Guest Artists for Oratorio!

Valerie Bernhardt

Acclaimed in the German press for her “phenomenal coloratura-technique and superior high register”, soprano Valerie Bernhardt’s voice has also been praised for her “molten mezzo quality and lovely high range” by the Washington Post. Ms. Bernhardt’s 2014-2015 season saw her join the Lyric Opera of Chicago where she covered the role of Elisabeth in its production of Tannhäuser. During the 2013-14 season, she reprised the role of Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco with ArtsNaples World Festival/Opera Naples, sang the title role in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah with Coro Lirico in Morristown, NJ, and was the soprano soloist in Bruckner’s Te Deum with the New Jersey Symphony at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark NJ. During the 2012-2013 season, she made her debut with Anchorage Opera in the World Premiere of Victoria Bond’s opera, Mrs. President. She portrayed the title role of Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for the U.S. Presidency in 1872. Valerie also sang the role of Brünnhilde in Die Walküre in concert with New York Lyric Opera Theater.

The 2011-2012 season brought Valerie back to Boheme Opera NJ in Trenton to perform the title role of Tosca, and a reprise of her performance of the title role of Turandot with Coro Lirico in Basking Ridge, NJ. She also returned to Carnegie Hall to perform Mozart’s Requiem with the St. Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra in a memorial tribute to the late David Randolph.

In 2009-2010, Valerie appeared on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera, as a cover in From the House of the Dead by Janácek and sang the title role of Aida with Coro Lirico. In 2008-2009 Valerie sang the role of Brünnhilde in Wagner’s Siegfried with New Jersey Concert Opera, Abigaille in Nabucco and Turandot with Coro Lirico, and Tosca with Opera at Florham. Ms. Bernhardt also made her German operatic debut in July 2009 as Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco with Theater Pforzheim. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with Eve Queler's Opera Orchestra of New York in Donizetti's Adelia, as well as her New York City Opera debut in Janácek's The Cunning Little Vixen. Other operatic roles include Mimi in Puccini's La bohème with the Pittsburgh Opera and Boheme Opera of New Jersey; Valentine in Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots with the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico; Hélène in Verdi's Jerusalem with the Opera Orchestra of New York; the First Lady in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with The New York City Opera and Pittsburgh Opera. Ms. Bernhardt has covered the role of Desdemona in

Verdi's Otello and the title role of Anna Bolena with Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall. She also made several appearances at Carnegie Hall with the St. Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra to perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, Mozart's Requiem, and C.P.E. Bach's Magnificat.

Ms. Bernhardt has earned two graduate degrees in voice from The Juilliard School, and has trained at the opera programs at Chautauqua, Aspen, The Pittsburgh Opera Center, and the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program. Valerie was a participant in the Wagner Emerging Singers Program founded by the late Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart under the auspices of the Wagner Society of Washington, DC. Valerie has distinguished herself in various competitions, including the 2007 Liederkranz Foundation Competition (3rd Prize, Wagner Division) as well as the Palm Beach Vocal Competition, and Opera at Florham Vocal Competition, and has won career grants from The Wagner Society of Washington, DC, The Wagner Society of New York, Opera Index, and The Sullivan Foundation.

Jonathan Tetelman

Praised by Opera News for his “galvanizing presence,” tenor Jonathan Tetelman was a finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council in the New York District. This season, he joins the Milan Festival Orchestra in Lake Como, Italy for his first performances of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, The Orchestra Now for Elgar’s masterpiece The Dream of Gerontius, and Opera Company of Middlebury for Luigi in Puccini's verismo Opera, Il Tabarro.

Jonathan was a featured soloist performing Mozart's Coronation Mass in Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble. He also joined Gulfshore Opera for staged concert performances including selections of Alfredo in La Traviata, Rodolfo in La boheme, Werther in Werther and Hoffmann in Les contes d'Hoffmann.

Recently awarded first prize in the 2016 New York Lyric Opera Competition, Jonathan performed concerts at both Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, singing selections of Don Jose in Carmen, Alfredo in La Traviata and Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. The tenor was also the 2016 audience favorite winner in the Mildred Miller Competition, as well as a semi-finalist in both the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition and the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition. Last season, he joined the Martina Arroyo Foundation as Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus and Teatro Grattacielo covering Agamemnon in Gnecchi’s Cassandra. As a young artist with Opera North, Mr. Tetelman sang Steven Sankey in Weil’s Street Scene, Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady, and Alfredo in La Traviata. Additionally, he attended the International Vocal Arts Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia performing as Elder Gleaton along with direction by composer Carlise Floyd, in his masterpiece, Susannah. He was also a resident artist in the Sherrill Milnes' Savannah VOICExperience performing throughout Georgia, Florida and New York City. Jonathan completed the graduate performance studies program at The New School of Music, Mannes College and earned his undergraduate degree from Manhattan School of Music. Jonathan was born in Castro, Chile and grew up in central New Jersey.

Joshua Arky

Bass-baritone Joshua Arky’s 2016-2017 season begins with a return to Opéra Louisiane to sing Alidoro in an English version of La Cenerentola. He then joins Palm Beach Opera as an Apprentice Artist, where he will sing in numerous concerts, and where he will sing the Sergeant of Police in a family performance of The Pirates of Penzance. He will join the Greenwich Choral Society in concert, where he will be featured as a soloist in Puccini’s Messa di Requiem. Mr. Arky’s season will finish with performances of Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with Point Loma Opera Theatre, and Hidraot in Gluck’s Armide with OperaNEO.

During the 2015-2016 season, Mr. Arky sang the Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance with Opéra Louisiane and Il Conte di Walter in Luisa Miller with the Manhattan School of Music. On the concert stage, he appeared as the Bass Soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Binghamton Philharmonic. Mr. Arky was a 2015 Regional Finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (Eastern Region), as well as the 2016 recipient of the Rohatyn Great Promise Award. He finished the season as an Apprentice Artist with Caramoor Bel Canto Opera. During the 2014-2015 season, Mr. Arky sang Colline in La bohème and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, both with the Manhattan School of Music. He then joined Central City Opera as an Apprentice Artist, where he sang the Captain of the Inquisition in Man of La Mancha, Merlin in Boismortier’s Don Quixote and the Duchess, and Dottore Grenvil in a family performance of La traviata. Mr. Arky was also a 2014 Regional Finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (Eastern Region).

In prior seasons, Mr. Arky sang Collatinus in The Rape of Lucretia with the Green Mountain Opera Festival, and Zuniga in Carmen with the Aspen Opera Theater Center. In concert, Mr. Arky has been featured as the Bass Soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with Hunter College and Händel’s Messiah with Columbia University. Mr. Arky holds a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he was a recipient of the President’s Award and the Alexandra Hunt Endowed Vocal Scholarship. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sustainable Development from Columbia University, where he graduated cum laude.