Boston Conservatory at Berklee Soirée Program

Welcome
Dear friends,
Welcome to the Soirée! This evening is a celebration of the bold artistry, boundless creativity, and relentless dedication that define Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Every day, I am inspired by the extraordinary talent of our students, and tonight, I am thrilled to share their work with you.
As you take in these performances, I hope you feel the profound impact of your support. Because of you, our students are not only pushing the boundaries of their disciplines and reimagining the future of the performing arts, but they are also becoming leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Whether on stage, in the studio, in the classroom, or beyond, they are using their artistry to inspire, advocate, and shape the world in meaningful ways.
Their journey—one of growth, discovery, and transformation—is made possible by this community. Your belief in their potential fuels their success, and I am deeply grateful for your generosity and commitment.
Thank you for being here and for championing the next generation of artists, visionaries, and leaders. It is an honor to celebrate this special evening with you.
Enjoy the Soirée!
Warmly,
Michael Shinn
Alumni Guest Artists
Wendy Bryn Harmer (BM '03, voice)
A graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, she has returned to the company’s famed stage in Parsifal, Die Ägyptische Helena, War and Peace, Khovanshchina, and Le nozze di Figaro. Her performances in Die Zauberflöte and the Ring Cycle, have been released on DVD by Deutsche Grammophon following the company’s Live in HD broadcasts.
John Cardoza (BFA '16, musical theater)
Featured Performances
Cocktail Hour Improv Dancers
Performers: Yazmine Akamine, Suriya Allain, Cara Breeding, Ali Cederholm, Ekko Greenbaum, Sarah Hughes, Hannah Laski, Amber Lew, Justine Schmaltz, Madison Wagaman
“All at Once”
Assistant Choreographer: Amina Vargas
Rehearsal Direction: Brian McGinnis
Music: Bill Laurance with spoken word by Hope Boykin
Costume Design: Penney Pinette
Costume Design Assistance: Liv Curnen
Performers: Kanella Benavides, Hannah Bilodeau, Tamia Blackwell, Ana G. Delgado Cruz, Molly Jane Dunne, Amanda FitzGerald, Hailey Fleming, Alyssa Lucas, Swathi Maddi, Macy McCann, Dafna Melamoud, Hannah Morris, Mia Pereira Mendoza, Mar Rivero-Carretero, Bridget Suchar, Kimberly Vasileva, Giovanna Ward
“Beautiful City”
Music: Stephen Schwartz / Mitch Leigh
Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz / Joe Darion
Conservatory Cabaret Leadership: Cooper Sheehy, Kenny Lee, Sophie Lindwall
Conservatory Cabaret Performers: Bryson Battle, Darrick Brown, Maya Gopalswamy, Kenny Lee, Tristan Latino, Sophie Lindwall, Maddie Ritter, Cooper Sheehy, Brooke Webster, Brooke Wilkins
Conservatory Cabaret is an auditioned musical theater group that performs for low-income, youth, elderly, and physically challenged populations in Boston neighborhoods.
VIDEO: Student Scholar Spotlight: Meet Ekaterina Hicks-Magaña (BFA '25, musical theater)
“Everything I Know”
Music and Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Featured Performer: Ekaterina Hicks-Magaña
Conservatory Cabaret Leadership: Cooper Sheehy, Kenny Lee, Sophie Lindwall
Conservatory Cabaret Performers: Bryson Battle, Darrick Brown, Maya Gopalswamy, Kenny Lee, Tristan Latino, Sophie Lindwall, Maddie Ritter, Cooper Sheehy, Brooke Webster, Brooke Wilkins
Piano: Cooper Sheehy
VIDEO: Student Scholar Spotlight: Meet Derek Lee (BFA '26, contemporary dance)
“Sound and Color”
Music and Lyrics: Alabama Shakes
Alumni Spotlight: Wendy Bryn Harmer (BM '03, voice)
Music and Libretto: Carlisle Floyd
“Zueignung,” op. 10, no. 1
Music: Richard Strauss
Performers:
Wendy Bryn Harmer, soprano
Andrew Bisantz^, piano
Alumni Spotlight: John Cardoza (BFA '16, musical theater)
Music and Lyrics: Billy Joel
“You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen
Music: Benj Pasek
Lyrics: Justin Paul
Performers:
John Cardoza, vocals
Cooper Sheehy, piano
Student Profile: Andrés Celis Avila (BM '25, cello)
“Lamentatio”
Performer: Andrés Celis Avila (BM '25, cello)—Michael A. Alaura Memorial Scholar; Presidential Scholar
“El Puerto”
Performer: Tigran Mardanyan (BM ’25, piano)—Benjamin Kasser Endowed Piano Scholar
“Make It Happen / Yes, And?”
Music Arrangement: Wenrui* / JP Thomas*
Choreographers: Anthony Burrell^ / Kenny Elam-Lunde
Dancers: Bella Butters, Bella Crews, That Boy Matthew, Ellie DeMeo, Cara Gonzales, Kenny Elam-Lunde, Monica Gallego, Emma Guan, Ariana Hart, Kynlee McBride, Nya Owusu, Sofia Pargas, Romy Saias, Evelyn Shymanski, Pandora Grindze, Brooke Vass
Lead Vocalist: Madison Borchers*
Featured Vocalist: Aniyé Music*
Background Vocalists: Vanessa DeJean*, Aniyé Music*, Naomi Pierrette*, Mia Alysse*, Aaron Michael*, JP Thomas*
Trumpet: Apoorv Nednur*
Alto Saxophone: Kevin Huang*
Tenor Saxophone: Boris Lugovik*
Trombone: Samuel Padua Gomez*
Piano: Paul Vanier de Saint Aunay*
Keyboards: Brian Glenn*
Electric Guitar I: Fernando Guerra*
Electric Guitar II: Jack Bram*
Electric Bass: Matthew Ashley*
Drums: Teetat (Auto) Nitikitpaiboon*
Hand Percussion: JimmyBoy*
Track Producer: Jason Recevuto II (CALAVERA)*
Producer/Artistic Director/Co–Musical Director: Maureen McMullan^
Director: Tom Baskett^
Arranging Supervisor/Co-Musical Director: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe^
Background Vocal Supervisor: Nichelle Mungo^
Track Production Supervisor: Rishabh Rajan^
Assistant to the Arranging Supervisor: Paula Srur Carcar*
Production Assistant: Rachael (Rae) Morrison*
Production Manager: Ryan Jones
Dance Captain: Yulia Maeda
Dance Captain: Nya Owusu-Afriyie
Background Vocal Captain: Ávin*
Live Sound and Recording Engineer: Jaden Caban (Olas)*
Live Sound and Recording Engineer: Andy Wan*
Playback Engineer: Joseph Olmedo*
Playback Engineer: Tanmaya Wahal*
Visual Design and LED Video Screen Supervisor: Peter Zebbler Berdovsky^
Animator: Pamela Hersch
^Boston Conservatory at Berklee faculty member
*Berklee College of Music student
Sponsors and Supporters
Thank You to Our Generous Supporters
Snow Qin* and Charles Zhang
Geraldine R.+ and Stephen J. Ricci
PERFORMING ARTS ADVOCATE, COHOST
Aramark Collegiate Hospitality
Cindy* and Ollie Curme
Alex Rigopulos and Sachi Sato '02
Josh and Ann Connolly Tolkoff+
Susan Whitehead*
Marillyn Zacharis*
Tania Zouikin^+
PATRON OF THE ARTS
Marybeth^+ and Stephen Bisson
John P.* and Stephanie F. Connaughton
Anne N. Cuervo+ and Philip J. Poinelli+
Marina Hatsopoulos*
Jun and Sandra Lee
Melinda and David Leiper
Martin and Tristin Mannion
The Manganaro Family and
Michael+ and Tara Memmolo
Gary R. Mikula and Holly Burnet Mikula
Bob* and Mimi Murley
Anthony* and Creelea Pangaro
Xiaohang Quan+ and Jeffrey H. Ellis
Darius Sidebotham* and Cara Quackenbush
Katherine and David Scott Sloan*
Beth '10* and Mac Thomas
Andy* and Mariann Youniss
PREMIER SUPPORTERS
Jim and Lois Champy
Caroline McMillan Collings+ and Robert Collings
Kate and Jeff Cook
Holly Fluty Dempsey and James Dempsey
John S. Foster+
Brian K. Gerhardson
Patricia and Alfred Houston+
Bill* and Kelly Kaiser
Teresa Koster^+ and Errin Siagel
Frederick Miller* and Kathryn Cade
Brendan Murphy+ and M. Steinert & Sons
Janet and Irv Plotkin
Susan and Diane Rosenberg
SUPPORTERS
Linda Helmig Bram and Anthony Bram
Astrid Baumgardner
Davi-Ellen+ and Bruce A. Chabner
Dr. Diana Dohrmann '71+
Freya Emspak
David H. Evans
Peter Faber
Tim Stockert and Nick Garramone
Laura Kunkemueller+ and John Andreini
Wendy Adams McCain
Christopher D.+ and Sylvia Perry
Larry and Valerie Post
Chad Smith
Tricia Swift+
Margaret and Olaf Thorp
Alicia Wee
ALUMNI SUPPORTERS
Andy Chau, MMED '12
Kurt Douglas, BFA '02
Stephen Markarian, BFA '13
Natalie Mattison, BM '19 and Jesse Mattison, BM '17
Barbara Midney, BM '76
Delilah Rau, BM '23
Andrew Smith, BM '16
Isaac Tardy, BFA '23
*Trustee
+Executive Director's Advisory Council
^Presidential Advisory Council
Supporters as of March 26, 2025
Leadership
Trustees
Martin J. Mannion, Board Chair
Susan Whitehead, Board Chair Emerita
Charles Anderson
Lee Burrows
David Clem
John Connaughton
Cynthia K. Curme
Kristy Edmunds
Emilio Estefan '07H
Gloria Estefan '07H
Thomas M. Hagerty
Marina Hatsopoulos
Steven Holtzman
Velina Hasu Houston
Bill Kaiser
Peter Labbat
Grace Kelly BM '12
Miky Lee (Mie Kyung Lee)
Hassell McClellan
Frederick T. Miller
Robert S. Murley
Anthony Pangaro
Jon Platt
(Snow) Dan Qin
David Scott Sloan
Darius Sidebotham
Beth Carrillo Thomas '10
Katie (Schlosser) Vitolins BM '04
Paul D. Wachter
Tarik Ward
Andy Youniss
Marillyn Zacharis
* Legacy Conservatory Trustee
Boston Conservatory Trustees Emeriti/ae
Franklin Warren Hobbs, III
Alfred D. Houston
Gary R. Mikula
Robert P. Moncreiff, Esq.
Glendora M. Putnam, Esq.
William A. Seymour, President Emeritus
Donald R. Sohn, PhD
Executive Director’s Advisory Council
Michael Shinn, DMA, Executive Director
Teresa Koster, Chair
Anne N. Cuervo, Vice Chair
Howard H. Bengele, PhD
Marybeth Bisson
Elizabeth S. Boveroux
Davi-Ellen Chabner
Caroline McMillan Collings
JoAnne Dickinson
Diana Dohrmann '71
Miles A. Fish, III '63
Kate Sides Flather
John S. Foster
Jennifer A. Fraser
Mimi Hewlett
Laura D. Kunkemueller
Ricardo Lewitus, MD
Mike Memmolo
Dr. Lyle J. Micheli
Brendan Murphy
Christopher D. Perry
Philip J. Poinelli
Xiaohang Quan
Wanda Reindorf
Geraldine R. Ricci
Anthony Richardson
Tricia Swift
Ann Connolly Tolkoff
Rosamond B. Vaule
Peter J. Wender
Amy K. Wertheim
Edward G. Wertheim
Tania Zouikin
Presidential Advisory Council
Daniel E. Auerbach
Vivian C. Beard
Marybeth Bisson
Arthur Black
Elizabeth Boland
Mammen Chally
Yumin Choi
Jeff Davis
Paul Deninger
John Doelp '79
Debbie Edmundson
Mark Ethier
Stefan M. Gavell
Dean Goodermote
Chris Halaby
Danroy Henry Sr.
Kristine Moyer Higgins
Lisa Hilton
William A. Holodnak
Nelson L. Huang
Robert Jones
Edward and Allison Johnson
Teresa Koster
Ann Kreis
Ted Kurland
James Kuster
Bodo Liesenfeld
William J. Lynch III
Anthony (Tony) Marzulli
Allan T. McLean
Hortensia Roig
Aviva Sapers
Collin M. Stultz
Harriet (Tee) Taggart
Jack Wadsworth
Linda Wisnewski
Tania Zouikin
Artistic Staff
Nathan Troup, Artistic and Creative Director
Kiara Escalera, Wardrobe Supervisor
Laura Santamaria Mendez, Production Assistant
Dee Ypsilantis, Production Assistant
Event Design
EMRG(Opens in a new window)
Rebecca Griffing
Erika McAuliffe