Soprano Brett Mutinelli grew up in Germany’s opera world where her father had a successful career as a Helden tenor. After receiving her own opera training at the Wiesbaden Music Conservatory in Germany and at UCSB, studying with Elizabeth Mannion and receiving a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, Ms. Mutinelli performed in various local recitals and opera productions. She chose to pursue a career locally as a voice teacher by building the Young Singers Club in 1998, a thriving voice course program for children and teens.

Kate Unger, soprano, is a third year computer science student at UCSB. She began singing when she joined the Davis Children’s Choir in first grade, continuing through junior high school. At age 9, she began playing viola, culminating in three years with the Davis High Baroque Ensemble. In addition, she sang with the Davis High School Madrigal Choir where she toured New York, England, and Scotland. She also had the privilege of being in regional and national American Choral Director Association (ACDA) Honor Choirs including in Texas, California, Utah, and Missouri. Currently, Ms. Unger takes lessons from UCSB Professor of Voice Benjamin Brecher and vocal coaching from Dr. John Ballerino.

Carol Ann Manzi, soprano, earned her Masters of Music in vocal performance from the Yale School of Music, specializing in opera. From the outset of her career she has been in demand as a soprano soloist. In addition to singing numerous leading operatic roles, she has also presented many vocal recitals with a variety of accompanists, and has regularly been invited to sing solos in oratorios and other major choral works. Most recently, she was featured soloist in the Wranitzky Festival in the Czech Republic. Please visit manzisings.info.

Christine Hollinger, soprano, is originally from Minneapolis, MN. She received her BA Degree at Southwest Minnesota State University, where she was active in both theater and music, and her MM Degree from UCSB. Featured as soprano soloist in many works with the Santa Barbara Master Chorale and the Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale, she has appeared with the Opera Santa Barbara as well as the Music Academy of the West choruses. Ms. Hollinger currently sings with the Adelfos Ensemble and the First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir.

Takako Wakita, soprano, has appeared in both concerts and operas in the U. S. and abroad, including Madama Butterfly with the Japanese Philharmonic at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. She has also sung with Opera Santa Barbara, the Pacific Music Society, SB Choral Society, SB Civic Light Opera, and Ventura College Opera. She earned her BA Degree from Kyoiku University and her MA Degree from UCSB. Founder and current faculty member of the Japanese Language Program at SBCC, Professor Wakita also teaches for the SBCC School of Extended learning, is Chair of the Santa Barbara Sister Cities Board, and serves on the board of the Toba Sister City Organization, which promotes Japanese culture in Santa Barbara and sponsors a student exchange.

Carolyn Kimball Holmquist, soprano, graduated from Mt. Holyoke College and has won international acclaim for her concert, film, musical comedy, opera, theatrical, and TV appearances. She has represented the U.S. in the Tchaikovsky International Vocal Competition, toured Central and South America presenting American music for the U.S. State Department, and sang three seasons with the Bellas Artes National Opera. Ms. Holmquist sings in six languages, and has had leading roles in many musicals, including Carousel and The Sound of Music. In addition to numerous TV appearances, she starred in a Gershwin tribute for ABC and had a recurring role on the PBS Series, On Common Ground.

Deborah Bertling (Soprano) earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC. She also earned a certificate at American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. She has performed in dozens of operas, plays, and concerts throughout California, most recently in Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica with Opera Santa Barbara. She is President of Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation, 1st Vice President of Community Arts Music Association, music docent in local elementary schools and mentor with Royal Family Kids. She will appear in the world premiere full-length feature film, Mirror Of My Soul, March of 2017. www.deborahmarksbertling.com

Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Kyra Folk-Farber has sung operatic roles and concert performances across North America and Europe. Her Mozart roles include Donna Anna, Zaide, Despina, and Susanna; she has also portrayed Mimì, Poppea, Mélisande, Anne Truelove, and The Soprano in Claude Vivier’s Kopernikus. Kyra has performed as a soloist under the batons of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Kent Nagano, and Paul McCreesh, and has been featured as a soloist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Tel Aviv Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestre Métropolitain, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She specializes in new music and has premiered works by composers Ori Barel, John Villar, Hans Christian Détlefsen, and José Evangelista, among others. Kyra has also performed Yiddish songs at Canadian music festivals such as Ashkenaz and Chutzpah!.

Kyra holds a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory, a Doctorate of Music from Université de Montréal, and a Master’s of Information from the University of Toronto. After devoting seven years to music librarianship, Kyra is now Associate Dean of Library & Learning Resources at CSU Channel Islands. When she’s not working or spending time with her family, Kyra loves to sing, especially in collaboration with composers.