2008-2009 Resident Artists of Connecticut Opera
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Rosa Betancourt, soprano

Ms. Betancourt received her Bachelor's Degree from the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. She has performed with the Teatro de la Opera, Compania Lirica de Puerto Rico, New Jersey Opera, Mannes Opera and Zarzuela & Operetta of Puerto Rico in such roles as Rosina in The Barber of Seville, The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. She has won numerous awards and was a young artist in the New Jersey Opera’s Young Artist Program.

Rachel Hauge, mezzo-soprano

Ms. Hauge received her Master’s Degree from Boston University and her Bachelor's Degree from The Boston Conservatory. She has performed with Chautauqua Opera, Opera del West, at the Summer Workshop at Critteden, Bel Canto Northwest and Metrowest Symphony Orchestra among others. Recent credits include Jenny Hildebrand in Street Scene, Tisbe in La Cenerentola, and a partial role as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. She was a finalist in the Lakes Region Opera Competition and a Young Artist with Chautauqua Opera in New York.



Evan McCormack, tenor

Evan McCormack received his Bachelor’s degree at SUNY Buffalo and his Master’s degree at the University of South Carolina.  He has performed Acis in Acis and Galatea, Filch in The ThreePenny Opera, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and Tony in West Side Story.  Evan has studied at Eastman and at the Scuola Italia in Urbania, Italy.  In the summer of 2008 he was a young artist with the Seagle Music Colony in New York.

Joel Herold, baritone

Mr. Herold received his Master's degree at the University of Tennessee and his Bachelor’s Degree from Carnegie Mellon University. He has performed in productions with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Tuscia Opera Festival and Knoxville Opera. He has sung Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly, Frank in Die Fledermaus, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte and Mustafà in The Italian Girl in Algiers. He was the 2007 Mid-South Regional Winner in the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions and has been a young artist in the Apprentice program at New Jersey Opera Theater Summer Program.


Christopher Devlin, Music Director

In addition to being Music Director of Opera Express, Mr. Devlin currently acts as vocal coach and assistant conductor for Connecticut Opera. Productions with the company, under Willie Anthony Waters, Cal Stewart Kellogg and Scott Bergeson include L'Italiana in Algeri, Cavalleria Rusticana, Gianni Schicchi, Carmen, Così fan tutte, Don Pasquale, Tosca and La Cenerentola. Having served on the faculty of McGill University as opera coach for four years, Mr. Devlin has also been recorded by CBC Radio, both as soloist as well as with soprano Maria Pellegrini and the Cantata Singers of Ottawa. His extensive work at Canada's National Arts Center includes the premiere performance of Steven Gellman's opera, Gianni. Internationally, Mr. Devlin's recital tour with mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah was highlighted by a performance for the Jordanian royal family. In North America, Mr. Devlin has appeared in recital with artists including Frederick Burchinal, Mariateresa Magisano and Denyce Graves.