Merola Opera Program

Merola Opera Program Regarded as the foremost opera training program for aspiring singers, pianist/coaches and stage directors.

06/04/2026

Just one week until our final Schwabacher Recital ✨ Join us for a thrilling evening featuring renowned bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen and acclaimed pianist, coach, and San Francisco Opera Center Artistic Director Carrie-Ann Matheson, alongside several 2026 Merolini. Don’t miss it!

Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM
Barbro Osher Recital Hall, The Bowes Center

Kyle Ketelsen, bass-baritone ()
Carrie-Ann Matheson, pianist ()
Shannon Crowley, soprano ()
Charlotte Kelso, soprano ()
Chester Seungyup Han, tenor (chesterhan.ten)
Paul Jang, baritone ()
Ryan Bryce Johnson, tenor ()
Deven Shah, pianist ()

🎟️ Get your tickets now through the link in our bio before they’re gone!

The Schwabacher Recital Series is sponsored by Merola Opera Program and is endowed in perpetuity by the generosity of celebrated Bay Area singer, scholar, and teacher James Schwabacher.

Meet the artists behind the work 🎭✨Our Training for Triumph interview series goes inside the Merola experience, highligh...
05/28/2026

Meet the artists behind the work 🎭✨

Our Training for Triumph interview series goes inside the Merola experience, highlighting the voices shaping this summer’s program.

We spoke with soprano Charlotte Kelso and pianist Yueqi Zhang from “L’Anima Napoletana” about their preparation and process.

Read the full series here: https://merola.org/training-for-triumph-interview-series/ 🎶

We’re just one month away from the opening of the 2026 Summer Festival! 🎶We kick off the season on Thursday, June 25 wit...
05/27/2026

We’re just one month away from the opening of the 2026 Summer Festival! 🎶

We kick off the season on Thursday, June 25 with "L’Anima Napoletana," a Southern Italian–themed recital featuring seven Merolini singers and all five pianists, bringing the spirit and soul of Naples to life on stage.

To check out the rest of the festival season, visit merola.org/public-events/ to secure your tickets today!

🎉 Tickets are now available to the public for Merola’s 2026 season! Grab your seats TODAY as some performances are alrea...
05/04/2026

🎉 Tickets are now available to the public for Merola’s 2026 season! Grab your seats TODAY as some performances are already sold out. You won’t want to miss out when the best and brightest emerging opera stars gather in San Francisco for an unforgettable summer.
🎟️ Get your tickets now at https://merola.org/summerfestival/

04/21/2026

In TWO WEEKS our Schwabacher Recital Series continues! ✨ Featuring two incredible Merola alumni you won’t want to miss!

Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 PM
First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

Gabriel Natal-Báez, baritone ()
Tzu Kuang Tan, pianist ()

🎟️ Get your tickets now through the link in our bio before they’re gone!

The Schwabacher Recital Series is sponsored by Merola Opera Program and is endowed in perpetuity by the generosity of celebrated Bay Area singer, scholar, and teacher James Schwabacher.

✨ The 2026 Merola Summer Festival lineup has been unveiled! ✨Join us as the best and brightest emerging opera stars gath...
04/14/2026

✨ The 2026 Merola Summer Festival lineup has been unveiled! ✨

Join us as the best and brightest emerging opera stars gather in San Francisco for an unforgettable summer:

🇮🇹 ""L’Anima Napoletana""
A vibrant celebration of Italian song, full of passion, nostalgia, and the soulful spirit of Southern Italia.
Curated by Mario Antonio Marra

🌹 Peter Brook’s ""La Tragédie de Carmen""
A bold dramatic take on Bizet’s classic—intense, intimate, and driven by desire.
Conducted by Stephanie Rhodes Russell () (’09) and directed by Mo Zhou () (’15)

🎭 Ariadne auf Naxos
Strauss’s dazzling blend of myth and comedy, where heartbreak meets transformation.
Conducted by Ann-Katrin Stöcker () and directed by Omer Ben Seadia () (’14)

🎉 Merola Grand Finale
The thrilling season finale showcasing brilliant stars in a powerful night of opera at the War Memorial Opera House. Conducted by William Long () and directed by 2026 Merola Stage Director Claire Choquette ()

🎟️ Tickets are on sale NOW for Merola members! (For information on how to become a member, visit merola.org/membership) Remaining tickets go on sale to the public May 1 at merola.org.

Which performance are you most excited for? 👀

Last but not least in our , we’re excited to highlight ⭐️ pianist/coach Yue Qi Zhang (.qi.zhang) from Nanjing, Jiangsu,...
04/10/2026

Last but not least in our , we’re excited to highlight ⭐️ pianist/coach Yue Qi Zhang (.qi.zhang) from Nanjing, Jiangsu, China!

Yue Qi grew up in a musical family, his mother a soprano and his father an amateur violinist and pianist, fostering a lifelong love of classical music. Surrounded by opera from an early age, he began studying piano as a child and later started formal voice training at 18, deepening his passion for the art form. 🎶🎼🎹

Outside of music, Yue Qi enjoys reading and watching mystery and detective stories. He also loves cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, as well as hiking, which helps him reconnect with nature and recharge creatively. 🕵️‍♂️🍳🌿

✨ New to the Merola Opera Program? Join us this summer and meet . Learn more at merola.org ✨

Next in our , we’re excited to highlight ⭐️ tenor Logan Wagner () from Villa Hills, Kentucky!Logan started performing a...
04/10/2026

Next in our , we’re excited to highlight ⭐️ tenor Logan Wagner () from Villa Hills, Kentucky!

Logan started performing after watching his dad in a rock cover band (recent inductees into the NKY Music Hall of Fame!). He went on to perform in musicals and eventually discovered opera in college. 🎸👏

Logan’s biggest inspiration is his dad. He’s always encouraged Logan to follow his passion and never let anything stand in the way of what he wants to do. After more than 30 years in the music industry, his dad’s journey continues to inspire Logan every day. 🎶🎤

✨ New to the Merola Opera Program? Join us this summer and meet . Learn more at merola.org ✨

Coming up next in our , we’re excited to highlight ⭐️ soprano Anna Thompson () from Rochester, Michigan!Anna began as a...
04/09/2026

Coming up next in our , we’re excited to highlight ⭐️ soprano Anna Thompson () from Rochester, Michigan!

Anna began as an alto II in her high school choir, where she fell in love with the sense of community artists create together and the joy of meaningful collaboration. She later joined the musical theatre department, making her debut as Mother Superior in Sister Act. Summer programs like MPulse at the University of Michigan and Interlochen Center for the Arts gave her a glimpse into life as a voice major. 🎼🎭

Through opera, she explores deep truths about human nature and is constantly reminded of the good people are capable of, even in difficult times. Anna can think of no greater purpose than sharing that with others, just as so many mentors have done for her. 💫

✨ New to the Merola Opera Program? Join us this summer and meet . Learn more at merola.org ✨

We're back with another , and we’re excited to highlight ⭐️ tenor Charles Styles () from Tamworth, United Kingdom!Charl...
04/08/2026

We're back with another , and we’re excited to highlight ⭐️ tenor Charles Styles () from Tamworth, United Kingdom!

Charles always knew he wanted to be on stage. Growing up, he loved musical theatre, but his voice didn’t catch up to his acting and dancing until his late teens. He later discovered opera when a friend recommended the Met’s Ring Cycle. Charles was instantly captivated by its intensity. That moment sparked an obsession that quickly expanded to Verdi, Puccini, and bel canto. 🎶🎵

Some fun facts about Charles:
🎭 He collects autographs from the greatest tenors in history
🎶 His first operatic role was Don Giovanni (yes—a baritone!)
🏡 He didn’t grow up around classical music

✨ New to the Merola Opera Program? Join us this summer and meet . Learn more at merola.org ✨

Address

601 Van Ness Avenue, Suite Q/R
San Francisco, CA
94102

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Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

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+14159362324

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