CABARET CAST BIOS

RACHEL COBB, soprano
Hailed as “fiercely dramatic” (The London Times) and possessing a “pure soprano [with] charm and fragility” (Classical Voice), American soprano Rachel Cobb has earned critical acclaim in the United States and Europe as a total performer with incredible dramatic intensity. Past engagements for Ms. Cobb include Miss Jessel in Glyndebourne's production of The Turn of the Screw, Mimì for Duluth Festival Opera, Opera on the James, and in Opera Pacific’s La Bohème, Cio-Cio San at Opera Panama, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Madison Opera and the Westfield Symphony, as Pallade Athena in Gluck's Paride ed Elena at The Caramoor Festival,  Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte with Baltimore Opera and Kitty Hart in the Opera Pacific  production of Dead Man Walking. In concert, Ms. Cobb performed Verdi Requiem with Fairbanks Symphony and in Washington D.C. with Strauss' Four Last Songs.

MARC SCHAPMAN, tenor
Marc Schapman completed a Doctor of Music in Voice Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.  A native of Iowa, Mr. Schapman received his Bachelor of Arts from Luther College and his Master of Music from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.  His operatic credits include George Gibbs in the world premiere of Ned Rorem's Our Town, Pheron in the Opera Circle of Cleveland world premiere of Thamos, King of Egypt, Des Grieux in Manon, Alfredo in La Traviata, and many others. Peter Jacobi of the Bloomington Herald Times stated, “Particularly strong was Chevalier Des Grieux, tenor Marc Schapman. To Grieux, who—despite her betrayal— loves Manon too well, he gave quality of ardor and constancy. Schapman offered a tenor capable of sturdily, repeatedly, firmly meeting and mastering obstacles of high range and volume.”  Samuel Black of the Duluth News Tribune stated, "Marc Schapman, as the young lover Alfredo (La Traviata), was the most personable actor on the stage.  He seemed energized, and genuinely upset that Violetta would treat him so casually.  At the same time, his buoyant tenor never sounded stressed, as he lyrically sang of his frustrated love from beginning to end."  Concert appearences included Handel’s Messiah, Gounod’s St. Cecelia Mass, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, and Rossini’s Stabat Mater.  Currently, Mr. Schapman serves as Assistant Professor of Voice at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he teaches Opera Literature, Song Literature, Opera Workshop, and Applied Voice.  In addition to his SIUE duties, Mr. Schapman serves as a voice teacher for Opera Theater of St. Louis' Artists-in-Training program

AMY WOLF, soprano
Lyric-coloratura soprano Amy Wolf’s opera roles include Sophie in Masterclass with Park Square Theatre; Miss Silberklang in Mozart’s The Impresario; Nella in Gianni Schicchi with Anoka Civic Opera; Musetta in La Bohème; Belinda in Dido and Aeneas with Duluth Festival Opera and Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Opera on the James.  Ms. Wolf has appeared as an Apprentice Artist with Utah Opera and Ensemble Artist with Minnesota Opera. Her concert experience includes as soprano soloist in “Carmina Burana” and Beethoven's “Mass in C” with the Macalester Festival Chorale; “Messiah” with the Lynchburg College Choral Union; the Fauré “Requiem” and Vaughan Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem” with Sonomento. Ms. Wolf has received awards from the Schubert Club, National Association of Teachers of Singing, The Thursday Musicale, SAI Competition and the Phi-Beta Competition, and received her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota.

NAOMI AMOS, pianist
Naomi received her B.A. at the University of Rochester and the Eastman School of Music, where she also earned her Master of Music degree. In addition to numerous performances as soloist and accompanist, she has created music designs for 14 theatrical productions. Her most recent performances include a series of lecture-recitals entitled, "American Piano Music: The Effects of the Melting Pot." She performed in the eight-hand piano concert in 2009 Gustavo Romero Music Festival and was also an adjudicator for the Gustavo Romero Young Artists Piano Competition. Ms. Amos has been accompanist with Opera on the James for six operas, several Cabarets, and school performances of Hänsel and Gretel. She is also an accompanist for the annual regional National Association of Teachers of Singing. She has recently joined the faculty of James River Day School as a teacher of piano.

NATHAN HERFINDAHL, baritone
American Baritone Nathan Herfindahl has recently completed his tenure as a Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist with Washington National Opera (WNO).  While a member of this distinguished program Nathan performed the role of Ping (Turnadot) to which Tim Smith of the Baltimore Sun and Opera News wrote “Nathan Herfindahl (Ping) was especially compelling for his burnished vocalism.”  Other roles Mr. Herfindahl performed at WNO include: Baron Douphol (La Traviata), Germont in (La Traviata, Young Artist Production),Schaunard (La Bohème), Masetto (Don Giovanni, Young Artist Production), and the Father (Hansel and Gretel).  Mr. Herfindahl recently made his European debut singing Masetto (Don Giovanni) with Opera de Monte Carlo.  Nathan has participated in recital in Beijing, China with Placido Domingo as well as recently covering the great tenor in his debut performance of Rigoletto in the same venue.  Nathan has attended the Solti Accademia di Bel Canto in Italy where he had the privilege of working with Dame Kiri te Kanawa and Frederica von Stade. 
Nathan’s many past engagements have included turns as Rigoletto (Rigoletto), Marcello (La Bohème), Guglielmo (Cosi fan tutte), Prince Yamadori (Madama Butterfly), Gene (Evelyn, World Premiere), Dancaïro (Carmen), and Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi).  Mr. Herfindahl has received awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council, the Shreveport Opera, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, both the Minnesota and National Federation of Music Clubs, and the Cecilian Society. 
Nathan has sung with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra. During the 09/10 season Nathan was praised for his ‘robust baritone’ in his portrayal of Harlequin (Ariadne auf Naxos) with the Washington National Opera, as well as making his debut with the Metropolitan Opera’s in their production of Shostakovich’s The Nose.

NORA MOORE,
Nora is always excited to perform with Opera on the James! You may recognize her from a past Cabaret (or 2), or as Despina from Cosi fan tutte.
Among others, she has performed with Opera Carolina, Opera on the James, Charlotte Symphony, Central Piedmont Opera Company, Central Piedmont Community Theatre, Cantate Singers of Virginia, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Lynchburg Symphony and Charlotte Oratorio.
Nora is currently active in opera, oratorio, and musical theatre.  One of her most recent performances included Cinderella in Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Some of Nora's operatic roles include Euridice (Orfeo and Euridice), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), LRRH (Little Red Riding Hood), Alice (Alice in Wonderland), and Leila (The Pearl Fishers).  Her favorite oratorio work includes soprano soloist in the Messiah and Mozart's Vesperae Solemnes De Confessore. Most recently she sang the Soprano Solo for the Mozart’s Requiem with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra.  Nora has employed her dance talents in performances of Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Crazy for You, Blood Brothers, Carousel, and Hello Dolly.
Nora serves on the Education Committee for Opera on the James and is currently playing Gretel in the traveling school productions of Hansel and Gretel.
Aside from performing, Nora has utilized her Masters in Opera from the Boston Conservatory to teach private voice students in Lynchburg as well as classes for the Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg.  She currently is an Adjunct Professor of Voice at Randolph College and is employed by the Academy of Fine Arts.
She is married to Brian Moore, who is an attorney with Phillips, Morrison, Johnson and Ferrell.