About the Artist in Residence Program

The Pensacola Opera Artist in Residence Program provides training and performance experience for young opera professionals. In residence from January to April, these artists form the casts for the operas that tour in the schools, perform or cover lead and comprimario roles on the main stage, and sing for numerous community performances.

The 2010 Artists in Residence Program was underwritten by grants from the National Endowment of the Arts through the American Recovery and Reinvestent Act of 2009, and a gift from the Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust.

How do I become an Artist in Residence?

Artists in Residence audition for the program at Pensacola Opera’s auditions in New York and Pensacola. Most Artists in Residence are preparing for or have completed a Masters in Music or have comparable professional experience. For more information, refer to our auditions page.

2010 Artists in Residence
Patrick Kelley-Alvarado, Tenor
Patrick Kelley-Alvarado hails from Houston, Texas. He has most recently worked with Amarillo Opera, where he performed the role of Ferrando in Così fan tutte. Other professional experience includes covering Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and creating the role of Major Duckworth in Eleanor Roosevelt for Lake George O pera. With Pensacola Opera, he has sung Ferrando in Così fan tutte and the Messenger in Aïda. Other performances include Lippo Fiorentino in Street Scene, the Innkeeper in Cunning Little Vixen, and Gastone in La Traviata with Chautauqua Opera, the Wedding Singer in The Saint of Bleecker Street with Central City Opera, and Tamino in The Magic Flute and Jack in Into the Woods with Opera in the Ozarks. Patrick received his Masters in Music from the University of Houston and his Bachelors in Music from Louisiana State University. He was a Southwest Regional Finalist in the Met National Council Auditions in both the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons.

Jason Coffey, Baritone
Jason Coffey is a recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music. This May he received his degree in Professional Studies in Opera under the private instruction of Joan Patenaude-Yarnell. Most recently, he attended the Des Moines Metro Opera James M. Collier Apprentice Artist Program. With the Curtis Opera Theatre, Jason performed as Pelleas in Impressions of Pelleas and as Andres in Wozzeck. Other notable roles include Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden with Grand Valley State University Opera Theatre, and Maestro Spinelloccio and Ser Amantio di Nicolao in Gianni Schicchi with Blue Lake Opera Theatre. Jason has performed as the bass soloist in Haydn's Creation with the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee, and the baritone soloist for the Faure Requiem with the Skokie Valley Symphony of Illinois.

Ami Vice, Soprano
Soprano Ami Vice is a recipient ofthe Fellowship Award at the Music Academy of the West. There she engaged in concerts with Warren Jones, performed Lieschen in Bach's Kaffee Kantata, as well as recital work in his Tuesdays@8 concerts. Most recently as a James Collier Young Artist, Ami performed in various scenes and concert work with the Des Moines Metro Opera. She will reappear in the role of Bo-Peep in Babes in Toyland at Avery Fisher Hall in December 2009 with the Little Orchestra Society. She competed as Miss Maine at the 2005 Miss America Scholarship Pageant. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from the University of Oklahoma and completed her Artist Diploma in Voice on a Dean's Scholarship to Oberlin College.

Candra Savage, Mezzo-soprano
A native of Jonesborough, Tennessee, Candra has established an extensive operatic reputation. A graduate of East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, she holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in vocal performance, and has studied under Dr. Thomas Jenrette and Lorraine DiSimone. She has participated in numerous programs affiliated with opera companies for young operatic artists, including the Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera North, the Sarasota Opera, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Ms. Savage is a recipient of the Most Outstanding Student Award at ETSU, Sarasota Opera Apprentice Guild Award, the Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions, and she was the second-prize winner in the advanced women category in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition in the Mid-South district. Candra just finished a performance of John Corigliano's The Ghost of Versailles at the Wexford Festival in Wexford, Ireland. She returns to Opera Theatre of St. Louis this summer to perform the role of Petra in Sondheim's A Little Night Music with conductor Stephen Lord and designer Isaac Mizrahi.

Sarah Coffey, Stage Manager
Sarah Coffey was most recently seen on stage in The Circle Theatre Cabaret in Grand Rapids, MI. She also played Mrs. and Harriet Pawling in the Circle Theatre production of Sunday in the Park with George, and Joanie Lish in The Full Monty. She has also appeared at Grand Valley State University in The Secret Garden and The Pirates of Penzance.