The Vero Beach Opera recently celebrated its 38th season of bringing outstanding cultural performances to the local community, capping off the season with the 13th anniversary of the highly anticipated Rising Stars Opera Festival. Held from April 15 to April 17, this prestigious three-day event culminated in a spectacular concert and awards presentation featuring eight of the world’s most promising young opera talents.
Under the guidance of Vero Beach Opera President and Executive Director Joan Ortega-Cowan, the vocal competition has become a cornerstone of the region’s arts scene.
This marks our 13th year presenting competitions, and it is always exciting because it connects us to the top rising opera singers in the entire world. We have met so many promising young opera singers throughout this process and we are proud to support and foster their careers.
The finalists were evaluated by an esteemed panel of jurists, bringing together a wealth of industry experience. The panel featured Vero Beach Opera Artistic Director and Jury President Roman Ortega-Cowan; Music Director and Conductor Gregory Buchalter; Designer, Producer, and Stage Director Nicholas Muni; and renowned Metropolitan Opera soprano Susan Neves.
Thanks to the generous support of the Kleinschmidt Family Foundation, the top three performers were awarded significant cash prizes to assist in their burgeoning careers:
- First Place: Taking home the top prize of $10,000 was Mexican-American soprano Catherine Thornsley. A native of Flagstaff, Arizona, and a two-time national semifinalist in the MET’s Laffont Competition, Thornsley captivated the audience with her dramatic versatility. She showcased her technical command with Puccini’s Tosca, performing the desperate prayer “Vissi d’arte,” and Carlisle Floyd’s Susanna, delivering the intensely emotional “Ain’t it a pretty night.”
- Second Place: Ariana Maubach, a talented mezzo-soprano, secured the $5,000 prize. Maubach demonstrated a full-bodied vocal range and impressive acting skills, taking on the headstrong role of Rosina with the aria “Una voce poco fa” from Rossini’s Il Barbieri di Siviglia, before returning with warmer, darker tones for Saint-Saens’ Samson et Delilah.
- Third Place: Luke Norvell, a New Jersey-based tenor originally from Tacoma, Washington, earned the $3,000 prize. A 2025 graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts, Norvell brought an elegant and compelling vocal instrument to the stage, further solidifying a resume that already includes resident artist experience at the prestigious International Meistersinger Akademie in Germany.
In addition to the primary awards, five talented singers were honored with $1,000 Encouragement Awards, provided by local sponsors and legacy funds:
- Justice Yates (bass-baritone), provided by the Vero Beach Opera, whose rich and passionate voice effortlessly pulled the audience into the moment.
- Ryan Wolfe (baritone), provided by the Louis L. Lawson Legacy Fund, who showcased his deep, smooth vocal range with selections from Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt and Heggie’s Moby Dick.
- Levi Adkins (tenor), provided in Memory of Sofia Blanchard, who delivered a powerful and emotionally dramatic performance.
- Eliza Lucyna (Polish-American soprano), provided in Memory of Sofia Blanchard, who charmed the crowd with her crisp, stratospheric vocals and flirty stage presence.
- Stephanie Pfundt (soprano), provided in Memory of Henri Lemoine, who exhibited remarkable control and dramatic skill while hitting impressive high C notes.
The scintillating concert was further enriched by special appearances from past Rising Stars First Prize winners. Soprano Meryl Dominguez (2021) and baritone David Pershall (2013) delighted the audience with individual performances before uniting for a witty and hilarious duet from Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Master of Ceremonies Ian Campbell and collaborative pianist Anna Fateeva beautifully anchored the event, ensuring the latest Rising Stars Vocal Competition was an unforgettable highlight of the Indian River County cultural calendar.
