Jan Miller Studio Artists
career training through coaching and performance
Each year, five talented artists join us for a season-long residency, appearing throughout our community and receiving invaluable career guidance and individualized instruction.
About the Program
Founded in 2003, the Jan Miller Studio Artist Program (formally known as the Artists in Residence Program) has been an important incubator for emerging operatic talent for more than 20 years. In residence from September through March, Studio Artists perform and/or cover roles in mainstage productions, sing for numerous educational and community outreach programs, and star in an annual showcase production. In recent seasons, Studio Artists have been featured in staged scenes programs, concerts with orchestra, and chamber operas at the Opera Center. The Studio Artist coach/pianist works as the music director for the educational outreach performances, in addition to serving as rehearsal pianist for mainstage productions and performing with the Studio Artist singers at a variety of events throughout the season.
In addition to numerous performance opportunities, Studio Artists also receive regular musical coaching from Pensacola Opera’s music staff, as well as guest coaches and voice teachers, who work to prepare these artists for a successful professional career. Past Studio Artists have gone on to enjoy successful careers on stage and behind the scenes throughout the US and internationally.
For information about auditions for the 2025-26 Jan Miller Studio Artist Program, please visit our Auditions & Employment page.
About Jan Miller
In 2022, the program was renamed as part of a sustaining gift by Jan Miller, a generous, longtime Pensacola Opera trustee, supporter, and advocate. Jan was President of the Board when the organization established the Artists in Residence Program, making it one of the focal points of our mission in 2002. She has also been a fierce fundraiser and promoter for our in-school programming, which reaches over 10,000 area children each year. Her dedication to and belief in our education programs over the past 20+ years have been the driving forces in her impactful fundraising efforts for the company.
24 – 25 jan miller studio artists
Studio Artist Alumni
2023-24
Nicole Heinen, soprano
Alexandra Sanchez, mezzo-soprano
Zachary Taylor, tenor
Bernardo Medeiros, baritone
Tongyao Li, pianist/coach
2022-23
Hayley Abramowitz, soprano
Kayla Nanto, mezzo-Soprano
Randy Ho, tenor
Scott Lee, baritone
Nathan Cicero, pianist/coach
2021-22
Emily Michiko Jensen, soprano
Imara Miles, mezzo-Soprano
Robert Hartfield, tenor
Ron Dukes, bass
Andrew Pham, pianist/coach
2020-21
Alyssa Dessoye, soprano
Erin Alford, mezzo-Soprano
Brian Skoog, tenor
Jack Chandler, baritone
Anthony Benz, pianist/coach
2019-20
Bizhou Chang, soprano
Emily Triebold, Mezzo-Soprano
Aaren Rivard, tenor
Corey Gaudreau, baritone
Stephen Variames, pianist/coach
2018-19
Andrea Baker, soprano
Christina Pezzarossi, Mezzo-Soprano
Alexander Scheuermann, tenor
Corey Gaudreau, baritone
Kelvin Ying, pianist/coach
2017-18
Evelyn Saavedra, Soprano
Camille Sherman, Mezzo-Soprano
Eric Wassenaar, tenor
Brent Hetherington, baritone
Nola Strand, Music Director/Pianist (Fall)
Deniz Uz, Music Director/Pianist (Spring)
2016-17
Evelyn Saavedra, Soprano
Gillian Lynn Cotter, Mezzo-Soprano
Frederick Schlick, tenor (Fall)
John Riesen, tenor (Spring)
Brent Hetherington, baritone
Joshua Horsch, Music Director/Pianist
2015-16
Allison Nicholas, Soprano
Amanda Fink, Mezzo-Soprano
Nicholas DeMeo, Tenor
Thaddeus Ennen, Baritone
Xavier Suarez, Music Director/Pianist
Jessica Myers, Stage Manager
2014-15
Ariana Wehr, Soprano
Juliana Curcio, Mezzo-Soprano (Spring)
Eliza Bonet, Mezzo-Soprano (Fall)
Eamon Pereyra, Tenor
Matthew Konopacki, Baritone
Karl Anderson, Stage Manager
Nick Place, Music Director/Pianist
2013-14
Anne Slovin, Soprano
Eliza Bonet, Mezzo-Soprano
Eamon Pereyra, Tenor
Ted Federle, Baritone
Karl Anderson, Stage Manager
Nick Place, Music Director/Pianist
2012-13
Jennifer Juilfs, Soprano
Ashley Cutright, Mezzo-Soprano
Joe Shadday, Tenor
Mitchell Hutchings, Baritone
Ashleigh Dawn Kriegh-Fleming, Stage Manager
Emily Senturia, Music Director/Pianist
2011-12
Jennifer Juilfs, Soprano
Samantha Korbey, Mezzo-Soprano
Joseph Shadday, Tenor
Mitchell Hutchings, Baritone
Carrington Konow, Stage Manager
Dana Sadava, Music Director/Pianist
2010-11
Ami Vice, Soprano
Jennifer Trombley, Mezzo-Soprano
Eric Bowden, Tenor
Gabriel Preisser, Baritone
Emilia Allen, Stage Manager
Michael Sakir, Music Director/Pianist
2009-10
Ami Vice, Soprano
Candra Savage, Mezzo-Soprano
Patrick Kelley-Alvarado, Tenor
Jason Coffey, Baritone
Sarah Coffey, Stage Manager
Joshua Pepper, Pianist
2008-09
Anna Steenerson, Soprano
Dawn Pierce, Mezzo-Soprano
Patrick Kelley-Alvarado, Tenor
Justin Hopkins, Baritone
Jenny Bossa, Stage Manager
Cate Doss, Music Director/Pianist
2007-08
Anna Steenerson, Soprano
Dawn Pierce, Mezzo-Soprano
Zechariah Baker, Tenor
Todd Van Felker, Baritone
Jarod Wilson, Stage Manager
Melissa Gilbert, Music Director
2006-07
Shelia Murphy, Soprano
Alissa Anderson, Mezzo-Soprano
Zechariah Baker, Tenor
Sean Damm, Baritone
Sarah Stanley, Stage Manager
Christian Crans, Music Director/Pianist
2005-06
Kimberly Monzon, Soprano
Alissa Anderson, Mezzo-Soprano
Nicholas Larson, Tenor
Carlos Monzon, Baritone
Jaira Jorcha, Stage Manager
Blake Riley, Music Director/Pianist
2004-05
Annie Burridge, Soprano
Elise Quagliata, Mezzo-Soprano
Kelly Markgraf, Tenor
Chip Cothran, Baritone
2003-04
Katherine Jolly, Soprano
Kelli Geogham, Mezzo-Soprano
Thomas Rowell, Tenor
Patrick Jacobs, Baritone