Sidney Marquez Boquiren grew up in the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, spending most of his adult life in the United States. He collaborates with artists on various projects including Biblical illumination; multimedia and multi-sensory art experience; chamber opera; and dance. He has received commissions from the German vocal quintet, amarcord; harpist, Tasha Smith Godinez; the contemporary ensemble, counter)induction; and Parhelion Trio. He is one of 32 artists in the international roster commissioned to compose new solo piano works for Yael Weiss’ “32 Bright Clouds”. His compositions are often informed, influenced, and shaped by contemporary social justice issues; his Catholic faith; and his Philippine identity. A MacDowell Fellow, Sidney is Professor of Music at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. He sings with the Ignatian Schola as well as the choir of The Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan, New York.

Amber Vistein (they / them) is a composer and sound artist who delves deeply into the poetics of timbre, texture, and gesture. From 2017-19 Amber was a Composition Fellow with the American Opera Project’s Composers and the Voice program. They were commissioned by the Washington National Opera to compose The Barrens for the American Opera Initiative. This work premiered at the Kennedy Center in April 2021. Amber received a 2022 Discovery Grant from Opera America in support of their first full-length opera, Dark Exhalation. A lab production of this work was premiered in 2023. They have also created numerous site-specific sound installations, including Growth Continuum for the deCordova Museum, and collaborated with film-video artists Justice and Hogan Seidel on the short films Murmur, Landscapes, and Let’s Look at Florida. Amber is an Assistant Professor at Emerson College and holds degrees from Massachusetts College of Art (MFA) and Brown University (MA, PhD).

Josh Quinn is currently the Music Director and Chorus Director for the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center. Last season, Mr. Quinn made his debut with Opera Baltimore conducting their production of Faust, served on music staff with Opera Omaha for their productions of X: The Life and Times of Malcom X, and Suor Angelica, and served as the Chorus Director for the Sioux City Symphony’s performances of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. While on music staff with Chicago Opera Theater for the past six seasons, he was involved in the development and premieres of eight new operas with the company. He has served as the director of the opera program at North Park University, and vocal coach at DePaul University and Roosevelt University. He holds degrees in opera performance from the New England Conservatory, and is an artist member of Music for Food, a musician-led initiative to fight hunger in our home communities.

Noni Williams is a poet, storyteller, mathematician, and a senior data professional in Omaha, Nebraska. Noni finds purpose in using mathematical concepts to explore the perceived world around her and fostering the joy of that exploration in others. She believes that everyone can be a math person, even you!

CeCe Hastreiter is a versatile soprano known for her performances in both musical theater and classical repertoire. In 2019, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from Nebraska Wesleyan, followed by the completion of her Master's degree in Vocal Performance at Roosevelt University in Chicago in 2021. Throughout her career, Hastreiter's career has led her to perform with Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Résonance, Chicago Symphony, Lincoln Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Carnegie Hall, Rosemont Theatre, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, and Chanticleer Theatre. Most recently, Hastreiter made her solo debut at Lincoln Symphony in the “Deck the Halls” concert. Currently, Hastreiter lends her vocals to First Plymouth Church in Lincoln, NE and Opera Omaha's Chorus. Alongside her performing career, she finds joy in teaching aspiring vocal students through private instruction.

Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez is a Mexican-American mezzo-soprano, educator, and social media creator. She recently completed her master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois under the instruction of bass-baritone Ricardo Herrera. Alejandra’s previous credits with Lyric Theatre at Illinois include Carnaval!, A Little Night Music (Mrs. Segstrom / Desiree Armfeldt understudy), and MET The Musical (Carpathia Dragos). Alejandra has also performed with the Gilbert and Sullivan Company of El Paso, with whom she has performed the roles of Edith in Pirates of Penzance, Lady Angela in Patience, and assisted as vocal director of El Paso’s production of H.M.S. Pinafore. In addition to her work on stage, Alejandra has combined her love for music, graphic design, and social media to create the Aspiring Opera Singers community: an Instagram/Facebook platform where she shares resources, inspiration, and interviews with leading opera professionals.

Gavin Kelley Rasmussen returns to Opera Omaha after performing in Don Pasquale. During their attendance at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Rasmussen sang in productions of Il signor Bruschino, Lakmé, and played the roles of Lt. Joseph Cable in South Pacific, Don Pelagio in La canterina, Vassili in Mavra, and Ruggero Lastouc in La rondine. During this time, they participated in the Asheville Lyric Opera Young Artist Program performing various celebrated opera scenes and singing the role of Uriel in The Creation. They also participated in the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop playing the role of Valletto in L'incoronazione di Poppea and singing for the Harrower Summer Opera Gala. Rasmussen has been a part of the opera community in Omaha for several years, having made their first debut with Opera Omaha in La bohème as a member of the chorus. They have performed as a member of the chorus with Opera Omaha in Tosca, Faust, Madama Butterfly, The Abduction from the Seraglio, and many others.

Baritone Jesse Wohlman returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in La traviata. Mr. Wohlman is a singer, actor, songwriter, and university instructor based in Omaha, Nebraska. Locally, he has had the pleasure of working with a variety of performing arts organizations including the Omaha Symphony, BLUEBARN Theater, Opera Omaha, Vesper Concerts, Salt Creek Song Festival, and is a core member of Résonance. Recent credits include Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Résonance, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast with The Rose Theater, and the bass soloist in Bach’s “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” with the Omaha Symphonic Chorus. Mr. Wohlman received a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a faculty member of the Borland School of Music at Concordia University, Nebraska.