2025 IPAI BAVARIA
Young Artists
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Alexandra Guerra, Soprano
Anchorage, AK.
Alexandra Guerra is a third-year Undergraduate student at the Pennsylvania State University, majoring in vocal performance. Previous operatic experience with the Penn State opera theatre includes Dialogues of the Carmelites as Mother Gerald, scenes from Così fan Tutte as Fiordiligi, and more. They have explored Soprano and Mezzo Soprano roles as well as choreographed dance. Alexandra is extremely grateful and excited to be able to immerse in the IPAI opera program!
Andrea Morokutti, Pianist
Ithaca, NY.
Andrea Morokutti is a recent graduate of Ithaca College, where she majored in Piano Performance with an emphasis in Collaborative Piano. She has been Associate Music Director for Ithaca Mainstage productions of Newsies, Catch Me if You Can, Into the Woods, and We Wear the Sea Like a Coat. Andrea’s performing career began at the age of six when she joined The Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus, a position she enjoyed for seven years. In this last semester, she performed the “Quartet for End of Time” by Olivier Messiaen with three colleagues. They entered a research presentation on this piece and won an award in this year’s Whalen Academic Symposium at Ithaca College. Andrea will be attending the University of Michigan in the Fall for a Master's of Music in Collaborative Piano.
Andrew Cox, Baritone
Ellisville, MS.
Andrew Cox is a native of Laurel, Mississippi and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Vocal Music Education at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Andrew studies voice at his University under the direction of Dr. Susan Ruggiero. Andrew’s opera experience includes Papegeno in William Carey’s production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and Major-General Stanley in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance”. In his free time, Andrew enjoys lifting weights, playing video games, and leading worship at his local church.
Anne Everhart, Soprano
Eden, NC.
Anne Everhart is a 2025 vocal performance graduate of University North Carolina School of the Arts. Her most recent performances have been "Man of La Mancha" with Piedmont Opera and a UNCSA Opera scene of Mozart's "The Impresario" as Mademoiselle Warblewell. Her aspiration is to become an opera singer in Europe and be able to travel during her career. She is now pursuing her Master's in voice at the Jacob's School of Music of Indiana University Bloomington.
Arden Dubret, Soprano
Loranger,LA.
Arden Dubret (she/her) is a soprano from Hammond, LA, where she studies vocal performance at Southeastern Louisiana University under Dr. Jennifer Mouledous. Previous roles include: Papagena in "Die Zauberflöte", Schwartzy in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", and Jan in "Grease." Arden enjoys performing a diverse repertoire of musical theater and classical, and she is absolutely thrilled to be a part of IPAI's 2025 summer intensive!
Avery Smith, soprano
Hattiesburg, MS.
Avery Smith, daughter of Craig Smith and Laina Woodard, hails from Madison, Mississippi; she is a freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi seeking a degree in Vocal Performance while taking law classes. Smith is a 2024 graduate from the Mississippi School of the Arts as a vocal student where she was actively involved in both her school and community. As a young performer, and scholar, Smith has been fortunate enough to be a finalist and/or national qualifier in the Regional and State National Association for Teachers of Singing competition in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and she was also selected to be the first ever featured Musical Theatre singer for the ACDA/MMEA State Honor Choir Conference held in January 2024. During her time at Southern Miss, Smith has worked with Southern Miss Opera Theatre performing in roles like Mrs. Squires in the production of The Music Man, The First Lady in the Lock Quintet of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Gretel in the Prayer Scene of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and continuing to be involved by participating in the opera this fall!
Che Lu, Pianist
Swarthmore, PA.
Che is an undergraduate student from Swarthmore College, PA. Her major is linguistics and her minor is music. She is a soprano and sings in the college choir. She also plays the Dizi in Chinese music ensemble and taiko in Swarthmore taiko ensemble. She enjoys writing, hiking, and eating out with friends.
emily jones, soprano
Metairie, LA.
Emily Jones is a recent graduate of the Music Industry Studies Program at Loyola University of New Orleans. She is a songwriter who is trying to get more in touch with the storytelling aspect of her music by taking what she loves about Musical Theatre and applying it to her own work. Emily is excited to study techniques to make her an all around more authentic performer.
Emma Commisso, Soprano
Latham, NY.
Emma Commisso, soprano from Albany, NY, USA, recently completed her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education at Ithaca College. Currently, she is working as a Local Singer for Opera Saratoga and as an Elementary General Music Educator. Recent credits include Flora in The Turn of the Screw (Opera Ithaca), Storybug in Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children (workshop with Glimmerglass Festival), Stella in Le Dernier Sorcier (Ithaca College), Terry in Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding (Proctors Collaborative), and Ensemble/Mabel Cover in The Pirates of Penzance (Ithaca College). She is also a proud alumnus of IC’s Opera Studio Program, where she studied the roles of Jeannette (L’amant Anonyme) and First Lady/Spirit (Die Zauberflöte).
Gavin Standish, Tenor
Hattiesburg, MS.
Gavin Standish is a vocalist trained in both Classical and Musical Theater from Vicksburg Mississippi. Gavin attends William Carey University, where he studies under Dr. Katrina Cox. Gavin has been performing since he was eight years old, and is happy to be a part of IPAI’s experience.
Helen Steffan, Pianist
Fayetteville. NC.
Pianist Helen Steffan has taken part in a variety of performances. As a soloist, these include Carnival of the Animals with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (Fayetteville, NC), Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Evangelion at Emmanuel Episcopal Church (Southern Pines, NC), and several solo recitals. As a collaborator, Helen has accompanied singers, choirs, instrumentalists, and fully staged musicals. Helen studies piano performance with Dr. Dmitri Shteinberg at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Kassidy Chandler, Mezzo-soprano
Laurel, MS.
From Laurel, Mississippi, Kassidy Chandler is delighted to be joining IPAI this summer as a Teaching Fellow! She recently completed her M.M. in Vocal Performance from The University of Southern Mississippi, where she also completed her B.M.E. in Choral Music Education. This fall, she will begin her teaching journey as the 6th-8th grade Choir Director at Jefferson Middle School in Columbia, Mississippi. Chandler is also an active artist, having performed in and directed several productions with various companies, such as The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company and Hub City Players.
Kathlyn Arcemont, Mezzo-soprano
Jackson,MS.
Kathlyn Arcemont is thrilled to return to IPAI this season as a part of the Teaching Fellowship Program. A graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Choral Music. During her time at USM, she performed with the acclaimed Southern Chorale and pop a cappella group Spirit of Southern.
Kathlyn currently serves as the director of traditional choirs and pop a cappella at both Brandon Middle School and Brandon High School, where she leads a vibrant and competitive vocal music program. Outside of the classroom, she continues to find joy on stage, performing regularly at New Stage Theatre. Recent credits include Beautiful (Betty), Bright Star (Margot), and Sister Act (Sister Mary Patrick). She has also served as the music director for New Stage's First Stages summer camp for the past two years, fostering the next generation of young performers.
lauren mathews, Mezzo-soprano
Dallas, TX.
Lauren Mathews is returning to IPAI as 2025’s directing fellow! She graduated with her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Memphis last spring and has been working in the Dallas area ever since. In college she played roles such as The Witch in Into The Woods, and Magenta in Rocky Horror. In Dallas she was the female swing for Theatre Three’s production of Debbie Does Dallas. She is excited to start working towards her passion of becoming a director!
Lilya heidelbaugh, Soprano
Ann Arbor, MI.
Lilya Heidelbaugh is a Vocal Performance Major at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. She has been in several opera/ operetta performances through the University and it's student organizations, and even directed her first operetta this past spring. Lilya aspires to have a career as an opera singer in Europe, hopefully Austria/ Germany, so she is thrilled to be a part of the IPAI Bavaria program this year!
Maddy Yeung, Pianist
Navarre, Fl.
Maddy Yeung is a collaborative pianist based in the Navarre, Florida area. She received her B.M. in Piano Performance from Truman State University, and M.M. in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is currently the pianist for the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale, resident accompanist for The Mosaic Theatre Company and Musical Director for The Story House Theatre.
Megan Fordham, Mezzo-soprano
Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Megan Fordham is a 2025 graduate of William Carey University, earning her Bachelor of Music summa cum laude with a double major in Vocal Performance and Choral Music Education. Throughout her time as an undergraduate, she has had extensive experience as a solo, choral, and stage ensemble singer, working under immensely talented faculty and mentors. She dreams of one day getting to perform professionally on the stage, and is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to study with the IPAI program to continue growing in her craft.
Mia digiovanni, mezzo-soprano
Metairie, LA.
Mia DiGiovanni, a mezzo-soprano, is an upcoming Senior pursing a Vocal Performance degree at Loyola University New Orleans. A native of Louisiana, last year she made her debut in the New Orleans Opera Company with the chorus of Samson et Dalila in Concert. University experience includes playing the titular L'Enfant in Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges as well as Cupid in Orpheus in the Underworld. Mia has performed with the Frazier Singers and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) and even had the opportunity in 2023 to back acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Nic Stark, Tenor
State College, PA.
Nic Stark, an alumni of Penn State University, was recently seen as Giles Corey in Harrower Summer Opera's production of The Crucible. He has also been seen as Chevalier de la Force and Father Confessor from Dialogues of the Carmelites. In addition to these, Nic has performed excerpts of roles such as Ruggero from La rondine, Ferrando from Così fan tutte, Rodolfo in La bohème, and Don Ottavio from Don Giovanni.
To cultivate his deep interest in voice pedagogy, anatomy, & education, Nic maintains a private voice studio and teaches virtual college-level Music Appreciation out of his home in central Pennsylvania.
Nicole Huff, soprano
Trophyclub, TX.
Nicole Huff, soprano, is a graduate student at the University of Memphis, pursuing a degree in Vocal Performance and Vocology. She studies voice with Mary Wilson and is actively involved in university productions, most recently performing in the chorus of The Rake’s Progress with Opera Memphis.
She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where she sang in the choruses of La Bohème, The Queen of Spades, and Carmen. Recently, Nicole has performed the soprano solo in John Rutter’s Requiem with Germantown Presbyterian Church, won the Beethoven Club Young Artist Competition, and made her role debut as Adele in Die Fledermaus with Texas Tech’s Matador Opera.
Noah Brand, Tenor
Hattiesburg, MS.
Noah Brand has been in the performing arts as long as he can remember. From his various cinematic roles, nearly 30 roles on the stage, and his participation in the NATS regional and state competitions, he is no stranger to the spotlight. He currently studies voice at the University of Southern Mississippi under the tutelage of Dr. Meredith Johnson, and is excited to return to USM to begin working on their fall production of Die Fledermaus.
Sam Perkins, Alto/soprano
Washington, DC.
Sam Perkins is a Washington, DC based performer. She currently attends Loyola University New Orleans and is pursuing a degree in Music Composition. She has brought a fierceness to the stage as Jo March (Little Women) and Celisse (Godspell), and a tremendous joy as Lumiere (Beauty and the Beast) and Piragüero (In The Heights). It is her dream to music direct and perform around the world!
Thomas Delahoy, Tenor
State College, PA.
Thomas Delahoy studies voice under Rachel Copeland at Penn State University. He participates in the Concert Choir, Essence of Joy Choir, and Opera programs at Penn State. Thomas is very grateful for the opportunity to learn from the faculty and collaborate with the other singers at IPAI Bavaria.
Xiaqiangege Liu, Pianist
Manchester, UK.
Xiaqiangege Liu is a UK based collaborative pianist and educator. She earned her Bachelor’s degree with Distinction from Wuhan Conservatory(China) and completed a Master’s in piano accompaniment at the Royal Northern College of Music(UK) in 2024.
She is passionate about expressive, sensitive ensemble playing and creating musical connection through collaboration.