Meet the Artists- Houston Grand Opera Studio Artists
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Kiri Dyan Deonarine, soprano
Sandy and Lee Godfrey Fellow
First-year HGO Studio Artist Kiri Dyan Deonarine made her HGO debut as Adina in peformances of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love and appeared in recital this month at Rienzi. Ms. Deonarine holds a bachelor’s degree in music education with a minor in German from Baylor University where she appeared in a variety of major roles including the title roles of Floyd’s Susannah and Puccini’s Suor Angelica. Ms. Deonarine has received many honors, including a Metropolitan Opera National Council (Grand Finalist), 1st Place Texoma Region NATS Vocal Scholarship Competition, and 1st Place Dallas - Ft. Worth Chapter NATS Vocal Scholarship Competition. The soprano was an Apprentice Singer this summer at The Santa Fe Opera.
Octavio Moreno, baritone
Andrew Schirrmeister Fellow
Octavio Moreno is a second-year Houston Grand Opera Studio Artist and appeared this season as a Noble in Wagner’s Lohengrin and as Belcore in performances of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love. He returns this Spring as Sourin in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades. Last season he stepped in at the last minute to sing the title role in the second and third acts of Verdi’s Rigoletto at Miller Outdoor Theatre. He also sang Marullo in Rigoletto and was a soloist in Chorus! Originally from Hermosillo, Mexico, Mr. Moreno studied at the Universidad de Sonora and the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia. He won third place in the 2008 Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers and sang on behalf of Mexico in the 2009 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. During his HGO Studio Fellowship, Mr. Moreno has performed at Rienzi and at the Mexican Consulate in celebration of Mexican Independence Day.
David Hanlon, pianist/coach
John M. O'Quinn Foundation Endowed Fellow
Pianist David Hanlon is a second season HGO Studio Artist. He played in the orchestra for Wagner’s Lohengrin and will return to the orchestra pit for Puccini’s Tosca, for which he will also serve as assistant coach. Last season he was a rehearsal pianist for Beatrice and Benedict, served as children’s chorus pianist for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and coached the world premiere of Brief Encounter by André Previn. Mr. Hanlon served as head coach for the HGO world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’s The Refuge and his song “I Know Your Sorrow” was performed at the Rienzi recital earlier this month. He has appeared in concert at such venues as the 92nd Street Y, Merkin Hall, Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, the Whitney Museum, Zilkha Hall and Cairo’s historic Ewart Hall. He performed in the second staged performance of Partch’s Oedipus, with Newband ,which the New Yorker called one of the ten best live events of 2005. Mr. Hanlon has worked and studied with composers such as Pierre Boulez, Steve Reich, David Lang, Jim Thirlwell, Alvin Lucier, and Anthony Braxton. His playing, as well as his own compositions, can be heard on the New Amsterdam Records label. This summer, Mr. Hanlon will attend the Merola Opera Program at San Fransisco Opera.