Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio

04/04/2025

To celebrate Carlisle Floyd’s centennial birthday, we are adding a brand-new Butler Studio production to the 2025-26 Season: OF MICE AND MEN! 🌾

• In 1977, composer and librettist Carlisle Floyd co-founded the program that we know today as the Butler Studio.

• Director Kristine McIntyre’s world-premiere staging of John Steinbeck’s classic American novella will draw inspiration from real-life, Depression-era photography.

• The cast is entirely comprised of Butler Studio artists — a fitting tribute to Floyd's legacy!

🤩 Experience a moving portrayal of friendship, dreams, and the harsh realities of the American West during two performances in the intimate Cullen Theater on March 13 & 15, 2026. Be sure to include this special add-on production to your subscription TODAY!

04/02/2025

Join Brith Shalom Sunday, April 6 at 3:00 PM for "Voices of Heritage: A Recital of Jewish Composers."
Artists from Houston Grand Opera’s prestigious Butler Studio, Alissa Goretsky, Michael McDermott, and Laura Bleakley present a recital of music by Jewish creatives. Featured on the recital will be works by Jewish composers, such as Leonard Bernstein, Arnold Schoenberg, Gerald Finzi, Gustav Mahler, and others. The concert is free, but registration is requested: https://ow.ly/my9O50VkCR3 Houston Grand Opera

03/17/2025

DOUBLE WIN! ✨🏆🏆✨ We are absolutely over the moon to share that Alissa Goretsky and Luke Sutliff are 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition WINNERS! A huge congrats to Alissa and Luke, and bravo to all the finalists! 👏

Catch Luke in just a few weeks in our spring production of Tannhäuser, and keep an eye out for Alissa’s name as we announce our 2025-26 season productions! 🎶

03/10/2025

Big news! 🎉 First-year Butler Studio member Alissa Goretsky and recent alumnus Luke Sutliff have both been named 2025 Laffont Competition Finalists! What an incredible achievement! Join us in sending them all our love and support as they compete in the Grand Finals Concert this Sunday, March 16. 🏆🎶

03/10/2025

Announcing the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio class for the 2025-26 season! 🤩

The program welcomes three new artists and eight returning members for the upcoming season. Join us in congratulating these talented Butler Studio artists with a big round of applause! 👏👏👏

First-Year Artists:
🌟 Geonho Lee, baritone
🌟 Tzu Kuang Tan, pianist/coach
🌟 Luka Tsevelidze, tenor

Returning Artists:
🌟 Jenny Choo, pianist/coach
🌟 Sam Dhobhany, bass-baritone
🌟 Alissa Goretsky, soprano
🌟 Elizabeth Hanje, soprano
🌟 Michael McDermott, tenor
🌟 Shawn Roth, tenor
🌟 Demetrious Sampson, Jr., tenor
🌟 Ziniu Zhao, bass

02/26/2025

Calling all high school vocalists! 📣📣📣 Ready to elevate your singing to new heights? The Bauer Family High School Voice Studio (BFHSVS) is now accepting applications! This is your chance to work with industry professionals and develop your talent. 🎶 But hurry, the deadline is March 20th!

🌐 Find out more and apply at bit.ly/3Xabu7q. Don't miss this incredible opportunity!

02/26/2025

02/19/2025

YAVA application deadline is March 2nd! Apply, apply, apply! 🎭🎶👇

Think you have what it takes to join our Young Artist Vocal Academy this summer? 👀 YAVA is perfect for college-aged vocalists who are preparing to enter the professional opera world. The deadline is fast-approaching, but there’s still time to apply! 👇👇👇

🌐 Learn more about the program and application process at HGO.org/butler-studio/yava. March 2nd is your last chance to jump on this opportunity!

01/24/2025

Toi Toi Toi to all our Butler Studio artists who will be shining in Houston Grand Opera’s winter production of Puccini's La bohème, opening tonight! 🤩

⭐️ Michael McDermott as RODOLFO
⭐️ Cory McGee (Studio alum) as COLLINE
⭐️ Navasard Hakobyan as SCHAUNARD
⭐️ Demetrious Sampson, Jr. as PARPIGNOL
⭐️ Sam Dhobhany as CUSTOMS OFFICER

01/23/2025

Yup, that just about sums it up! 🤣 TTT to Cory and Demetrious as they prepare to portray Schaunard and Parpignol in HGO's production of La bohème! 🫶

01/23/2025

Way to go, Michael!! 👏👏👏 We can't wait to see you take the stage as Rodolfo! 🤩 You're going to be AMAZING!

01/18/2025

BRAVISSIMOOO! 🎉🎉🎉 We were truly blown away by all of tonight's performances! Congratulations to all the winners and finalists — the talent was undeniable tonight!

And big applause to the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra as well on their Concert of Arias debut! Bravi tutti! 👏 What a night! 🤩