First Fridays at Boordy Vineyards Performers

Hers is a voice of remarkable range and life, equally at home in the heights and in the loving low notes. Soprano Rochelle Bard has been described as an ‘exquisite singing actress.' Specializing in bel canto and Verdi repertoire, Ms. Bard made her debut in the title role of Norma with Knoxville Opera, for which critics proclaimed her: 'beautifully constructed and achingly gorgeous delivery, at times soft as a whisper, and at others thrilling in its altitude…she carried off the dramatic contrast between the grandeur of confident matriarchal strength and the rage of a spurned woman with as much believability as can be wrung out of the role.' The much-anticipated 2022-23 season begins with the debut role of warrior princess Odabella in Attila with Sarasota Opera, followed by a reprise of the intense Abigaille in Verdi's Nabucco with Opera Ithaca, and a return to the pinnacle role of Bellini's Norma with Opera Tampa in February 2023. Looking ahead to 2024, she will debut as the soprano soloist in Verdi's Requiem with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Lauded for his "big, heroic voice" (LA Weekly) and "powerful emotions", tenor Dane Suarez has developed an exciting and varied career. Last season, Dane made his Off-Broadway debut in Kate Tarker's world premiere play Montag at Soho Rep and joined OperaDelaware, The Carolina Philharmonic, Penn Square Opera, Heartbeat Opera, and Maryland Opera for concert and gala performances. He returned to New Jersey Festival Orchestra to sing Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), covered Apollo (Strauss's Daphne) with American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, sang Luigi (Il tabarro) with On Site Opera, and sang Turiddu (Cavalleria rusticana) with Lyric Opera of the North.

Soprano Kylie Carter is a graduate of the Maryland Opera Summer Camp and is currently studying voice at UMBC. She was recently seen as Hansel in Hansel & Gretel as part of Maryland Opera's Sounds of the Season concerts.