AENEAS

Teddy Sweeney

Michigan-based tenor Teddy Sweeney is a frequent performer and soloist in the Metro Detroit area. As a concert soloist, his credits include Handel’s Messiah with the Christ Church Grosse Pointe Chorale, Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore with the Flint Symphony Chorus, Mozart’s Credo

Mass with the Christ Church Combined Choirs, and The Ecstasies Above with the Lakeshore Chamber Singers. While a student at University of Michigan, Sweeney sang the tenor solos for Charpentier's Messe de minuit pour Noël, Bach's Cantata BWV 106, Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb, and Mendelssohn's Die Deutsche Liturgie. He has also premiered new works as a soloist, including a recent concert with composers Zan Huang and Jacob Carroll.

Sweeney is a 2022 dual degree graduate of University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance and College of Literature, Science, and Arts. He is currently a staff singer at Christ Church Grosse Pointe.

BELINDA

SARA MORTENSEN

Noted for her “shimmering, soaring” voice, soprano Sara Mortensen earned her Bachelor of Music in Voice from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music, and her Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Mortensen has had the privilege of singing

with Opera de Metro before, performing the roles of Queen of the Night, and Della in Gift of the Magi. She has also performed the roles of Clorinda in La Cenerentola (Toledo Opera), Frasquita in Carmen (Toledo Opera), Juliette
(cover) in Romeo and Juliette (Toledo Opera), and Sifare (cover) in Mozart’s Mitridate (OperaNEO).

Find Sara on social media HERE.

FIRST WITCH

Hallie Ackerman

Hallie Ackerman is a soprano from Ann Arbor, Michigan. She recently graduated from her undergraduate studies and began her master's degree at the University of Michigan this year. Ackerman performed most recently in the University of Michigan's production of Hansel and Gretel as the Sandman. She has

been part of workshops for new operas, such as House on Mango Street (Tree #1/Alicia cover) and Pigeon Keeper (Chorus/Soloist). Ackerman has been part of the opera chorus for Don Giovanni (2023), Cunning Little Vixen (2022), and Opera Grand Rapids’ 2015 production of Carmen.

SECOND WOMAN

Haley Burgh

Haley Burgh is a soprano from Greenwood, IN, in her first year of pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice, Performance at the University of Michigan. Most recently, Burgh performed the role of Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, and the title role in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, both at Florida State

University while earning her Masters in Voice Performance.

Burgh's undergraduate credits at DePauw University include Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Mrs. Stevenson in Sorry, Wrong Number, Sibella in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and Dorothée in Cendrillon. She has performed as a featured artist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, participated in the Chicago Summer Opera and the Luke Housner Summer Opera Workshop, was declared a winner of the DePauw University 2020 Concerto Competition, and was awarded the Van Denman Thompson Award for musical excellence at DePauw. Burgh would like to thank her family and loved ones for their never-ending support.

DIDO

Daiyao Zhong

Hailed as a “vocal promise” by Opera News, mezzo-soprano Daiyao Zhong is quickly establishing herself across opera, art song, concert, and contemporary repertoire. Her notable roles include Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier),Hänsel (Hänsel und

Gretel), L’Opinion publique (Orphée aux enfers), and more. Training and festival credits include the Maryland Lyric Opera Young Artist Institute, iSING! International Young Artists Festival, and the International Vocal Arts Institute. Zhong is currently a doctoral candidate in voice at the University of Michigan. She holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Voice from the Manhattan School of Music. 

An active concert artist, she has appeared as a soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Choral Fantasy, Bach’s Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Fauré’s Requiem, and Mozart’s Requiem. She is also a columnist for Classical Singer magazine, where she contributes practical insights for emerging artists and students.

SORCERESS

Madison Montambault

​Praised by Indy Maven as “a powerhouse sure to entertain and inspire” and by Opera Canada for her “enthusiasm and attractive singing,” Madison Montambault is an American-Canadian dramatic soprano. She joined Opera on the Avalon’s Emerging Artist Program for the 2024/2025 season. During

her residency, she made her European debut at Malta’s Teatru Manoel and premiered Juliana Hall’s new monodrama Marguerite.
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She has performed with companies across North America, including Edmonton Opera, Dayton Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Detroit Opera, and Sarasota Opera, most recently covering Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana.
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Montambault is a finalist in the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, a semi-finalist in the George London Foundation Competition, and a two-time winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition – Indiana District, among other accolades. She holds both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Voice Performance and is a proud alumna of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

To view Madison's website click HERE.

SECOND WITCH

Karen Cook

Soprano Karen Cook is active as a choral artist with ensembles across the country including the Oregon Bach Festival, Spoleto Festival, Baroque on Beaver Festival, Audivi, Beyond, Detroit Concert Choir, ProArteOHIO, sounding light, Vox GR, Toledo Opera Chorus, and Mariners'

Church of Detroit Choir. She is frequently sought after as a concert soloist and is principal soprano of the Baroque on Beaver Festival.

Cook has appeared with Toledo Opera in productions of Roméo et Juliette,The Merry Widow, La Traviata, La Bohème, Macbeth, Vanessa, and South Pacific; with Knoxville Opera in Roméo et Juliette, Otello, Il Trovatore, Mefistofele, and Tosca; and with the Spoleto Festival in Vanessa and La Bohème. Recent roles include Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Baroque on Beaver and A Shepherd Boy (Tosca) with Toledo Opera. Cook lives in Ypsilanti, MI, with her husband, Matt, and nine other ladies: two dogs, six chickens, and a bearded dragon.

SAILOR/SPIRIT

Matthew Cook

Matthew Cook, PhD, is Associate Professor of Preservation & Cultural Geography at Eastern Michigan University. He is thrilled to be making his debut with Opera de Metro! Though his main career is in academia, Dr. Cook works as a professional singer as often as possible and earned a BA

in Music (2024) from EMU. Over the last several years, Dr. Cook has sung with ensembles including the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, Toledo Opera, Mariner’s Church of Detroit, Detroit Concert Choir, Beyond Choir (Ypsilanti), Vox GR (Grand Rapids), and the Baroque on Beaver Festival (Beaver Island).
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Recent roles include: Tamino (The Magic Flute) with EMU Opera Workshop; the chorus Marine in South Pacific with Toledo Opera; Penn Holder in The Gold Bug (Victor Herbert, album recording) and Guido in The Bride Elect with Ann Arbor Comic Opera Guild; Cherubino/Antonio/Basilio in an abridged Le Nozze di Figaro at Baroque on Beaver.