Messiah Sing Along

American soprano Mary Anne Kruger studied voice with Margaret Harshaw and first went to Germany in 1992 when she completed a Master of Music degree at Indiana University. Since then she has lived in Europe building a repertoire of over 40 major roles and concerts. From 1994-2005 she was a member of the opera ensemble at the Hessische Staatstheater Darmstadt, and she has also guested in over 20 European theaters including the Bayerische Staatsoper- Nationaltheater in Munich, Staatstheater Stuttgart, the Latvian National Opera and Theater Basel.

Her prizes include a nomination in the category “Best Singer” in the 1997 Opernwelt Jahrbuch for her portrayal of Alcina. She was awarded the role of Donna Elvira in the 1996 Don Giovanni production at the Athens Concert Hall directed by Ruggiero Raimondi and conducted by Gustav Kühn. The “Sonderpreis der Wiener Staats-und Volksoper” at the 1993 Belvedere Competition secured for her a performance as Hanna Glawari (Die Lustige Witwe) at the the Wiener Volksoper. She was also awarded a DAAD scholarship (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdient) to study at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich 1992-93.

In addition to her debut as Salome, Ms. Kruger’s 2008 engagements also included the role of Tatyana in Eugene Onegin with the Stadttheater Pforzheim to great audience and critical acclaim. That same month she also sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Stadttheater Geissen. In April and May of 2008 she sang the role of Cio-Cio-San with Theater Freiburg and Theater der Stadt Trier. In August she joined the Berliner Symphoniker orchestra in a concert aptly entitled “Solo Verdi”, and in October she joined the orchestra again in the opening concert of the Musica Mallorca festival which was billed as a tribute to Maria Callas and featured bel canto repertoire.

The soprano is often praised for her warmth of timbre, the brilliance of her high register, and her great versatility, both musically and theatrically. Of her Tatyana, Orpheus International wrote: “Among the singers one first must name Mary Anne Kruger... who was a Tatjana of the very highest calibre.   The singer is not only good-looking, but she has at her disposal a darkly colored, distinctive and precisely focused soprano voice, which in the last act was also capable of beautiful pianissimi.  It was right that she received the most applause.”

Of her Madama Butterfly, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote: “Mary Anne Kruger in the title role established herself once again as a category sui generis. With an expressive repertory that extends from bright soprano purity to the shadowy depths of the low registers, Krugercommanded (the scene) as an extraordinary actor with great musical and technical substance.”

Connie Maltby has been performing and singing in Brevard County throughout her whole life.  She is a proud graduate of Brevard County schools and the University of Florida where she graduated with honors.  Her diverse repertoire spans many styles including opera, sacred, Broadway, swing and rock. She is a featured vocalist with various groups such as Brevard Chorale, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, Riverside Chamber Singers, Swingtime Band and Rockledge United Methodist Church.

She performs in the popular Swing Trio “Swingtimers” entertaining audiences throughout Florida. Her personal motto is “How can I keep from singing?” Connie works as a health educator and dental hygienist in underserved populations.  She also serves as Board Member and Special Events Planner of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra.

Jacob Pence has been hailed by Ken Herman of the San Diego Story for his “robust and colorful” singing and described by freelance performing arts writer Tom Alvarez as “showing finesse...” in his blog On the Aisle. This past season has seen Jacob perform the roles of Dax and The Client with Opera Orlando as part of Orlando Fringe and as Pritschitsch in the OperaNeo production of The Merry Widow in San Diego, California.

Jacob has performed in productions with The St. Petersburg Opera Company, Kentucky Opera, and Indianapolis Opera in previous seasons. Jacob has also performed as a Young Artist with The Crested Butte Music Festival, Music by the Lake at Aurora University, Columbus Opera, The Lexington Opera Society, and the Martina Arroyo Foundation. A native of Crestwood, Kentucky, Jacob is a graduate of The Ohio State University and the University of Evansville, residing in Orlando, Florida.

Tenor Fred Kilgallin studied voice for four years under Vera Scammon at Indiana University while he also worked on a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature. He has subsequently sung professionally in many venues in the United States, as well as in Europe.

He currently resides with his wife of 38 years in Melbourne, Florida, where he teaches high school English.