Austin Opera

Menu

Austin Opera Resident Stars

Austin Opera’s new Resident Stars program highlights gifted Austin-based artists during the season. Resident Stars will have opportunities to perform in Long Center productions and community events as well as serve as teaching artists for in-school programs. Later this season, the Resident Stars will be featured in an annual showcase for a live audience. Additional opportunities include master classes and training in a wide range of arts administration topics. Meet the 2023-2024 Season Resident Stars, sponsored by a generous gift from
Marilyn Gaddis and George Carruthers!

Audrey Ballish, soprano

Audrey Ballish is a soprano based in Austin, Texas. In 2021, she won the Tulsa District and received an Encouragement Award at the Midwest Region of Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her notable stage credits include Younger Alyce in Glory Denied, Soprano 1 in Hydrogen Jukebox with Boston Conservatory Opera, Susanna and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro with Bay View Music Festival, Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica with Berlin Opera Academy, and Lisette in La Rondine at Oklahoma City University. Additionally, she has sung the role of Norina in Don Pasquale, Le Feu, La Princesse, and Le Rossignol in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, and Laurie in The Tender Land at Oklahoma City University. Audrey holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Music Theater from Oklahoma City University.

Kristin Bilodeau, soprano

Coined as a “clear, well-produced soprano” (San Diego Story), and praised for her “beautiful singing” (The Theatre Times), Soprano Kristin Bilodeau brings clarity and nuance to the stage. Kristin has performed with esteemed companies such as Grammy Award winning ensemble Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Odyssey Opera, MassOpera, Opera Del West, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, The Gena Branscombe Project, Masterworks Chorale, Boston LandMarks Orchestra and Gilbert & Sullivan Austin. Kristin has travelled across the nation and internationally with Young Artist Programs including Miami Music Festival, Opera NEO, and Oberlin in Italy. Making a rise in the competition scene, Kristin was named a Grand Finalist in the Piccola Opera NH Opera Idol Competition and a Regional Finalist in the Talents of the World International Voice Competition. Kristin’s most notable roles have included Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Micaela (Carmen), Governess (Turn of the Screw), Monica (The Medium), First Lady (The Magic Flute), Laurentia (The Beautiful Bridegroom), and Kitty Hart (Dead Man Walking). Kristin has loved immersing herself into the Austin classical scene, and is thrilled to be brining opera to the masses as a co-founder of the acclaimed non-profit organization Opera on Tap (Austin). She can also be seen on Sundays as a Choral Scholar with her beloved church choir at UBC Austin. Kristin received her Master of Music in vocal performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music.

Aviana Burkepile, Mezzo-Soprano

Mezzo-Soprano Aviana Burkepile hails from outside of Austin, Texas. She completed her undergraduate degree at Oberlin Conservatory where she performed in multiple operas, including the role of Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sœur Felicity in Dialogues des Carmélites, Ruth, and Anita in a musical revue of Bernstein’s works, “A Salute to Leonard Bernstein” and Arsamene in Serse at Oberlin in Italy.
Aviana completed her master’s degree at Rice University in 2022 under the tutelage of Professor Nova Thomas. At Rice University, she performed the role of Nerone with Shepherd School of Music Agrippina by Handel under the baton of Patrick Summers.
After graduating from Rice University, Aviana performed the role of Maddalena in Opera in the Heights production of Rigoletto by Verdi. Aviana has since relocated outside the Austin area and has been teaching voice and piano at Blue Frog School of Music!

Willie Casper, tenor

Willie Casper is a native Austin based tenor. Willie’s credits consist of the roles of “Le Chevalier” in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, “Tenor” in Philip Glass’ Hydrogen Jukebox, “Younger Thompson” in Cipullo’s Glory Denied, and “Prologue Tenor” in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw. Willie made his Austin debut in the role of Malcolm in Opera for Earth’s production of “Macbeth,” by Verdi, and has performed the tenor role in Glass’, Book of Longing, with Austin Chamber Music Festival. Willie debuted the role of Roger de Montgomery in the premiere of Andrew Grainger’s chamber oratorio, “Adelina the Jester,” with Inversion Ensemble in June. Willie has been a Resident Star for Austin Opera since 2023 and has been a Teaching Artist for the company since 2022. He will be performing the role of Ed Mavole in Austin Opera’s production of The Manchurian Candidate, as well as study covering the role of Captain Ben Marco. Willie obtained his Bachelor degree in Vocal Performance at Mannes College of Music and his Master degree in Opera Performance at the Boston Conservatory. https://www.williecasper.com/

Lucas Hickman, Tenor

Described as having “a comfortable mastery of vocal technique”, Lucas Hickman is a lyric tenor hailing originally from Carlisle Massachusetts. He received his Masters Degree in Voice from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and Bachelors of Music from Ithaca College. His performance credits include Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana with Opera51, Tito in La Clemenza di Tito with Metrowest Opera, Cavaradossi in Tosca, with Opera51, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with the Monterrey Summer Opera Academy, and Bardolfo in Falstaff with the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia. https://www.hickmanvoicestudio.com/