MUSICIANS
Carmen In Concert Soloists
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
Grammy® Award-winning mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor is celebrated for her commanding stage presence, velvet tone, and captivating interpretive depth. Equally at home in opera, concert, and chamber settings, she has earned international acclaim for performances ranging from the music of Beethoven, Mahler, and Brahms to that of contemporary composers such as John Adams, Bryce Dessner, and Thomas Adès.
In the 2024–2025 season, O’Connor premieres an extended version of Adès’s America (A Prophecy)—first in her debut with the Gewandhaus Orchester under Andris Nelsons, followed by performances with The Cleveland Orchestra and The Hallé, both led by the composer. Additional highlights include Verdi’s Requiem with the Colorado Symphony, appearances with the St. Louis Symphony under Stéphane Denève and the New Jersey Symphony under Xian Zhang, and her Seattle Opera debut as Anna in a concert version of Berlioz’s Les Troyens. She also gives a recital with Robert Spano at Chamber Music Detroit, featuring Sonnets to Orpheus alongside works by Debussy, Crumb, and Grieg.
Renowned for her interpretations of contemporary music, O’Connor has premiered works by John Corigliano, Kareem Roustom, Joby Talbot, and Bryce Dessner. John Adams wrote the title role of The Gospel According to the Other Mary for her, which she has performed under the batons of Adams, Gustavo Dudamel, Grant Gershon, Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Simon Rattle, and David Robertson. She is also a leading interpreter of Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs, performed with orchestras worldwide.
Her operatic credits include Carmen with LA Opera, Béatrice in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict with Opera Boston, and Lucretia in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia with Boston Lyric Opera. O’Connor’s acclaimed discography includes Ainadamar (Deutsche Grammophon, Grammy® Award), Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with Jaap van Zweden, and The Gospel According to the Other Mary with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic.
Nathalie Peña-Comas, soprano
Latin Grammy–nominated soprano and actress Nathalie Peña-Comas, born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has captivated audiences across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Known for her radiant voice and dramatic versatility, she has performed leading operatic roles including Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Micaëla (Carmen), and Violetta (La Traviata).
Her international appearances include prestigious venues such as Vienna’s Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Madrid’s Auditorio Nacional, the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, and the National Concert Hall in Taipei. She has collaborated with major orchestras including the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Strauss Festival Orchestra, Taiwan Philharmonic, and National Symphony Orchestras of Peru and the Dominican Republic, under conductors such as Eugene Kohn, Valery Polyansky, and José Antonio Molina.
Peña-Comas is a founding member of Ensemble Spirituosi, whose album Souvenir Latino earned three Global Music Awards and the Dominican Republic’s Soberano Prize. A laureate of numerous international competitions, she won First Prize at the Ebe Stignani International Opera Competition (2022) and has been honored multiple times as “Classical Singer of the Year” in her home country.
A graduate of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, she has served since 2019 as Cultural Ambassador for the Dominican Republic.
Ben Lowe, baritone
Praised for his “stentorian voice” (Singerpreneur), Mr. Lowe has quickly become a recognized name in the opera world throughout Southern California and abroad. A sought-after operatic and concert soloist, he made his European debut in Siena and Florence, Italy, as bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with Unione Corale Senese “Ettore Bastianini.”
Recent highlights include performances with Pacific Opera Project as Marcello in La Bohème, a debut at The Colburn School alongside Joshua Guerrero and Julianna Di Giacomo, and a reprise of Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore. He also participated in a workshop of a new one-act opera for LA Opera and made his New York debut in the East Coast premiere of Matt Aucoin’s Crossing, followed by a performance of his one-act opera Second Nature.
In 2019, he appeared in recital at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and joined the Palm Springs Opera Guild as faculty for their youth opera program before serving as a Young Artist with Opera Delaware, performing leading roles in Dead Man Walking and Trial by Jury.
A finalist in the Palm Springs Opera Guild and Loren L. Zachary Society competitions and winner of the 2016 Marilyn Horne Song Competition, Mr. Lowe studied under Vladimir Chernov and Timothy Mussard and is a graduate of Cal State Dominguez Hills and UCLA.
Lwazi Hlati, tenor
South African lyric tenor Lwazi Hlati, from Johannesburg, is recognized as one of the most exciting voices of his generation. He holds degrees from Tshwane University of Technology and Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts, as well as a Graduate Artist Certificate from the University of North Texas. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance at the University of Southern California.
A recipient of numerous honors—including the Artistic Merit Award from SMU, the Bruce R. Foote Memorial Award, and grants from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and SAMRO—Hlati won First Place in both the 2023 Duncan Williams Voice Competition (New York City Opera & Manhattan School of Music) and the 2024 American Opera Idol Competition (Connecticut).
He has appeared in leading roles such as Don José in Carmen (Opera North), Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor (Opera in the Ozarks), and Rodolfo in La bohème (Chautauqua Opera). Additional performances include Gastone in La Traviata, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Fenton in Falstaff, and Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire.
Hlati recently participated in a Metropolitan Opera workshop of Missy Mazzoli’s Lincoln in the Bardo and has performed in concert across Africa, Europe, and the United States, including Handel’s Messiah with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
Young Artists Series Guest Conductor
Based in Southern California, Dr. Pierre Long-Tao Tang (鄧朗淘) is a conductor and pianist from Hong Kong with an active international career spanning orchestral, choral, and chamber music. He has appeared as guest conductor with ensembles worldwide, including a critically acclaimed performance at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center. His artistry reflects a balance of European and American conducting traditions, having apprenticed under Donald Schleicher and Andrew Megill and studied with Uroš Lajovic, Robert Spano, Osmo Vänskä, and Simon Carrington.
Dr. Tang’s professional engagements include serving as cover conductor for Le Concert d’Astrée under Emmanuelle Haïm and collaborating with numerous orchestras and choruses in the United States, Europe, and Asia. A dedicated educator, he is on the music faculties of the University of California, San Diego, and the University of San Diego, and has previously taught at Pepperdine University. He also leads conducting workshops in Hong Kong and serves as Director of Music at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church.
His research on orchestra directorship and leadership in the arts has been featured at major conferences, including the Oxford Conducting Institute International Conference, the California All-State Music Education Conference, and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. His forthcoming book chapter will be published by SUNY Press.
As pianist, Dr. Tang has worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under James Gaffigan and Richard Wilberforce, serves as rehearsal pianist for the San Diego Symphony Chorus, and collaborates frequently at UCLA. He performs chamber music with Chamber Music Palisades, appearing alongside members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and has also sung with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Master Chorale under Zubin Mehta, as well as with the San Diego and Montreal Symphonies under Rafael Payare.
Young Artists Series Soloists
CHICO proudly showcases the next generation of virtuosos in our annual Young Artists Series, featuring some of the region’s most promising emerging musicians. Pianists Leonardo Dinner, Albert Chen, and Marissa Wang, violinist Leonora Vukovitz, and violist Tyler Edwards take center stage in an inspiring afternoon of youthful artistry and masterful performances.
The program highlights the brilliance and diversity of the classical tradition—from the intricate elegance of J.S. Bach’s Concerto No. 1 to the soaring lyricism of Julius Conus’s Violin Concerto, the exuberant energy of Kabalevsky’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and the impassioned drama of Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata.
Join us in celebrating the talent and dedication of these outstanding young performers as they bring new life and spirit to beloved works.
Leonardo Dinner is a ninth-grade pianist who began studying piano at the age of six and quickly developed a passion for performing. He has appeared at distinguished venues including Carnegie Hall, Mayo Concert Hall, the Kosciuszko Foundation, and the Soka Performing Arts Center. Leonardo has earned top prizes in numerous competitions, including MTNA, MTAC, SYMF, and the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.
In addition to his achievements at the piano, Leonardo is the drummer in a rock-jazz band, sings in choir, and enjoys competitive table tennis. His upcoming performances and projects can be found on YouTube at @LeosPianoAcademy and on Instagram at @Leonardo.dinner.
Leonora Vukovitz is a violin student of her mother, Deborah Vukovitz, and has been playing the violin since she was a toddler, imitating her mom. She has performed as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Schwab Academy Orchestra—where she played both the Barber and Conus Violin Concertos—and the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, appearing as both a violin and viola soloist. She also performed her mother’s American Legends Violin Concerto as a soloist with Jennifer Walton’s Instrumental Casting Orchestra, which is featured on YouTube.
Leonora has received numerous awards from competitions such as the American Virtuoso International Music Competition (where she performed at Carnegie Hall), SYMF, SCJBF, and the Topanga Fiddle Festival. She also appeared on television performing as a violin soloist on Father Time with country music singer Walker Hayes during CBS’s Family Film and TV Awards in 2024.
Beyond music, Leonora’s passions include fashion design, writing, and acting.
Albert Chen is a freshman at Westlake High School and has been studying piano with Mrs. Ornela Ervin since the age of five. He has successfully completed the CM Level 8 exam each year and has been invited to perform at the MTAC Convention. Albert is a multiple-time winner of the MTAC Bach and Contemporary Competitions and has appeared twice as a piano soloist with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic. This marks his first performance with the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, and he extends his heartfelt gratitude to the orchestra for supporting young musicians.
Outside of music, Albert is a dedicated athlete who has played in top-level competitive club soccer since early childhood. He also enjoys reading, math, and building robotics.
Tyler Edwards is a junior at Westlake High School, where he performs in the Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Elizabeth Blake. Although viola is his primary instrument, he is also proficient on violin, cello, trumpet, and flute, and has performed on each in concert. Tyler studies viola with Diane Gilbert and serves as principal violist for the LOYO Symphony Orchestra in addition to performing with their Virtuosi Orchestra. One of Tyler’s favorite musical experiences is playing in pit orchestras for musical theater productions, where he especially enjoys the collaborative nature of working closely with fellow musicians; he is currently performing in Into the Woods.
A dedicated composer and arranger, Tyler was selected as one of the winners of the Allegro Competition at Ventura College, where he premiered the first movement of his own Viola Concerto—I. Moderato Lugubre ma con Speranza in March 2025. In his free time, he enjoys orchestrating and producing concerts of his original works and collaborations with friends, having presented six concerts to date.
Marissa Wang is an eighth-grade honor student at Los Cerritos Middle School, where she studies piano with Mrs. Ornela and loves performing duets with her sister, Jaylinn. She is an active participant in the Junior Chamber Music and Appassionata programs and has received numerous medals and distinctions through MTAC events, including the Certificate of Merit (CM) program, Contemporary Festival, Festimantic, and the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.
Marissa has also been recognized in competitions hosted by the International Association of Professional Music Teachers and was honored to perform at the Gala Night Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York last summer. Most recently, she performed with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic as part of the 2024–2025 Young Artists Competition Program. In her free time, Marissa enjoys reading, drawing, and spending time with her two cats, Tigger and Henry.
Women in Classical Music Soloist
Pianist Natasha Kislenko, praised for her “vividly expressive” interpretations and “virtuosity that left the audience exhilarated” (Santa Barbara Independent), offers dynamic concert programs worldwide. A prizewinner in multiple international competitions, she has performed across Europe, Turkey, and the Americas. After winning the Grand Prize at the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, she made her Carnegie Hall debut.
A resident pianist with the Santa Barbara Symphony since 2010, Kislenko has performed major concerti to critical acclaim and recently appeared as a soloist with orchestras in Turkey, Bulgaria, and California. An avid chamber musician, she has collaborated with Glenn Dicterow, the Takács Quartet, and others, and released two acclaimed violin-piano CDs with Chavdar Parashkevov.
A devoted educator, Kislenko is on faculty at UC Santa Barbara and the Music Academy of the West. She holds degrees from the Moscow Conservatory, Southern Methodist University, and a DMA from Stony Brook University.
Season Opener Soloists
Louise Lofquist, contralto and pianist, has had an unorthodox musical career. She debuted as a pianist with the National Symphony at 18 but initially pursued degrees in European History at Duke and Stanford. Eventually returning to music, she was pursuing a master’s in voice when a severe vocal cord injury cut short her singing career. She then earned a master’s in Accompanying from UC Santa Barbara and a doctorate in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from USC. A respected collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and voice teacher, she has performed with artists like Gilles Apap, Rod Gilfry, Zuill Bailey, and Fred Ormand, and as a soloist with the Ventura Symphony and CHICO. Joining Pepperdine’s music faculty in 2001, she taught voice, diction, and vocal accompanying and co-directed the Summer Music Program in Heidelberg for over 20 years. Her classical voice students have sung with major opera houses, including San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and at Carnegie Hall, while her musical theatre students have appeared on Broadway and throughout Southern California.
Now retired from Pepperdine and with her voice healed, she enjoys performing as a pianist and singer. Louise lives in Camarillo with her husband, attorney Grant Specht, and two sons, Dylan, an attorney, and Shane, a landscape painter.
Eleanor Shen is a violinist dedicated to building meaningful connections through music. She has been recognized by the National YoungArts Foundation, the MTNA Eastern Division National Student Competition, and is a prizewinner of the Feder Memorial, U.S. Army Young Artists, Friday Morning Music Club, and Landon Symphony Orchestra competitions, earning her a solo performance with the orchestra.
Eleanor is passionate about community engagement and has served as a Juilliard Morse and Gluck Fellow, teaching in New York City public schools and bringing live classical music to unconventional spaces. Her collaborative work spans a wide range of disciplines, including performances with dancers, jazz musicians, historical performance artists, and premieres of new chamber and orchestral works. She currently is part time faculty in Maryland Youth Orchestra’s summer program.
Eleanor holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Violin Performance from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Catherine Cho and Areta Zhulla.
Miles Goosby, 24, is a cellist based in New York City. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Natasha Brofsky. Miles has enjoyed solo, orchestral, and chamber performances at The Perlman Music Program, Norfolk Chamber Festival, Meadowmount, and Music Academy of the West.
As a devoted chamber musician, Goosby has worked with Laurie Smukler, Areta Zhulla, Don Weilerstein, Itzhak Perlman, Takács Quartet, Juilliard Quartet Steve Tennenbaum, Sam Rhodes, and Brentano Quartet. He is a founding member of the BECA Quartet, based at the Juilliard School. They have performed nationally, at the California Festival in collaboration with Kris Bowers, and WQXR at the Greene Space.
Goosby has played in masterclasses for David Requrio, Martti Rousi, Luis Claret, Zlatomir Fung, Alan Stepanaky, and Zvi Plesser. In addition to being an avid performer, Goosby is passionate about teaching. He teaches at the Third Street School of Music, and has been involved with community engagement projects around the city such as monthly visits to Mt. Sinai Hospital performing for rehabilitation patients. In April of 2025, Miles will be collaborating with the Iris Collective alongside his brother, Randall Goosby, to work with young music students and perform in their hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.