewarding for Sandy, helping to create the new opera company "Opera- to Go!", and performing Little Red Riding Hood for children. The last 10 years have been remarkable for Sandy, as she has been involved in opera, operetta and musical theatre throughout Central Massachusetts working with wonderful people in Salisbury Singers, Salisbury Lyric Opera, Wachusett Theatre, Stageloft Repertory Theater, Sterling Theatre, Spencer Performing Arts, Spencer Theater Company, Worcester County Light Opera and many others. Favorite roles include Mother Abbess (The Sound of Music), Golde (Fiddler on the Roof), and Sister Wilhelm (Nunsense Jambouree). When not on stage you can find Sandy at Mary Queen of the Rosary Parish where she cantors, sings with the senior choir and directs the junior choir. You may contact Sandy via email at Sjfsing@aol.com.

Jonathan LaBarre- Baritone and Trustee
Jonathan has recently moved from Boxborough Massachusetts to Tallahassee, Florida with his wife Ellen and their three children. Jonathan is one of the inaugural members of Worcester Opera Works, and performed the roll of the Wolf and Woodsman in Worcester Opera Works' production of Seymour Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood. He has also sung with Salisbury Lyric Opera in such roles as Dr. Daly in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer, Pish-Tush in The Mikado and Figaro in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Jonathan has his schooling from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was involved in the inaugural season of The Boston Opera Project, where he sang the roll of Oscar in Marc Blitzstein’s Regina, and other roles include Enrico in Lowell Opera's production of Il Campanello and Count Almaviva in Worcester Opera Work's production of The Marriage of Figaro. When visiting the area, Jonathan still sings as a part of Greater Worcester Opera.

Olga Rogach- Collaborative Pianist and Trustee
Olga Rogach received a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Russia's famed St. Petersburg Conservatory which acknowledged her artistry with a special award for notable performances of Bach's solo keyboard music. After graduation she was appointed to the St. Petersburg Music College Faculty and became a featured pianist for the Literary Association of St. Petersburg and the All-Russian Theatrical Society. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1991 and made her home in Worcester, MA.

Ms. Rogach performed regularly with the Salisbury Lyric Opera Company. A leading regional piano teacher, she received the "Outstanding Faculty" award at the Performing Arts School of Worcester where she was a faculty member for ten years. Ms. Rogach performs extensively in New England, and is acclaimed for her recitals and collaborations with instrumentalists and vocalists. Also she is one half of the well known piano duo Con Brio, established in partnership with pianist Sima Kustanovich.

Ms. Rogach is the official pianist for the Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Foundation, accompanist for Greater Worcester Opera, and accompanist for Master Singers of Worcester. She has also been heard numerous times on WGBH Radio's Classics in the Morning and Morning Pro Musica. In addition to performing, she now plans to focus on her private piano studio as well as being a private piano instructor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and acting as Music Director at First Parish Church of Northborough.

Contributing Members

Dr. Richard Kimball- Musicologist and Narrator
Dr. Richard Kimball is widely known to audiences around the Worcester area as the voice and commentator for the Worcester Chorus. His love for music history has evolved into becoming the Chorus’ resident music historian, and his rich narratives and extensive research have continued to enlighten and entertain audiences, helping listeners and performers alike to gain a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the music they are experiencing. His addition to live music performance is one of great import, and Greater Worcester Opera is truly grateful for his significant contribution to our concert events.

Karen Amlaw- Aria Sing Coordinator
American Soprano Karen Amlaw, semi-finalist in the 2011 American Prize Competition, recently has been proclaimed as “magnificent,” “absolutely gorgeous,” and “destined to sing.” In 2003 she returned to singing after a 15 year leave and since then has sung several partial roles including Verdi heroines Desdemona (Otello), Leonora (La forza del Destino), and Amelia (Un ballo in maschera), the title roles in Tosca, Aida, and Madama Butterfly, as well as Nedda (Pagliacci), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Elettra (Idomeneo), Countessa Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), and Agathe (Der Freischütz). Ms. Amlaw sang Mother Gerald in Boston Opera Collaborative’s production of Dialogues of the Carmelites under the direction on Marc Astafan and Michael Strauss and has been featured in programs with Opera Worcester, Mass Theatrica, Greater Worcester Opera (formerly known as Worcester Opera Works) and Lowell Opera Company. In addition, she is equally at home as an oratorio soloist. Ms. Amlaw is currently under the tutelage of world renowned dramatic mezzo Sondra Kelly. For more information please visit www.karenamlaw.com.

Christine Petkus- Fundraising Chair
Lyric Soprano Christine Petkus, a native of Canada, has happily called Massachusetts home for the past eight years. Among her numerous opera credits, favorites include Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), The Governess (Britten’s The Turn of the Screw), The Representative (Barab’s A Game of Chance), and The Witch (Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel). As an oratorio soloist, Ms. Petkus has been showcased in such works as Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Grand Mass in C minor, Fauré’s Requiem, and Syzmanowski’s Stabat Mater. Ms. Petkus is a frequent soloist in recitals and concerts, and also maintains an active teaching studio. In the past year she has begun performing the role of Rose (alternately with Erin Conley) in GWO’s touring opera for children Diamonds and Toads, and is also the organization’s fund-raising chair. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Ottawa and a Master’s of Music (concentration Opera) from the New England Conservatory of Music.