Teaching Artists

Winner of both the Arkansas and the New Orleans District in The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022 and 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, mezzo-soprano Janine Dworin is making her way onto operatic stages across the country. This season, Ms. Dworin sang in both the chorus and as Mrs. Berezovo in Austin Opera's fall production of The Manchurian Candidate. In January, Ms. Dworin took part in the world premiere of Texas composer Jared Schwartz's new opera, Egon Schiele in Prison in New York City. Ms. Dworin is thrilled to return to Tri-Cities Opera in the spring of 2025 to debut the role of Maddalena in Verdi's Rigoletto. As a 2022-24 Resident Artist with Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, New York, Ms. Dworin covered the role of Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with both Tri-Cities and Syracuse Opera. In her first year of residency with the company, Ms. Dworin debuted the roles of Mrs. Nolan (The Medium) and Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro). Recent roles include Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia), Mme. de la Haltière (Cendrillon), Estelle Oglethorpe (Later the Same Evening), and Orfeo (Ofeo ed Euridice). An advocate for arts education, Ms. Dworin has served as a teaching artist and touring performer for Tri-Cities Opera, The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Austin Opera. A Texas native, Dworin holds her Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Houston Moores School of Music and her Master of Music from The University of North Texas.

Cristina Flores is a Mexican-American soprano, film, commercial, and theater actress originally from the border town, Laredo, TX. Her performances have been featured in film festivals, audio books, voice-overs, and commercials in Texas, L.A., Tokyo, India, and Nicaragua. Some of her past roles include: Flora in Turn of the Screw, Greta Fiorentino in Street Scene, Maria in West Side Story, and Ben, in Matt and Ben. Most recently she was seen as Lily, in the short film, Pepito, on HBO Latino, and was nominated for a B. Iden Payne Award for Outstanding Actress in her role as the bird, Delilah, with One Ounce Opera.

Cristina loves performing in central TX and has a deep background in education through her experience in AmeriCorps, as a Children’s Choir Director at Central Presbyterian Church, and as a Bilingual Early Childhood Music Instructor at Armstrong Community Music School. She has a strong passion for making opera accessible in the community, and currently sits on the board of One Ounce Opera and the Musicians Advisory Panel for Austin Texas Musicians.

Teddi Pinson Iley is an Austin-based soprano, performer, and educator. She has been most recently seen performing with Austin Opera in Pagliacci, The Pearl Fishers, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. She is an active performer throughout the Austin area and maintains a thriving voice studio in North Austin. Some of her favorite operatic roles include Adele (Die Fledermaus), Serpetta (La finta giardiniera), and Giannetta (L’elisir d’amore). 
 
Teddi holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music from Baylor University. She is also a full member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. As both an educator and performer, Teddi is deeply passionate about nurturing the next generation of artists so she is thrilled to serve as a Teaching Artist with Austin Opera this season!

Annisha Mackenzie is a mezzo-soprano based in Austin, Texas, recognized for her versatility and engaging stage presence. She earned her Bachelor of Music from Texas State University in 2021, studying under Cheryl Parrish, and has continued her training through programs such as the Austrian American Mozart Academy, Utah Vocal Arts Academy, and Varna International Music Academy. Her performance credits include Phoebe (The Yeomen of the Guard), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica), and Cendrillon (Cendrillon). In addition to performing, Annisha is committed to music education and outreach. She serves as a teaching artist for Austin Opera and Opera San Antonio, sharing her passion for opera with new audiences. She also teaches at Velocity Music Academy and Eastside Music School and is a Choral Scholar at University United Methodist Church.