Teaching Artists

Bass-baritone Abraham Isai Cruz Ramirez, a San Francisco native, earned his Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance on full scholarship at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and is currently completing his Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance at Texas State University, where he holds two teaching assistantships. A dynamic and versatile performer, Abraham has appeared with the Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS Festival, Seagle Festival, and OPERA San Antonio. He recently made his Aspen debut as Benoît and Alcindoro in La bohème, a performance The Aspen Times praised for “hitting all the right notes” in these comic roles.

Equally committed to service, Abraham is the founder and president of Music for All Hearts (musicforallhearts.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free, high-quality music lessons to children under 19 who lack access to professional instruction. He also directs Cruz Music Studio LLC (cruzmusicstudio.com), where he has provided private instruction to hundreds of adults and children. By joining Austin Opera as a Teaching Artist, Abraham continues his mission to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to discover their voice, experience the transformative power of music, and connect to the arts.

Afsoneh Esfandiari is a soprano and educator whose artistry bridges performance, teaching, and research. Possessing a love for both ensemble work and featured solos, she has performed extensively in her native state of Texas as well as during her residencies in Milan, Italy and Innsbruck, Austria. Equally passionate about pedagogy, she has maintained an active teaching studio for over a decade fostering a nurturing technique and health focused environment.

Afsoneh is currently pursuing her DMA in Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin under the mentorship of Dr. Guerrero with whom she founded the university’s first Student NATS Chapter. She has expanded her interests to include research at the intersection of endocrinology and vocal performance and is pioneering a new understanding of the impact of PCOS on the vocal athlete. Her multifaceted career reflects her belief that singing is a means for interpersonal connection and a powerful tool for self-discovery.

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, and a graduate of Texas State University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She has performed with Austin Opera, Gilbert & Sullivan Austin, Opera San Antonio, and One Ounce Opera. Her favorite roles include Cendrillon (Cendrillon), Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), and Phoebe (The Yeomen of the Guard).

In addition to performing, Annisha is passionate about arts education and community outreach. As a teaching artist with Austin Opera, she loves bringing opera into schools and communities through interactive performances and educational programs. She is committed to making opera engaging, accessible, and meaningful for audiences of all ages! Annisha is also a voice and piano teacher at Velocity Music Academy, Eastside Music School, and a choral scholar at University United Methodist Church.

Hillary Schranze, mezzo-soprano, was most recently seen as Jessie Bond in Sullivan and Gilbert at Austin Playhouse. Other recent credits include Maude in Mud Girl and Young Ray in Ray Bradbury, Age 12 with One Ounce Opera, a role she will reprise at The VORTEX this season.

Now in her fourth season with Austin Opera, Hillary was most recently seen as Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. Additional credits include Dame Carruthers in The Yeomen of the Guard and the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury with the Austin Gilbert & Sullivan Society. She also spent three seasons as a regular member of the Houston Grand Opera Chorus and has performed with Charlottesville Opera and the Bard Music Festival. She is a regular chorister with the San Antonio Chamber Choir.

Equally at home onstage and in the classroom, Hillary serves as the Head of Musical Theatre and Choir at Legacy Traditional School. She is thrilled to join Austin Opera this season as a Teaching Artist, sharing her passion for music and performance with the next generation of artists!

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.

Olivia Gronenthal is a mezzo-soprano recognized for her expressive storytelling and rich vocal color. Upcoming engagements include the title role in Pinocchio with OPERA San Antonio and the Magik Theatre. In 2025, she appeared as Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (Austin Opera & OPERA San Antonio) and debuted as the Super Fan in Nathan Felix’s Glory Gone at the Radius Center. As the mezzo opera resident with the Lakes Area Music Festival, she covered Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel and is currently a Teaching Artist with Austin Opera. Gronenthal originated the role of Miep Gies in the world premiere of Shulamit Ran’s Anne Frank and premiered Elizabeth Gartman’s New Motive Power. She was also a featured artist in the 2020 Song Genesis Project, performing the premiere of Abaude on Cold Moon. She earned degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she studied with Deanne Meek and Peter Volpe.