Sidney Marquez Boquiren grew up in the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, spending most of his adult life in the United States. As a creative artist, he is strongly drawn to the practice of collaboration: the ideation, germination, development, creation, realization, performance, and celebration of art that arises out of working closely with others. Past collaborative projects include works on Biblical illumination (folia ligni for Spark and Echo Arts); multimedia and multi-sensory art experience (The Gretel Project with Lauren K. Alleyne, Catherine Chung, and Tomiko Jones); chamber opera (Independence Eve with Daniel Neer); dance (Young Dancemakers Company’s Choreographers & Composers Project); and poetry (Opera Omaha’s Poetry & Music Project). 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 composers in the international roster commissioned to write new solo piano works for Yael Weiss’ “32 Bright Clouds.” His works are often informed, influenced, and shaped by contemporary social justice issues; his Catholic faith; and his Philippine identity. Recent projects have focused on the immigrant experience and climate change, including Paghihirap, Pagsisikap, at Pagbubunyi (for Ciompi Quartet); Manlalakbay (for NOISE Ensemble and the 2025 soundON Festival); Agos (for pianist, Melody S. Quah); and Panalangin (for Palaver Strings).

Sidney is a professor at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York , where he teaches courses in music theory, composition, general education, and directs the Improvisation Ensemble. His teaching is informed and impacted by the practices and principles of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), for which he received a 2025 POGIL Early Achievement (PEAch) Award.

He sings with the Ignatian Schola as well as the choir of The Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan, New York.

James Schroeder is a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and sound engineer from Nebraska. He is the leader of the instrumental jazz-rock-folk group “Mesa Buoy”. As a member of the bands “Rosali” and “David Nance & Mowed Sound”, he has recorded, performed, and toured nationally and overseas.

Recently he has composed music for performances by the tbd. dance collective, the musical “Through the Looking Glass” written by Kevin Lawler and produced by the Great Plains Theatre Company with Ollie Webb Center’s Art of Imagination, and for “DaVinci: Art and the Machine:” a live radio teleplay led by artists Ash Eliza Smith and Robert Twomey and commissioned by Nebraska Public Media.

Gretchen Crane performs frequently across the Omaha metro, including solo appearances with the Omaha Symphony, Opera Omaha, and Omaha Broadway Bar. A homegrown Nebraskan, she has appeared with opera companies across the country and held artist residencies with Des Moines Metro Opera and Opera Naples. Recent performances include Mrs. Hayes in Susannah with Opera Omaha and a workshop of Andy Akiho's NO one TO kNOW one, presented by University of Nebraska-Omaha. and upcoming engagements include a performance of Ricky Ian Gordon's song cycle Genius Child on May 22 at the Salt Creek Song Festival in Ashland, Nebraska.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Ms. Crane is proud to be part of the Advancement Team at the Omaha Conservatory of Music, helping make excellent music education accessible to young people across the city.

Baritone Tanner Engeseth is a young artist currently based in Lincoln. This season, Mr. Engeseth has been seen with Opera Omaha as the Officer in The Barber of Seville and First/Second Man in Susannah. Other credits include Marcello in La Bohème with the Vienna Summer Music Festival and Dandini in La Cenerentola with FIO Italia. A proud Wisconsin native, Tanner is an alumni of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Mr. Engeseth will be pursuing an MMus in Vocal Performance at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University this fall.

Alexandria Plumb is a soprano based in Omaha, NE. She holds degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Nebraska Omaha (M.M.) and Wartburg College (B.M.). While enjoying performing in the area, Alexandria has also found a passion in teaching private voice lessons to students of all ages and levels.

In addition to maintaining a thriving private studio, Alexandria teaches voice through multiple colleges and universities in the Omaha Valley area. While her performance background is rooted in opera and musical theatre, she enjoys teaching a wide variety of styles, including classical, musical theatre, and pop. As a performer, Alexandria regularly sings with Opera Omaha and other regional organizations, remaining active in the local arts community. Outside of music, she enjoys traveling, reading, spending time outdoors, and painting.

Jacob Thomas is a dedicated vocalist and future educator currently pursuing a degree in Music Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
He had the opportunity to perform with Opera Omaha, appearing as a chorus member in their production of Susannah, and for Opera Outdoors. His musical background is further enriched by his work as a piano instructor, where he fosters creativity, discipline, and a love of music for his students.
As a performer, Jacob is passionate about connecting with audiences through meaningful interpretation and expressive storytelling. He is humbly honored to be part of today’s program. He wants to thank the Opera Omaha faculty, composers, fellow musicians, and most importantly, the poets for trusting him with their amazing poetry to bring it to life in a musical capacity!

Josh Quinn is the Head of Music and Chorus Director with Opera Omaha and was the Music Director and Chorus Director for the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center from 2018-2023. He debuted with Opera Baltimore conducting Faust, and served on the music staff with Opera Omaha for productions of X, the Life and Times of Malcolm X and Suor Angelica. He served as the Chorus Director for the Sioux City Symphony’s performances of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. While on staff with Chicago Opera Theater, he was involved in the premieres of eight new operas. He was the Director of Opera Studies at North Park University, and vocal coach at DePaul University and Roosevelt University in Chicago. He holds a BM, MM, and an Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance and Professional Diploma in Collaborative Piano from the New England Conservatory, and is an artist member of Music for Food, a musician-led initiative to fight hunger

Aiden James Poling (he/him) is a versatile creative professional and teaching artist from Shreveport, Louisiana. He holds BFAs in both Theatre and Studio Art, two areas of study which have shaped his career across stage, film, directing, and design. Some of his favorite stage credits include roles such as Jack Kelly (Newsies), Moritz Stiefel (Spring Awakening), Canary Jim (Not About Nightingales), and Little Bat (Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah). Since moving to Omaha three years ago, he has served in leadership roles for several arts organizations. Aiden is also an actor for the Omaha Community Playhouse’s VROOM! Mobile Sensory Theatre, one-of-a-kind traveling immersive experience designed for audiences with autism, developmental delays, or other sensory sensitivities. Aiden is passionate about utilizing his talents to assist in creating inclusive, accessible spaces where the arts can be enjoyed by all, and he’s thrilled to continue to do so in his second year in the HCOF program!

Noni Williams is a poet, teaching artist, tech professional born and raised in North Omaha. Noni finds purpose in using mathematical concepts as a lens for exploring the perceived world around them and fostering the joy of that exploration in others. Noni is a Ten Outstanding Young Omahan, a Ten Outstanding Young American, a 2x OEAA Outstanding Performance Poet nominee, and has created work featured by Juneteenth JoyFest, AfroFest, Joslyn Art Museum, Opera Omaha, KANEKO, Kiewit Luminarium, Silicon Prairie News, and others.