Gateway Classical Music Society

Ida Angland, Artistic Director and Conductor, is dedicated to providing opportunities for artists on the rise and reconnecting audiences to great masterworks through Gateway’s performances designed to achieve impact and intimacy. Gateway’s Great Works of Art performances with full orchestra have received enthusiastic response by audiences in Connecticut and New York and have been described in reviews as ''thrilling,'' ''compelling'' ''a revelation'' ''unforgettable,'' and ''amazing.'' Ida Angland has been characterized as having ''inner genius,'' ''flair,'' ''idealism,'' and ''grit.'' Ms Angland became an apprentice conductor with the New York Grand Opera in 2001. In 2002, she became the Director of The New York Grand Opera Chorus and assistant-conducted numerous operas as well as symphonic works, including such works as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. In her capacity as Director of the chorus, she organized regional choristers to participate with the New York Grand Opera Chorus in several concerts in Carnegie Hall. Ms Angland began her music training as a pianist. When she was 12 years old, she was the youngest of four contestants chosen by the National Federation of Music Clubs and the University of North Carolina as the state’s ''most promising'' musical talents. She continued her music training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Peabody Conservatory and Indiana University studying with, among others, Konrad Wolff, Elaine Bonazzi and Margaret Harshaw. Ms Angland sang professionally as a soprano with regional opera companies. Other featured guest appearances have included the Metropolitan Museum of Art and WQXR.

Roberto Stivanello, Stage Director, represents a third generation on both sides of his family to be involved in opera.  He apprenticed with his late father, Anthony L. Stivanello, from whom he took over the Stivanello Costume Co. of New York, which has been providing scenery and costumes for opera for over 80 years.  Mr. Stivanello is also principal owner of the famous Sormani scenic studio in Milano, Italy, which has created scenery since 1836.  He teaches dramatic movement for the Rosa Ponselle Foundation, and serves as a vocal judge for the Liederkranz Foundation Scholarship awards.  He has also taught master classes in both directing and design.  As a director, designer, and translator he has worked throughout North and South America and Europe.  Mr. Stivanello has directed over 100 productions of opera; as well as designed over 400 productions, not including his studio work, and is a magna cum laude graduate of SUNY Albany.

Jacqueline Goldgorin, Soprano, has performed nationally in numerous roles including Nella (Gianni Schicchi) with the Empire Opera in New York, Grimgerde in Die Walküre with New Jersey Concert Opera, Mable Loomis Todd in E. Kendrick’s Emily the Countess (Marriage of Figaro) with Longfello Summer Concert Series in Cambridge, MA, Mussetta (La Boheme) with the University of Arkansas, Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica) with California State University, and Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) with Boston University. She has performed as soprano soloist in the Bach Magnificat, the Beethoven Mass in C and the Mendelssohn Elijah with Masterworks Chorale Summer Sing in Massachusetts, the Vivaldi Gloria with the Camerata of Los Angeles, Mozart Requiem with the Pacific Chorale, Handel’s Messiah and more. Ms Goldgorin is the recipient of numerous awards and studied at the I Malatesta Centro di Lingua e Cultura Italiana in Remini, Italy and at Boston University. She has been a featured soloist in Gateway special events concerts as well as Highlights concerts and was the soprano soloist for the Beethoven Ninth Symphony with the Gateway Orchestra in 2008. She will be performing the role of Cio Cio San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Gateway in May of 2010 and will be a featured soloist in the Highlights concerts with the Gateway Orchestra this spring.

Christina Rohm, Soprano, has been hailed for singing with "exquisite conviction and emotion" and her voice called "indescribable in its impact, beseechingly powerful, yet humbling and heartfelt." Ms. Rohm’s opera credits include Harriet Mosher in Emmeline with Dicapo Opera Theatre and Szeged National Theater (televised on Mezzo TV); Micaela in Carmen with Treasure Coast Opera Society, Inc.; Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly with Opera Company of the Highlands and Dicapo Opera Theatre; Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow with Pineda Lyric Opera Company; Marguerite in Faust with Regina Opera, One World Symphony, and Dicapo Opera Theatre; Nedda in Pagliacci with Rockland Opera and Riverside Opera; Mimi in La Bohème with Cantiamo Opera and New York Opera Singers Association; Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus with Little Opera Company of New Jersey and New York Metro Vocal Arts Ensemble. Other roles performed in New York include Leonora in Il Trovatore; the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro; the Mother in Hansel and Gretel; Pamina in The Magic Flute; Vitelia in Clemenza di Tito; Claudia in Claudia Legare - New York stage premiere, Soprano in Opera Senza Rancor; Estrella in La Perichole, Mother in Passion and Alice Ford in Falstaff. Oratorio credits include the soprano solos in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Faure's Requiem, Mendelssohn's Elijah, and Handel's Messiah, simulcast on WMBI 90.1 FM in Chicago. Ms Rohm placed as a finalist with the Liederkranz Competition, Opera Division in 2008 as well as in 2006 and with the International Opera Singers Competition, CCO, in New York in 2005. She will be performing the role of Cio Cio San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Gateway in May of 2010 and will be a featured soloist in the Highlights concerts with the Gateway Orchestra this spring.

Joan Marie Peitscher, Mezzo-Soprano, has performed a number of roles in Manhattan, Palm Beach, Florida, where she participated in the Palm Beach Opera Young Artist Resident program, and in Chiari, Italy where she studied at the International Institute of Vocal Arts. Roles include the Mother in Hansel und Gretel at Opera Manhattan, Mrs. Trout in The Golden Ticket at the American Lyric Theater in New York, Alma March in Little Women at IVAI, Tel Aviv, Israel, La Zingara in Dodici Personaggi in Cerva di voce at the Parco Villa Mazzotti, in Chiai, Italy, Third Lady in The Magic Flute at IVAI, New York, the title role in Carmen and Hansel in Hansel und Gretel at Villa Mazzotti in Chiari, Italy, Mercedes in Carmen at the South Florida Opera, Hansel in Hansel und Gretel, The Queen of Hearts and The Doormouse in Alice in Wonderland and Josephine in Dialogues of the Carmelites with Palm Beach Opera. Ms Peitscher was a Gerda Lissner Award Prize winner in 2007 and appeared as a featured soloist at the New York Public Library in 2008. She will be a soloist with the Gateway Orchestra and will perform the role of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Gateway in May of 2010.

Guadalupe Peraza, Mezzo-Soprano, has performed many opera roles and solo concerts in Europe and North America. She was the First Prize Winner of the Fifteenth Annual Francisco Araiza Voice Competition. In 2004 she was a semifinalist in the Tenth Julián Gayarre International Competition in Pamplona, Spain, and in 2007 she was a finalist in the International L'Orfeo Competition in Verona, Italy.  Ms Peraza completed her studies with scholarships from the Mexican Fine Arts Institute (Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes) and The Mexican National Institute for Culture and the Arts (FONCA). Most recently she was a featured soloist with the New York Virtuoso Singers in a concert of music by John Corigliano and Mark Adamo. The role of Kate Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will mark her debut appearances with Gateway Classical Music Society.

Mauricio O’Reilly, Tenor, has sung all over the world. Among the noted places he has sung are the Opernhaus Zurich, the New Israeli Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, the Bregenzer Festspiele in Austria, the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City and the Morelia Music Festival in Mexico. He has also appeared with the Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Town Hall where he performed in the world premier of La Promesa del Guerrero composed for him. Other appearances have included the Royal Albert Hall, Sala Eduardo Carreno in Venezuela and the Kongress und Kultur Zentrum in Luzern where he received critical acclaim by the Luzern Zaitung. Roles include Cavaradossi in Tosca, Luigi in Il Tabarro Alfredo in La Traviata, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Rodolfo in La Boheme, and Romeo from Gounod’s Romeo and Juliette as well as other roles. Mr. O’Reilly attended the Manhattan School of Music and received the Placido Domingo Encouragement Grant as well as the Panasonic Scholarship of the Year in 2001 which granted him a Lincoln Center debut in Alice Tully Hall with the New York Symphonic Ensemble. Other rewards include the OEA 02 Organization for the American states, Department of the UN SIVAM 99’00’01 International Society of Art in Mexico, Fonca 04, 05 and the National Fund for the Arts in Mexico. Mr. O’Reilly was the tenor soloist with Gateway for the Verdi Requiem in 2006 and has appeared as a soloist in numerous special events concerts. He will be performing the role of Lt. B. F. Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Gateway in May of 2010 and will be a featured soloist in the Highlights concerts with the Gateway Orchestra this spring.

Hamid Rodriguez, Tenor, has performed numerous roles in universities and conservatories. They include Kaspar in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Ferrando in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Federico in Mascagni’s L’Amico Fritz, and the Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. Mr. Rodriguez has appeared as the tenor soloist in several oratorios. He appeared as the tenor soloist for the Mozart Requiem at the Ninetieth Anniversary of Interamerican University of Puerto Rico as well as in other concerts as the tenor soloist. He sang the Prince of Persia in Puccini’s Turandot for the Casal’s Festival in Puerto Rico. Mr. Rodriguez has appeared numerous times with Gateway singing the roles of El Remendado in Carmen, the Messenger in Aida, and the Borsa in Rigoletto. Additionally, he has been a featured soloist in Gateway’s Highlights concerts and was a tenor soloist for Gateway’s Beethoven Ninth Symphony performances. He will be performing the role of Goro in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Gateway in May of 2010.

Benjamin Sloman, Tenor, has performed internationally on opera stages and as a soloist in recitals and concerts. Critics have describe his voice as ''an absolutely splendid voice… so heroic and resonant'' (ConcertoNet) and as ''a voice of staggering power and technical excellence ... sophisticated and stylish''  (T. Howard, Australian Opera Review). For his performance as Cavaradossi in June 2009, Mr. Sloman was hailed as ''A magnificent tenor... a natural... superb in the role''(C. Wellerlane, MNN1 Channel 34 New York).  Recent operatic credits include Don Jose in Carmen, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Avito in L’Amore dei Tre Re, Macduff in Macbeth, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Siegmund in Die Walküre, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Canio in Pagliacci for companies including The Sydney Lyric Opera, The Old Vic Theatre, Bleecker Street Opera, Opera New York, and Opera of the Hamptons.  On the concert stage, Mr. Sloman has made numerous recent appearances including featured performances at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the Levitas Hall in Southampton, the Summer Nights Concert Series at Brighton Beach, and a recital honoring Puccini's 150th Anniversary at the 92nd Street Y.  Mr. Sloman has appeared regularly in recital at the Bechstein Piano Hall in New York City.  He will be performing the role of Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Gateway in May of 2010 and will be debuting as a soloist in the Highlights concerts with the Gateway Orchestra this spring.

Ricardo Rosa, Baritone, sang the role of Heraldo in Otello for Teatro de la Opera in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He also appeared in Madama Butterfly for Opera de Puerto Rico. Mr. Rosa performed in the world premiere of Roberto Milano’s opera The Queen’s Mirror as John the Baker and has appeared as the baritone soloist in several concerts in Puerto Rico, for, among others, the Anniversary Gala of Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, the Casals Festival and the Anniversary Gala of the University of Puerto Rico choir. Mr. Rosa’s musical education took place at the Escuela Libre de Musica Antonio Paoli where he studied clarinet. He later studied voice at the Conservatory of Puerto Rico with Justino Diaz. Mr. Rosa debuted with the roles of Morales and El Dancairo in Gateway Classical Music Society’s Carmen performances. He has been a featured soloist in Gateway’s Highlights concerts and special events and performed the role of Monterone in Gateway’s performances of Rigoletto in May 2007. A review of that performance described Mr. Rosa as a ''powerful Monterone,'' and his ''Maledetto'' as ''bone-chilling'' and ''hair-raising.'' He will be performing the role of Sharpless in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Gateway in May of 2010 and will be a featured soloist in the Highlights concerts with the Gateway Orchestra this spring.

Daniel Quintana, Baritone, has sung a number of operatic roles in the U.S.  Roles include Count Gil in Il Segreto di Susanna with Opera Manahttan, the title role Gianni Schicchi with Regina Opera of Brooklyn,, Smirnov in William Walton’s The Bear with Chelsea Opera, Manfredo in L’Amore dei Tre Re with the Bleeker Street  Opera, Marcello in La Boheme wih Opera Las Vegas,  Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale with the Academy for the Performing Artist and Giovanni in Daniel Catan’s Rappaccini’s Daughter  for Opera New.   He recently sang the roles of Guardia/Prete/Cardinale for the world premiere of Franceso Cilluffo’s Il Caso Mortara  with Dicapo Opera.    Mr. Quintana was a semi-finalist in the 2007 Chester Ludgin Memorial International Verdi Baritone Competition.  He has also performed in numerous musical theater productions. The role of Yamadori in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will mark his debut appearances with Gateway Classical Music Society. 

Carlos Monzón, Bass-Baritone, has performed numerous roles around the United States. They include Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Idaho; Il Sagrestano in Tosca, Don Annibale Pistacchio in Il campanello di notte, and Dr. Pandolfo in The Maid as Mistress with Spokane Opera; Il Bonzo in Madama Butterfly with Opera Plus!; and Uin-Sci in L'oracolo and Le Diable in Grisélidis with Willamette Concert Opera. He has performed the roles of the Doctor in La traviata, Alidoro in La Cenerentola, Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro and Bonze in Madama Butterfly with the Florida Grand Opera. Mr. Monzón participated in the Merola Opera Program portraying Leporello in their 2008 production of Don Giovanni. He was an artist in residence with the Pensacola Opera and an apprentice artist with the Des Moines Metro Opera. Other roles he has performed include Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Kaspar in Der Freischutz, Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Colline in La bohème, and Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte. The role of the Bonze in Puccini's Madama Butterfly will mark his debut appearances with Gateway Classical Music Society.

Gregg Lauterbach, Bass-Baritone, has over fifty opera and oratorio roles to his credit covering most of the Mozart baritones and ranging from Enrico in Lucia and Germont in La Traviata to the title roles in Elijah and Hercules.  In New York, he has performed as Danilo in The Merry Widow, Jupiter/Amphitryon in Olympus on My Mind, and Paul Fontaine in Desert Song.  Regional credits include Horace Vandergelder in The Matchmake, Dr. Chumley in Harvey, Emil DeBecque  in South Pacific and Voltaire/Pangloss/Governor in Candide.  His acting roles include appearances on Ed, CSI, Law and Order and Sex in the City and in the movies Kinsey, and A Beautiful Mind. Mr. Lauterbach will be debuting with Gateway Classical Music Society in the roles of The Imperial Commissioner and The Official Registrar in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in May. 

Alina Kiryayeva, Pianist, has concertized internationally performing as a soloist with the Kharkov State Philharmonic and State Opera Theatre Orchestras, The Imperial Valley Symphony orchestra and New York Symphonic Ensemble Orchestra as well as in chamber ensembles in Weill Hall, Morse Recital Hall, Maiden Lane Concert Series, the Concerto Takes Manhattan Series at Yamaha Hall, Young Artist Concert Series in Bergenfield, NJ and the Concert Series at Jefferson’a Ferry, NY. Ms Kiryayeva has been the recipient of numerous awards that include the First Prize in the Senigallia International Competition, Italy, the Grace Welsh International Competition and the California Young Artist International Competition. She was honored by the Ukrainian President, Leonid Kravchuk, with the State Award for Achievements in Arts. She has also been awarded the Fannie Gottlieb-Harkavi Scholarship and Susan Rose Piano Scholarship. She has been a featured soloist on several of Gateway’s special event concerts and works as a rehearsal pianist for Gateway.

Ming Kwong, Pianist, apprenticed with Florida Grand Opera for their 2008-2009 season. He held a fellowship coach position at the Aspen Summer Music Festival and was a vocal coach and pianist at the Music Academy of the West. Mr. Kwong recently made his Kennedy Center debut with Metropolitan Opera Grand Winner Lori Guilbeau. He was chosen to participate in the Cleveland Art Songs Festival in 2010. Other credits include performing on the Stephanie Blythe master class at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Joey Reynolds show – WOR news talk radio 710HD in October 2009. Mr. Kwong has acted as the Music Director of the Undergraduate Opera Theater at Manhattan School of Music. Other engagements as opera coach and rehearsal pianist include the Tanglewood Music Center and the Glimmerglass Opera. Mr. Kwong has been a prizewinner of numerous competitions including First Prize in the Advanced Improvisation and Second Prize in the Advanced Bach Session in the Twelfth Hong Kong Piano Open Competition. He holds a Masters degree in Piano Accompanying from Manhattan School of Music and a Masters degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory. He is a rehearsal pianist for Gateway Classical Music Society.

Michael Pilafian, Pianist, has played for voice-studio of Carolina Segrera and performed concerts internationally with the Ambassadors of Opera. He was music-director of the After Dinner Opera Company with which he premiered several chamber-operas by Seymour Barab. Currently he plays for the New York Grand Opera, the Center for Contemporary Opera, Opera on the Hudson, Taconic Opera, and the Juilliard School of Music. Mr. Pilafian plays as a rehearsal pianist for Gateway.