Summer Opera Institute

Congratulations to Addison Mendenhall on her opera debut! She only started with SOI in 2025, but she made incredible and rapid voical & acting progress...and now she is a member of the professional cast of RUSALKA!

🧜‍♀️ Addison Mendenhall is a Wood Sprite
Soprano Addison Mendenhall is a young Central Valley artist praised for her natural talent and vocal flexibility. A Summer Opera Institute participant, she sings with the Modesto Symphony Chorus and her high school choir.

See them on April 24 at 7:30 and April 26 at 2:00pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts! Tickets in our bio and at operamodesto.org

Katie Overton was one of the original SOI participants in 2018. She has since become a fine singer and Stage Manager! We are excited to see her make her professional debut with an amazing cast, in RUSALKA!

🧜‍♀️ Katie Overton is a Wood Sprite
Katie Overton is a performer-turned stage manager who began her work with Opera Modesto through the Summer Opera Institute. She has since worked behind the scenes on productions including The Marriage of Figaro, The Elixir of Love, and Cinderella.

See them on April 24 at 7:30 and April 26 at 2:00pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts! Tickets in our bio and at operamodesto.org

Bella Davila began with the Summer Opera Institute in 2019 as a young "Pre-SOI" singer. She is now an SOI graduate and intern who has become a fine composer, singer, cellist and grown up, including serving this season as the Opera Modesto Children's Chorus Director!

Congratulations, Bella, on your professional role debut in RUSALKA, singing in the Czech language!

🧜‍♀️ Bella Dávila is a Wood Sprite
Soprano and multi-instrumentalist Bella Dávila is an Opera Modesto chorus member and Children’s Chorus Director. A Summer Opera Institute alum, she has appeared in multiple Opera Modesto productions while continuing her studies at Modesto Junior College.

See them on April 24 at 7:30 and April 26 at 2:00pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts! Tickets in our bio and at operamodesto.org

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31 is the last day to enroll for Summer Opera Institute 2026!

Summer Opera Institute 2026 - Opera Modesto A summer of training, transformation, and taking the stage—in the heart of California’s Central Valley. Apply here!

Enrollment for SOI 2026 closes on March 31 at midnight!!

Summer Opera Institute 2026 - Opera Modesto A summer of training, transformation, and taking the stage—in the heart of California’s Central Valley. Apply here!

SOI graduates will be performing in this delightful and very silly comedy at CSU Stanislaus!

Summer Opera Institute 2026 - Opera Modesto A summer of training, transformation, and taking the stage—in the heart of California’s Central Valley. Apply here!

Today, Sunday March 1, is the last day to sign up for the Opera Modesto Kristina Townsend Memorial Vocal Competition for pre-professional singers 16-18, 19-22 & 23-26 (living or studying in 11 counties elegible). Sign up by midnight! Competition is next Saturday, March 7. No cost to apply.

Kristina Townsend Memorial Vocal Competition - Opera Modesto The Kristina Townsend Memorial Vocal Competition honors the memory of Kristina Townsend, daughter of Opera Modesto founder Erik “Buck” Townsend and his wife Erika.  Kristina loved music and especially singing; this competition is designed to encourage and inspire emerging talented young singer...

Summer Opera Institute 2026 is open for enrollment...through March 31!

Summer Opera Institute 2026 - Opera Modesto A summer of training, transformation, and taking the stage—in the heart of California’s Central Valley. Apply here!

SOI artists Sam Waters and Michael Henslee, along with Roy Stevens and Annalisa Winberg will perform Christmas Carols, accompanied by SOI artist David Hernandez!

We (mostly Annalisa Winberg Stevens and Julian Zavala!) are setting up to be part of the Stanislaus Latino Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party at Modesto Gospel Mission! We will have fun and games for the children, and four Of our singers will perform Christmas Carols for the entire gathering!