Resident Stars

Chinese soprano Yuxin Liu is a resident star with Austin Opera. This season her engagements feature Laura in Verdict of Love with Austin Shakespeare, Blue Lady and Olympia in John Davies’ Pinocchio with OPERA San Antonio and La Charmeuse in Thaïs with Austin Opera. An accomplished competition vocalist, she is a 16th Mildred Miller International Competition Encouragement Award recipient, 2026 Washington International Competition finalist, two-time district winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, recipient of SongFest’s American Song XXI Prize, and claimed Second Prize at the NATS Texoma competition. Liu holds a DMA in Opera Performance from The University of Texas at Austin, an MM from the New England Conservatory.

German-American soprano Sandra Villwock is thrilled to return to Austin Opera for her second season as a Resident Star, making her role debut as Crobyle in Thaïs. Last season, she performed in the chorus and covered Mimì in La bohème, as well as Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava in Fiddler on the Roof. Her recent engagements include Calista in Ray Bradbury, Age 12, at the Carnival in Waukegan, IL with One Ounce Opera, Musetta in La bohème with Opera Classica Europa, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with VOCA International Opera. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Southern California and lives in Austin with her husband and three children.

Hannah Park, mezzo-soprano, is a recent graduate of Baylor University, and is in her second year as a Resident Artist with Austin Opera. Recent stage credits include Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at Opera in the Ozarks, Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Arlington, and Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel with Music On Site. This season, Hannah will perform with Austin Opera as Myrtale in Thaïs and as Flora Bervoix cover, and chorus in La traviata. Other upcoming engagements include the title role in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Music On Site, and assistant directing and choreographing The Merry Widow with Baylor Opera Theatre.

Jack Fanselau is a D.M.A. student in Opera Performance at The University of Texas at Austin, studying with Carlos Santelli. He received his M.M. in Vocal Performance from Baylor University in 2025. Jack’s recent roles include Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Rinuccio in Il trittico with Butler Opera Center, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Regium Lepidi Opera, and Ernesto in Don Pasquale with Mediterranean Opera Studio Festival. In December 2025, Jack was a soloist at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in The Desire of All Nations. Jack’s operatic voice is featured on the film The Unexpecteds.

Mason Asberry, baritone, is based in Austin, TX, is a passionate classical vocalist and dedicated voice and piano teacher. He holds a Music Education degree from Texas State University. His versatile performance includes roles such as Signor Nacarelli in The Light in the Piazza, Mr. Gobineau in The Medium, Simeon in L’enfant Prodigue, and Achilla in Giulio Cesare in Egitto. Upcoming projects include singing in OPERA San Antonio’s La Cenerentola chorus and collaborating with Magik Children’s Theatre on "Pinocchio" as Dulcamara/Wolf. Mason also sings with Austin’s Inversion Ensemble and is Assistant Choir Director at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

San Francisco-born bass-baritone Abraham Isai Cruz Ramirez, of Salvadoran and Mexican heritage, is building a career through storytelling, versatility, and service. A full-scholarship graduate of Boston Conservatory at Berklee, he was a fellow of the Lehrer Vocal Institute at Music Academy of the West and appeared with Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS. The Aspen Times praised his portrayals of Benoît and Alcindoro in La bohème as “impressive,”
writing that he was “hitting all the right notes.” In 2026, Cruz Ramirez made company debuts with Austin Opera as Benoît and Alcindoro and with Music Academy of the West as Uncle in Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell’s Elizabeth Cree. Other credits include Betto in Gianni Schicchi and the Potter’s Assistant and Priest in Fellow Travelers at Seagle Festival, as well as appearances with OPERA San Antonio and Classical Music Institute. He joins Austin Opera this season as a Resident Star, appearing as Le Serviteur in the company’s production of Thaïs. Beyond the stage, Cruz Ramirez founded Music for All Hearts in 2024 in honor of his younger brother, Seth Cruz, who battled stage IV Burkitt lymphoma at just eight years old. The 501(c)(3)
nonprofit currently serves families by providing music education to underserved youth and hospitalized children. In partnership with University Health in San Antonio, the organization now serves children at the hospital and continues to expand its work alongside hospitals, schools, and community organizations. Learn more at musicforallhearts.org.