Our 2026 Team
Stefan Gordon
Artistic Administrator
Stefan Gordon has performed, in operas, theaters, churches, and in concert in productions in Europe, Asia, and across America. He has directed and produced several hundred performances around the world. In Austria, the production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro which he co-created ran for over 200 shows, and his productions in Hong Kong have always been met with great enthusiasm. He is currently serving as Interim Artistic Director for Inland Northwest Opera’s 2026 production of Die Fledermaus.
Michelle Lange
Voice Teacher
Award-winning soprano Michelle Lange has enjoyed an active career in Europe, Asia, and the United States. She has been featured in leading roles with Opera Hong Kong and performed over one hundred performances of Contessa in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in Vienna, Austria, singing the role in both German and Italian.
Corey Trahan
Stage Director
Carmen
With over 85 roles in his repertoire, Corey Trahan is an active performer, educator and stage director in opera, oratorio, music theatre, operetta and recital venues. Known for his comic timing, versatile voice, and onstage charisma, he is being seen and heard internationally in repertoire ranging from operatic classics to modern musical theatre.
村上 ゆかり
(Yukari Yano)
Asst. Music Director
Carmen
Yukari Yano’s performance experience is extensive, ranging from solo piano recitals to concerto performances with orchestra, vocal art song recitals to opera productions, and instrumental duo sonatas to large chamber ensembles. She is also an accomplished harpsichordist, with a Certificate of Harpsichord Performance from FSU.
Karen Esquivel
Stage Director
Tales of HoffmanN
Karen Esquivel served as Director of the Compañía Lírica Nacional de Costa Rica and taught at the Universidad de Costa Rica, the Universidad Nacional. Esquivel currently serves on the Board of the Kenyan Classical Singers Organization, a program whose goal is to discover and support young, talented singers from Kenya and the National Opera Association.
Gustavo Castro-Ramirez
AssT. Music Director
Tales of HoffmanN
Gustavo Castro has served as an opera conductor, assistant conductor, chorus master, rehearsal pianist, continuo player, and orchestral pianist in more than 50 different operatic productions with companies such as Astoria Music Festival, Butler Opera Center, Cascadia Chamber Opera, Costa Rica National Lyric Company, Florida State Opera, Eugene Opera, Opera Bend, and Opera Nova Costa Rica
Jonathan Girard
Director of Orchestral Activities
Music Director Carmen & Hoffmann
American-born conductor Jonathan Girard is one of the rising stars of his generation. A passionate musician committed to engaging audiences with thrilling performances, he continues to gain a reputation as a musical force equally versed in symphonic repertoire, opera, and new music. As the Director of Orchestras at the University of British Columbia School of Music, Mr. Girard dedicates himself to raising the standard of orchestral training in Western Canada.
Isaac Droscha (艾樂冊)
Music Director Die Zauberflöte
Isaac Droscha is an operatic Bass-Britone who has performed numerous roles with various regional companies in Asia and the United States, including La Musica Viva,the Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera New Jersey, and Arbor Opera Theater, for which he is currently serving as a board member. He has also worked for Michigan Opera Theater in Detroit and The Motor City Lyric Opera on Wheels, and most recently performed as Escamillio in Musica Viva’s production of The Story of Carmen in Hong Kong and as Leporello in a production of Don Giovanni at the Estates Theater in Prague, CZ.
Olivia Yokers
Stage Director Die ZauberflöTe
Praised for singing with gorgeous vulnerability (The Richmond Times), soprano Olivia Yokers is well regarded for her thrilling voice and versatility onstage. Her notable roles include Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Musetta in La Bohme, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Miss Honey in Matilda. Ms. Yokers has performed with companies such as Virginia Opera, Opera Las Vegas, Opera Baltimore, Cistetsonncinnati Opera, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, and Oklahoma Lyric Theatre.
Micah Xavier Sandt (孫麥凱)
Guest Artist
Born in Taiwan to French and Finnish parents, Micah Xavier Sandt (孫麥凱) works internationally as a musical director, composer, orchestrator, and performer for musicals, bands, dance companies, and choirs. Trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and holding a Master’s in Composing for Musical Theatre from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, his conducting credits include ‘Last Night at Studio 54’, ‘Tabby McTat’, ‘Sleepless’, ‘Broken Circle Breakdown’, ‘We Happy Few’, ‘Into the Woods’, and ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’. He has also composed for the musicals ‘My Bubble and Me’ and ‘Gweilo’, the TV series Mary and George (Sky and AMC), and two ballets for Genesis Ballet in London.
André Chiang
Guest Artist
Baritone André Chiang has been described as “vocally commanding” (Oregonian), “handsome of voice” (Opera News), and lauded with “let’s hear more from this singer” (Washington Post). Previous companies include Portland Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and the Glimmerglass Festival. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in the World Premiere of Martin Palmeri’s Gran Misa as Baritone soloist. Upcoming engagements include a World Premiere with Opera Las Vegas, Opera Western Reserve, Mobile Opera, and Opera Philadelphia. Chiang is an Assistant Professor of Voice at the Florida State University, an Instructor of Voice at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, and runs a private online and in-person voice studio teaching acoustic and amplified styles.
Twyla Robinson
Voice Teacher
Soprano Twyla Robinson, Associate Professor at Texas Christian University, maintains a vibrant performing career. Highlights include the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos with Cincinnati Opera, Sieglinde in Die Walküre (Act I) with the Atlanta Symphony, and soloist in Gorecki’s Symphony No. 3 with the Chicago Sinfonietta and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the BBC Proms and Berlin Staatskapelle, recorded for Deutsche Grammophon. She premiered Becky Felderman in Ricky Ian Gordon’s Morning Star with Cincinnati Opera. Recordings include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the London Symphony and Strauss’ Elektra with the West German Radio Orchestra.
Jae Park
Associate Director
Jae Park, a Houston native soprano, has been involved in several opportunities to develop businesses and business projects, including sales execution in startup companies and most recently, in the entertainment industry with Magic Korea Entertainment (now Magic Korea Media), a startup entertainment company specializing in bringing Korean talent from overseas to the states to hold artist tours, concerts, or cultural events.
Katherine Gomez
Associate Director
Katie Gomez is an experience stage manager, with a masters from University of Idaho. She has worked on dozens of shows, from music theater to opera.
Full bio coming soon
*Team members subject to change