Dianiella Brancato is an Italian-American soprano from Great Neck, New York. She is currently in her second year of the Professional Voice Studies Program at the Mannes School of Music, studying under the tutelage of Amy Burton. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance with Honors from Carnegie Mellon University in 2023. At Mannes, Brancato recently appeared as Simone in Kaija Saariaho’s La Passion de Simone, following previous performances as Harriet Beecher Stowe in Kamala Sankaram’s The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace and Lauren in a workshop of Many Roads with composer and conductor Daniela Candillari. Her other favorite credits include: Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Arminda (La finta giardiniera), and multiple roles in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges. 

In past summers, Brancato participated in the Houston Grand Opera Young Artist Vocal Academy, Prague Summer Nights Festival, and Classic Lyric Arts programs.

Erin Ridge is lauded by the Washington Post as having a “smooth and charismatic lyric soprano”, Erin Ridge is a D.C. based multidisciplinary artist making a name for herself as both a lyric soprano and stage director. This season includes several exciting debuts: Lucrezia in Lucrezia Borgia with Opera Baltimore, Susan in The Filthy Habit with Penn Square Opera and Older Alyce in Glory Denied and Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro with Finger Lakes Opera. An avid competitor, Ridge has won awards with competitions including the American International Czech & Slovak, International Dvořák, NSAL Martorella, Mildred Miller as well as competing in many additional prestigious competitions as a semi-finalist this past season. Her recent concert soloist repertoire includes Verdi Requiem, Knoxville: Summer of 1915, and Mahler’s 4th. Ridge performs regularly across the DMV area as a recitalist, concert soloist, and chorus member with groups including Washington National Opera, Washington Concert Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Annapolis Opera, Trinity Chamber orchestra and Great Falls Philharmonic. 

Hannah Moreno is an American soprano equally at home on the recital and operatic stage. Hannah began the 25/26 season as a Cedar Rapids Opera Smith Young Artist, performing the role of Rusalka in their children’s opera tour The Littlest Mermaid. In the 24/25 season, Hannah  won the Second Place Prize at the Young Texas Artists Competition Vocal Division and an Encouragement Award at the Arkansas District of the Laffont Metropolitan Opera  Competition. Hannah’s past roles include Rosalba in Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen, the Baker’s Wife in Sondheim’s Into the Woods, and Linfea in Cavalli’s La Callisto. Hannah received her M.M in Vocal Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. 

Soprano Mariah E. Graves is pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Kentucky, having previously earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Her training includes participation in the AIMS 2023 program, as well as numerous competitions and concerts that highlight her versatility in opera, art song, and musical theater. Recent roles include Mother in Hansel and Gretel, Mrs. Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, and Baba in The Medium, Cordelia Loney in Sanctuary Road, and Nurse 2 in Breath of Life.

Grance Ryan is a mezzo-soprano currently pursuing her Masters of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Michigan, studying with acclaimed tenor Stanford Olsen. Roles throughout her studies at Michigan include Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Carmen in La Tragédie de Carmen, and Juno/Ino in Semele. Grace received her undergraduate degrees from DePaul University in Voice Performance and Music Education in 2024, where she studied with tenor Scott Ramsay. Grace has been honored to be named the recipient of several awards, including the winner of the St. Louis District in the Metropolitan Laffont Competition in 2026, the  Jessie Walker Memorial Award from the 2025 Opera Index Awards, the winner of the 2026 University of Michigan Concerto Competition, first place in the University of Michigan Friends of Opera Competition, grand prize from the Opera Grand Rapids Vanderlaan Prize, and more. Grace was a 2025 Summer Studio Artist with Florentine Opera, where she sang Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg in Scalia/Ginsburg. This summer Grace covers the title role in Bertin’s Fausto, an American premiere at Opera Neo as a Studio Artist.

Lou Kerst is a tenor originally from Conway, Arkansas. He is a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education. Recent roles include the Sorceress from Dido and Aeneas, Gerardo in Gianni Schicchi, and Bastien in Mozart's singspiel Bastien und Bastienne, Jack in Into the Woods, Remendado in Carmen, and Viscount Cascada in The Merry Widow. In the summer of 2024 he was invited into the Emerging Artists program at Opera in the Ozarks where he performed Rev. Parris and Giles Corey in Ward's The Crucible, and Gastone in La Traviata. He was invited back in 2025 where he performed Jack in Into the Woods, Remendado in Carmen, and Viscount Cascada in The Merry Widow.

Zinnia Frank (they/them) is a Wisconsin-born baritone living and performing in the DC area.  Recent roles include Gazella/Don Alfonso in Lucrezia Borgia with Opera Baltimore and  Strephon in Iolanthe with the Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society, The title role in Gianni Schicchi and George Seurat in Sunday in  the Park with George.

Lora Bashmakian is an Armenian-American soprano from Los Angeles, California. She is a graduate student at the Eastman School of Music, where she studies under Kiera Duffy. She is a two-time Encouragement Award winner from The Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition and a recent Encouragement Award recipient from the Camille Coloratura Awards. At Eastman, Lora has appeared as the soprano soloist in Bach's Cantata's BWV 82 and 89, and Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang with Eastman Philharmonia. This Spring, she will sing Adele in Die Fledermaus with Eastman Opera Theater. Lora has worked with Lyric Opera of Orange County, and the Ted Atkatz Percussion Seminar. She graduated from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (BCCM) at California State University, Long Beach, receiving her degrees in Vocal Performance, and Choral/Vocal Education. In 2023, she was named the BCCM Concerto Competition winner, and performed Gliere's Concerto for Coloratura Soprano with the Bob Cole Symphony Orchestra.

Nicole Khouzami is a Lebanese-American soprano from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She is a second-year master’s student at Eastman, studying under Kiera Duffy. This season, she performs Adele in Die Fledermaus, sings as the soprano soloist in Haydn’s Requiem in C minor at Eastman, and returns to the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist in Carmina Burana. In competition, Nicole recently won an Encouragement Award in the Camille Coloratura Competition and was selected as a Semi-Finalist in both the Houston Saengerbund and Annapolis Opera Competitions. At Eastman, she appeared as The Plaintiff in Trial by Jury and performed in a masterclass with Barbara Hannigan. Nicole earned her BFA with honors from Carnegie Mellon University, studying under Jennifer Aylmer. CMU performances included the Soprano Soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, Maguelonne in Viardot’s Cendrillon, Bubikopf (Der Kaiser von Atlantis), Cleonilla in Vivaldi’s Ottone in Villa, scenes as Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), and covers of Ircano/Berenice in Broschi’s Idaspe with Pittsburgh’s Quantum Theatre.

Originally from Tacoma, Washington, Mezzo-Soprano Caitlyn Babcock is quickly becoming an up-and-coming young artist, and is thrilled to be working with FLO. Known for her rich lower register and attention to character, Caitlyn has performed multiple operatic roles including Mrs. Cripps in HMS Pinafore and Cornelia (Guilio Cesare) at Pacific Lutheran University, Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) with Northwest Sinfonietta, and was most recently seen as Geniviéve in Eastman Opera Theatre’s production of Impressions de Pélleas. In addition to opera, Caitlyn is an avid lover of chamber music, having recently performed at two chamber music festivals as their first vocal young artist. Outside of performing, Caitlyn is an avid teacher and baker, feeding her friends one loaf of sourdough at a time. Caitlyn is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Vocal Performance and Literature at Eastman School of Music. She is a student of Joshua Conyers.

Jonathan Ellwanger is a tenor from Baltimore, Maryland completing his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at the Eastman School of Music under Professor Anthony Dean Griffey. At Eastman, Ellwanger has appeared as Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Zacarias in the collegiate premiere of Silent Light by Paola Prestini, and the productions of Dido and Aeneas, and Ned Rorem’s Evidence of Things Not Seen. Jonathan previously performed in Finger Lakes Opera’s production of Rigoletto as a chorus member. He participated in the American Institute for Musical Study (AIMS) Lieder Studio under Linda Di Fiore and Coach Lyndsi Maus. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is a life long New York Jets fan.

Jordan Oney is a bass at the Eastman School of Music. He is known for his rich, resonant tone and grounded stage presence. Jordan approaches music with clarity, focus, and direct storytelling, aiming to communicate honestly with audiences. He enjoys both solo and collaborative work and values the energy of live performance. Whether in staged productions, concert settings, or recital programs, he brings preparation, discipline, and musical integrity to every opportunity. He is committed to continued growth as an artist and to developing a versatile repertoire. Jordan is driven by a genuine love of performing and by the connection created in the moment between performer and listener.