Verismo – A Night of Italian Opera – New Orleans, LA

Sunday, September 29, 2024
6:30PM Doors | 7:00PM Performance
Suggested Donation: $25 GA / $15 student, senior, etc.

*none turned away for lack of funds, no pressure*

Soprano Jinghan Zhang gained her master’s degree in Conservatorio Luisa D’Annunzio in Pescara, Italy, in the studio of Italian Soprano Sandra Buongrazio. Her opera and sacred music credits include Giulietta in I capuleti e i montecchi, Gilda in Rigoletto, Violetta in La Traviata, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Muzetta in La Boheme and soprano solo in Verdi’s Requiem. Ms. Zhang also won the second prize of the Artist International Music Competition bel-canto group in Hong Kong, China and the first prize winner of the 41st Bellini Vocal Competition (China region) in Beijing, China. She also organizes and performs in many charity concerts. In addition, she sang in many important concerts in China, Italy, and the United States. Such credits include touring with the Poly Theaters’ Hollywood Concert Orchestra’s Oscar classical movie theme songs concert series for two years, Bellini and Verdi concerts in China and Italy, United Nations peace and charity concert in New York City, and the One World Opera, a combination of eastern and western music, in Carnegie Hall, NYC. She also sang supporting roles in 2 Broadway Musicals in Jefferson Performing Arts Center, New Orleans, LA.

Baritone and pianist Jiajun Hong obtained 2 master’s degrees from Manhattan School of Music (MSM) in New York City: one in classical voice studying with Neil Rosenshein, and the other in collaborative piano studying with Thomas Muraco. As a baritone, his opera credits include: Chorus in Parsifal by Wagner with the Metropolitan Opera House, chorus in Flying Dutchman by Wagner and La Boheme by Puccini with Houston Grand Opera, Papageno in The Magic Flute by Mozart with MSM, Harašta in The Cunning Little Vixen by Janacek with MSM, Chorus in Macbeth by Bloch with MSM, Taddeo in L’italiana in Algeri by Rossini with Utopia Opera. Sacred music solo credits include: Bass solo in Bach B Minor Mass, Mozart C minor Mass (cover), Brahms German Requiem, Stravinsky Mass. Broadway musical credits include Peter Pan/Pied Piper/ensemble in Shrek the musical and Jean Michelle in Cinderella (2013 version) by Rodgers and Hammerstein with Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS). As a pianist, his opera credits include Luisa Miller and La Traviata by Verdi, Die Entführung aus dem Serail by Mozart, Don Pasquale by Donizetti, La Voix Humaine by Poulenc and Suor Angelica by Puccini. After graduating from MSM, he worked in the Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Houston Grand Opera Chorus, while also serving as a vocal coach at his alma mater. In 2019, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and now he serves as a pianist, singer and percussionist in Marine Forces Reserve Band in New Orleans, LA. During his military service, Sgt Hong has sung the U.S. National Anthem for 3 years in NOLA Gold Rugby Team’s Military appreciation games. His singing of ‘What Child It Is’ and ‘Ocho Kandelikas’ are presented on PBS annual holiday season’s service member singing series for 2 years.

A native of Kharkiv, Ukraine, tenor Bogdan Mynka is delighted to be returning to his favorite New Orleans venue. Upon completing his Master’s in Vocal Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he promptly packed his typewriter, guitar, and bicycle on a train bound to New Orleans where he’s been performing, writing, and directing ever since. At the University of Illinois he starred as Henrik in Lyric Theatre Illinois’ production of A little night music, and as Jason in Adam Gwon’s Ordinary Days. In New Orleans he performed the role of Sergeant in the New Orleans Opera Association’s production of Barber of Seville, and collaborated in several self-produced concerts at the Marigny Opera House, including a fundraiser for Ukraine. He made his debut at the Jefferson Performing Arts Society as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar during the company’s local tour.