Falstaff – Roy Stevens. Roy Stevens, born and raised in Modesto, graduated from Paradise Elementary School and Modesto High School. He began to perform with Modesto Youth Theater (now MPA) and Modesto High School Choir & Drama. Despite being an outstanding Science and Math student with no interest in a performing career, Roy has been an international opera singer since 1987 and the General Director of Opera Modesto since 2018. His career includes leading performance in theaters and with symphony orchestras in 20+ countries, on 5 continents and in 12 languages: from the national theaters of Albania and Guatemala to La Scala (Milano, Italy) and the Metropolitan Opera (New York). He progressively moved towards active roles as Producer, Organizer and Casting Director, leading major international operatic productions in Albania, Panama and Nepal. As General Director of Opera Modesto, Roy has been proud to help keep Buck Townsend’s dream of opera in the central valley of California alive and thriving. He is especially proud of Opera Modesto’s youth training & development programs and unique educational initiatives, as well as helping to foster a unique era of collaboration between arts institutions in Modesto. The title role of FALSTAFF is his favorite role, which he has sung around the world, including an international telecast of the opera on TVE – Televisión Española, from Teatro Cervantes in Palma de Mallorca, directed by Stefano Poda.
Ford – Jason Detwiler. With over sixty-five roles to his credit, the baritone has become well-known for his magnetic and energizing stage performances. His voice and acting have been described as “emotionally fervid”, “richly expressive”, and “commanding”. Last season saw his debuts at Carnegie Hall as soloist in Vivaldi’s Magnificat and with New York City Opera in Florence, Italy as Papa (The Garden of the Finzi-Continis/Ian Gordon). He then returned to the Narnia Vocal Festival as Peter (Hansel and Gretel), played Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette) for Opera Idaho, and debuted with Painted Sky Opera as the titular Der fliegende Holländer. Most recently, the baritone returned to Opera Idaho in the title role of Gianni Schicchi and debuted with Tulsa Opera as Escamillo in La tragédie de Carmen.The baritone has performed nationally with San Diego Opera, Virginia Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Opera Parallèle, Syracuse Opera, Sacramento Opera, Opera San Jose, Shreveport Opera, Festival Opera of Walnut Creek, West Bay Opera, Vallejo Symphony Orchestra, the American Philharmonic Sonoma County, the Idaho State-Civic Symphony, the Boise Philharmonic, and in France with L’Opéra Théâtre d’Avignon. Currently residing in Boise, Idaho with his wife, mezzo-soprano Michele Detwiler, he studies with New York’s Andrea DelGiudice.
Alice Ford – Liisa Dávila. Liisa Dávila, has led Opera Modesto’s main stage chorus and in January 2022 she debuted as the Conductor. Ms. Dávila proudly serves as a voice teacher and as a conductor for Opera Modesto’s Summer Opera Institute. As an active performer she is regularly a featured soloist with other symphonies and opera organizations in the region including the Stockton Symphony, Stockton Chorale, Auburn Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, West Bay Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, and the Music in the Mountains Festival in Grass Valley. She is a regular performer with Synergy Chamber Players, performing chamber works throughout the Central Valley. Equally at home with concert work as well as opera Ms. Dávila was last heard in Modesto as Micaela in Opera Modesto’s notable production of Carmen and in the soaring jazz solos of Will Todd’s Mass in Blue with the Stockton Chorale. Other roles in a very versatile repertoire include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Margüeritte (Faust), and Violetta (La Traviata). Other concert highlights include Mozart Requiem, Verdi Requiem, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
Quickly – Michele Detwiler. Ms. Detwiler has sung over thirty roles with regional companies in the United States, favoring Mahler, Strauss, Bel Canto and French repertoire. Critics have described her instrument as “amber-voiced”, “a velvety mezzo soprano voice with excellent range”, with performances being cited as “riveting” and holding “center stage commandingly”. She has performed over a dozen characters with Opera Idaho, most recently as La Principessa/Zita (Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi). Last season, she returned to the Narnia Festival in Italy to lead the Emerging Artist Program and made her debuts with Mississippi Opera as Orlofsky and Opera Modesto as Anne (Meier’s Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Fallen Giant). Next spring sees her role debut as Madama Quickly in Opera Modesto’s Falstaff. In addition, the mezzo has sung with Sacramento Opera, MidAtlantic Opera, West Bay Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Mission City Opera, the Boise Philharmonic and Master Chorale, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Auburn Symphony, Boise Baroque and Symphony Silicon Valley as well as guest and resident artist for several years with Opera San Jose.
Nannetta – Darby Schmidt. Soprano Darby Schmidt recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance under the instruction of Joshua Conyers. During her time at Eastman she performed solos in Eastman’s Bach cantata series, Eastman’s Collegium Musicum, and Eastman Chorale. Last September, Darby performed Ricky Ian Gordan’s, and flowers pick themselves, with the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra as the most recent Concerto Competition winner. Darby placed second in the 2024 annual Friends of Eastman Opera Voice Competition winning the Annabel Muenter Vocal Prize. She was also a finalist in the 2024 Schmidt vocal competition. With Eastman Opera Theater she performed the roles of the Primadonna from the Ariadne auf Naxos-Prologue by Strauss and Blanche de la Force from Dialogues des Carmélites by Poulenc during the 2023-24 season. Summer music programs she attended include the AIMS training program in Graz, Austria, Sewanee Summer Festival, and performing Gretel in Hansel and Gretel at Teatro Commuale di Giuseppe Manini di Narni. Darby, a native Californian, has performed roles with Opera Modesto such as Maria in Mansfield Park by Johnathan Dove, premiered the role of Annabel in Annabel by Deborah Kavasch, and looks forward to joining their upcoming 24-25 season as Susannah in Le nozze di Figaro and Nannetta in Falstaff.
Fenton – Sergio González. Tenor Sergio González, heralded by Classical Voice as singing with “great charm and excellent vocal ability,” makes his Opera Modesto debut as Fenton in their production of Verdi’s Falstaff. González has most recently performed with Opera San Jose, West Edge Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Pacific Opera Project, Opera Parallèle, Opera Cultura, The Mendocino Music Festival, Pocket Opera and Island City Opera, singing the roles of Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Rafael in Martinez’s Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, Alfredo in Verdi’s La traviata, Laurie in Adamo’s Little Women, Elvino in Bellini’s La sonnambula, Ernesto in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Count Almaviva in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Belmonte in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Classical Sonoma describes González’ “liquid” voice as having, “sparkled with graceful beauty and intelligent musicianship,” and lauds, “his subtle mastery of expression and phrasing and his innate integration of singing and physicality.” González graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Cesar Ulloa. He currently resides in San Francisco, CA
Meg Page – Linda Baird. Canadian mezzo-soprano Linda Baird has captivated audiences across North America with her powerful voice and dynamic presence. Last summer she made her Carnegie Hall debut as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the New England Symphony and has also performed at Lincoln Center. Her extensive career includes performances with Seattle Opera, Vancouver Opera, West Edge Opera, Opera Philadelphia’s ViVace, Opera San Luis Obispo, and orchestras such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, and the Northern Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Linda’s diverse operatic repertoire includes leading roles such as Carmen in Carmen, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. She is equally at home with contemporary works, having performed in As One, Elizabeth Cree, and Lillian Alling. Currently based in San Francisco, Linda is also a passionate educator and teaching artist with San Francisco Opera. She holds a Master of Music in Opera from The University of British Columbia and continues to inspire audiences and students alike with her commitment to the operatic art form.
Doctor Caius – Jonathan Saatman. Sacramento-based tenor Jonathan Saatman, hailed for his powerful voice, acting prowess, and uncanny ability to save the day at the 11th hour, performs prolifically with opera companies throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley. Recent operatic highlights include the roles of Dr. Blind from Strauss’ Die Fledermaus with Opera Modesto, Valentin from Gounod’s Faust with Vallejo-based Verismo Opera, and Alexis from The Sorcerer by Gilbert & Sullivan with Light Opera Theater Sacramento. He also reprised his role as Dr. Blind with Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera in 2024 and took on the role of Spoletta from Puccini’s Tosca with Opera Modesto. A graduate of CSU Sacramento with a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree, Jonathan is exploring opportunities for furthering his musical education both in the U.S. and abroad for the purpose of expanding and refining his skills. Away from the stage Jonathan is an avid home cook, a passionate instructor of voice and piano, and is pursuing a secondary career in phlebotomy.
Bardolfo – Matthew Peña. Matthew Peña has been based in Germany for over a decade, regularly performing at Europe’s premiere opera houses. He joined the ensemble of the Staatstheater Braunschweig in 2022 where he has appeared in diverse repertoire, including Narraboth in SALOME, Bénédict in BÉATRICE ET BÉNÉDICT, Le Chevalier in DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES, Alse in SCHLAFLOS (SLEEPLESS) by Eötvös, CARMINA BURANA and Mime in DAS RHEINGOLD. Last season, he returned to the U.S. for the first time since moving abroad to debut as Mime in SIEGFRIED at Virginia Opera. In Europe, he has appeared in numerous engagements at Deutsche Oper Berlin and Staatsoper Unter den Linden, as well as at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Oper Leipzig, Theater Bonn, Anhaltisches Theater Dessau, Teatro Regio di Torino, Palau de les Arts Renia Sofia in Valencia and the Royal Opera House Muscat in Oman. Matthew grew up in Modesto. His first introduction to opera was at a school performance by the Townsend Opera Players. His first job in opera was running spotlight in LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN (a role he eventually sang in several productions in Europe). His first time on an operatic stage, in the chorus, his first voice lesson, and his first solo role all was at the Townsend Opera Players. He is thrilled and beyond grateful to return to the community and perform with Opera Modesto.
Pistola – John Ames. John made his debut with Opera Modesto as Warden George Benton in Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, a role he created in the San Francisco Opera World Premiere. Recently, he was in the world premiere of Dalrymple Macalpin’s musical Make Believe as the Giant “Gog”. His career began in Reno, Nevada, under the tutelage of the acclaimed voice teacher, coach, and opera impresario, Ted Puffer. From there he travelled to Indiana University to study with legendary bass, Giorgio Tozzi. John was accepted to the prestigious Merola Opera Program
at San Francisco Opera where he went on to become an Adler Fellow. Mr. Ames has sung nearly 30 roles with The San Francisco Opera including Colline in La
Boheme and Count Horn in Un Ballo in Mascera, his debut role with the company. Among Mr. Ames’ many concert appearances include Mozart’s Requiem with Music in the Mountains and The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Nixon in China, conducted by composer John Adams with The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and Jeptha with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Nicolas
McGegan. John has performed internationally including one of his signature roles, Sarastro in The
Magic Flute in Tokyo, Wagner’s Ring
Cycle and two world premieres in Bangkok. Recently, John performed Turpin from Sweeney Todd and Zuniga in Carmen, with Nevada Opera. Other favorite roles include Sparafucile in Rigoletto, The Commendatore in Don Giovanni, and Ferrando in Il Trovatore. Mr. Ames is looking forward to adding
to his already impressive repertoire of nearly 70 operatic roles.
Inkeeper – Jack Souza. Jack Souza, Founding Artistic Director at Prospect Theater Project. Souza was raised in California’s Central Valley, and is currently a Guest Lecturer in the Theater Department at CSU Stanislaus. He has a BA in Drama from CSU Stanislaus. He has also studied acting at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California, at Berkeley Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California, and at The Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. Souza earned his Master’s Degree in Modern Drama from the National University of Ireland, University College Dublin. Memorable productions for Souza include the English language premiere of Karel Steigerwald’s Sorrow, Sorrow, Fear, the Rope, and the Pit in Seattle, Washington, Brian Friel’s Faith Healer for The Eugene O’Neill Foundation’s production at O’Neill’s Tao House in Danville, California, Titus Andronicus at The Lighthouse Theater in New York, New York, and Six Characters in Search of an Author in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. Souza’s extensive regional theater credits include Sierra Repertory Theater, Stage 3, Shakespeare on the Vine, Murphy’s Creek Theater, Modesto Performing Arts, Opera Modesto, Central West Ballet, California State University Stanislaus, Phoenix Creative Collective, and was recently seen as Hercule Poirot in GCRC’s production of Murder on the Orient Express and as Robert Shaw in PTP’s production of The Shark is Broken
The Page – Zachariah Iorns. Zachariah Iorns is a 14-year-old homeschooler reading over a hundred novels each year. He crafts objects from wood and leather, and his work is always in high demand among his friends. He is more at home with a violin or digging in his garden, but he looks forward to taking the stage in his acting debut.
