Pianists
Elise Lawrence
Pianist Elise Lawrence maintains an active performing schedule, performing in recital in the United States, Spain, Portugal, Austria and England. She is an alumna of the University of Southern California, where she received her masters in collaborative piano from the renowned pianist and composer Dr. Alan Smith. Prior to USC, she obtained a degree in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan under Professor Christopher Harding. While in Michigan she cultivated her passion for chamber music and song interpretation, taking part in a variety of projects spanning from duo recitals to symphony band concert performances. A lover of musical theater, Elise recently completed an engagement with Hawaii Performing Arts Festival as a Professional Fellow in their 2019 production of Company by Stephen Sondheim. In addition to performance, she also dedicates time to teaching the next generation of pianists. Currently she resides in Oslo, Norway.
Elisa Yi Mei Chan
Elisa Yi Mei Chan, as a native of Hong Kong, started learning the piano at the age of four. In 2015, she obtained her Master of Music Degree in piano performance from the Jacobs School of Music in Indiana University, during which she studied with Emile Naoumoff and Edward Auer. She was also a recipient of the Irving and Leno Lo Scholarship, the Dean’s Scholarship, and the chamber music scholarship. Under the tutelage of Gabriel Kwok, she received her Bachelor of Music (Honors) Degree at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2013, with Great Eagle Scholarship, Helena May Scholarship, and Parsons Music Foundation Scholarship.
Elisa is also active in the Baroque music and collaborative piano fields. She took harpsichord as minor in her Masters Degree, under the tutelage of Elisabeth Wright. Elisa also worked at the Indiana University Young Pianist Program and held the position as an accompanist of the Indiana University Ballet Department.
Elisa currently resides in Los Angeles, and continues her studies in Keyboard Collaborative Art with Kevin Fitz-Gerald in University of Southern California.
Jason Byer
Pianist and singer Jason Byer is an alum of USC and Northwestern University, where he obtained degrees in Keyboard Collaborative Arts and Voice & Opera, respectively. At USC, he was involved with USC Opera, and was inducted into Phi Kappa Lambda upon graduation. He has performed in masterclasses with Margo Garrett, Alan Smith, and Graham Johnson. Past favorite projects include a Beethoven-themed concert with the Mythica Foundation, “The Breaking of Nations” through Songfest 2019 at the Colburn School, and Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last Five Years” at USC. Jason also enjoys teaching piano and voice, and previously held a faculty position at the Napa School of Music. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
Cellist
Sarah Lew
Sarah Lew (cellist) is excited to be working with the artists on Love from a Distance. They began cello at a young age and continued composing and performing through college and beyond. They are currently performing for the first time virtually and are a Student in chemistry at Temple University.
They are happy to honor the memory of their grandfather, Herman Lew in this performance.
Singers
Co-producer of Love from a Distance Karen Notovitz (Fried) began her professional career working with the opera company Teatro Nuovo in the summer of 2019. There, she worked with Giovanni Reggioli and Will Crutchfield, studying the role of Ninetta in Rossini’s La Gazza Ladra. Following the summer season, she continued working with Mr. Reggioli at his program in Italy, Bel Canto in Tuscany. While there, she sang Dunque io son from Il Barbiere di Siviglia with orchestra. She also performed as Musetta in the quartet from Puccini’s La Bohème, and Adalgisa in the Mira o Norma duet from Bellini’s Norma.
In May 2019, Karen graduated with her Masters at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), where she studied under mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook. While there, she joined the Baroque Opera Ensemble, working with conductor Corey Jamason. She sang two Handel roles, the title role Rodelinda, and Asteria from Tamerlano. She was also part of the SFCM Opera Ensemble, where she sang the title role from Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias, and scenes from Thomas’s Hamlet, and Gluck’s Orfeo.
Ms. Notovitz (Fried) earned her Bachelor's degree at the New England Conservatory of Music where she was a part of the Undergraduate Opera Studio. There, she sang scenes from Don Pasquale and L’incoronazione di Poppea, graduating with Academic Honors.
A Great Neck, New York native, Karen first began her professional education at Juilliard Pre-college, studying with Lorraine Nubar, and working with Jorge Parody, Dalton Baldwin, Kathryn Labouff, and Thomas Grubb.
Continually demonstrating versatility in her repertoire, Karen has studied music from Baroque to Modern, and roles from comedic to dramatic. In the winter of 2018, Karen demonstrated her prowess and passion as a producer, researching and debuting a recital on Yiddish Folk Song and Theater. As an exploration of her heritage, this subject is something near and dear to Karen’s heart. She believes that music has a unique power to connect to your own roots, while celebrating and sharing your culture with others.
Co-producer of Love from a Distance Madeleine Lew is a rising young soprano currently in her second year of studies at the University of Southern California, where she will receive her Masters of Music in Vocal Arts and Opera studying with Elizabeth Hynes. She is a recent graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she completed her Bachelor of Music in 2019 under the tutelage of Susanne Mentzer.
In early 2021, Madeleine participated in a series of online masterclasses as a part of Fort Worth Opera’s Music Speaks: The Language of Poetry and Libretti where she worked with renowned coaches J.J Penna, Lucy Yates, and Rachelle Jonck.
This past season, Madeleine made her professional debut with Pasadena Opera reprising the role of Littler Daughter in the west coast premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up, which she covered in summer 2019 at the Aspen Music Festival. In Aspen, Madeleine also performed in orchestral scenes of Verdi’s Falstaff as Nanetta, and was featured in a solo recital. Madeleine would have performed Adele in Die Fledermaus this past summer at the Berlin Opera Academy. Madeleine looks forward to singing Yniold in USC’s spring production of Pelleas et Melisande, and participating in USC’s fall program of digital shorts, where she will be singing excerpts of Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves.
In 2018, Madeleine was invited to curate and perform a recital program of Jewish music to accompany a music history lecture series at the University of San Francisco’s Fromm Institute. The following season, she was invited to return with a program of bel canto songs and arias.
Madeleine is an award winner of the 2019 East Bay Opera League Competition, and was a 2020 Semi-Finalist, and 2019 Finalist in the James Toland Vocal Arts competition.
Isabella Uhl was drawn to performing at a young age, making her stage debut was at 5 years old, playing an orphan in Annie. After spending her young adult life devoted to private voice lessons and training at Denver School of The Arts, Isabella was accepted to her dream school, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music. There she studied with world renowned mezzo-soprano and teacher, Susanne Mentzer, who guided her through her first roles.
During her third year at SFCM she performed the role of Andronico in Handel’s Tamerlano, where she was reviewed by The San Francisco Classical Voice as “velvety with just a tinge of air, with low notes that cut straight to the heart”.
Other operas Isabella had the pleasure of performing in were John Musto’s opera, Later the Same Evening, where she played the role of Thelma, and Poulenc’s Les Mamelles De Tirésias as La Merchant. Since graduating in spring of 2020 with her Bachelor in Music, Isabella has been focused on composing her own music which is heavily influenced by her classical background.
She has always had an affinity for all genres of music and loves to to sing Jazz, Country, and even Rock n Roll. When she isn’t singing or composing, you can find her taking commissions as a portrait artist.
Check out her new single, Cindy’s Boyfriend on Spotify, Youtube, and at the link attached.
Ricardo Garcia is thrillingly described as possessing a voice, “at times lilting and lyrical, at times intense with excitement” by KWMR FM. He joins the Houston Grand Opera Studio in the 2020-21 season, during which he sings Hans Sachs’ Trainer in Little’s Vinkensport and scenes of Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore and the Painter in Lulu in the HGO Studio Showcase. His other engagements with the company, Third Esquire in Parsifal, Remendado in Carmen, and the roles of Papi and Jasper in the world premiere of Thompson’s Snowy Day, were unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as was his Boston Lyric Opera debut as Luis Rodrigo Griffith in Blanchard’s Champion. He joins the Las Colinas Symphony for a concert of holiday favorites and, in the summer of 2021, he will sing Grimoaldo in Rodelinda at Aspen Opera Theater with Patrick Summers conducting.
He is a former Resident Artist of Portland Opera where he sang Bill in A Hand of Bridge and Donald Hopewell in Gallantry and covered Andronico in Bajazet before his spring performances of Beppe in Pagliacci and as a soloist in the company’s Big Night concert also were curtailed by the pandemic. He joined Music Academy of the West as Jenik in The Bartered Bride, Opera on the James as Fenton in Falstaff, and Tulsa Opera as the Lamplighter and Drunkard in The Little Prince.
Mr. Garcia earned his Master of Music Degree at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, at which he sang a host of leading roles, including the Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia, Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw, Bajazet in Tamerlano, Le Mari in Les mamelles de Tiresias, Houssar in Mavra, Younger Thompson in Cipullo’s Glory Denied, and the title role of Bastianello and Lorenzo in Lucrezia, both by John Musto. As a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera, he was responsible for the roles of Roméo in Roméo et Juliette and Giocondo in La pietra del paragone. He was also an Apprentice Artist at Santa Fe Opera.
On the concert stage, Mr. Garcia has sung Handel’s Messiah with the Pacific Chamber Orchestra, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Eureka Symphony, and Gonzalez‘s Misa Azteca with the Rogue Valley Chorale. While at Wolf Trap Opera, he was tenor soloist in the company’s “Bernstein at 100” concert with the National Orchestral Institute. He has been presented in solo recital by Castro Valley Performing Artist and as a distinguished alumnus of Songfest.
He is a 2020 winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions New Orleans and Puerto Rico District. Previously in the competition he has won in the San Francisco District and has received encouragement awards at the district level. Prior to earning his Master of Music degree from San Francisco Conservatory, he completed his Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Pacific. Prior to beginning his operatic career, he played professional baseball with the Storm, a high independent league affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Mia Skolnick
Mia Skolnick is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she received her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance in 2019. She is a student of César Ulloa. Ms. Skolnick recently performed the role of Elaine O’Neill in John Musto’s Later the Same Evening at the Conservatory. She has performed the roles of Mére Marie in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, Anna Maurrant in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene, and Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.
In the summer of 2018, Ms. Skolnick was selected as one of ten singers from across the United States to participate in the Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s Mastersingers Project for Young Dramatic Voices, directed and led by renowned Wagnerian soprano Jane Eaglen. There she performed the roles of Senta in Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer, and Wellgunde in Wagner’s Das Rheingold. She has performed professionally with the Portland Opera Chorus, participating in 15 productions during her time as a vested member of the chorus. Ms. Skolnick is also a seasoned soloist in oratorio and sacred music, performing these works at churches in the Bay Area, and previously in Portland.
Edmond Rodriguez
Edmond Rodriguez is Professional Singer and Musician from Miami, FL. Singing since he was 8 years old, he graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Arts and Opera from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. While in college, Edmond sang with the USC Chamber Singers. Through this choir, he sang for the Rolling Stones’ Desert Valley Tour in 2016. Edmond sang several roles in the mainstage USC Opera productions. He was also selected by the Thornton Opera department to sing the Alma Mater for the 2019 Commencement Ceremony.
Since he graduated from college, Edmond has sung with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and recently became a Rostered member of the chorus. He has been contracted to sing as a studio-session vocalist for movies like Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker and The Call of the Wild. Edmond recently traveled to Alaska to perform in the opera Frida by Roberto X. Rodríguez with Long Beach Opera at the Anchorage Opera Theater. He is a private instructor of voice and piano as well.
Edmond is extremely passionate about music. He is proud of his Panamanian and Nicaraguan roots and actively seeks to represent the voices in his community. He hopes to continue the gift of music through performance.
Courtney McPhail
Soprano Courtney McPhail is praised for her warm, vibrant tone, musical sensitivity, and magnetism on stage. Most recently, she was the 2020 winner of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s (SFCM) concerto competition. In 2019, Ms. McPhail performed the roles of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and Madame Goldentrill in Der Schauspieldirektor at SFCM. Other appearances at SFCM include Annunciata in William Bolcom’s Lucrezia in 2018 and Sophie in scenes from Der Rosenkavalier in 2017. While attending The University of Oklahoma, she performed Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi in 2017, as well as, Mademoiselle Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor and Adina in scenes of L’elisir d’amore in 2016.
During her fellowship at Music Academy of the West in 2016, Ms. McPhail covered the role of Esmerelda in The Bartered Bride. She was also the featured soloist in a chamber concert event where she performed works by Handel and Bach alongside Music Academy’s esteemed faculty. Ms. McPhail has performed internationally, both as a solo artist and a member of vocal ensembles. In 2015, she appeared in Die Jahreszeiten at the Haydn Festspiele in Eisenstadt, Austria (Classical Music Festival). Returning to Europe in 2019, she sang the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Berlin Opera Academy.
Ms. McPhail is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma (B.M.) and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (M.M., P.G.D.). Other training includes Music Academy of the West, Berlin Opera Academy, and Taos Opera Institute. She is currently based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.