Cantanti Singing Ensemble

The cantanti singing ensemble is comprised of...

DONATO SORANNO [TENOR/ performed operatic roles: Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tufte; Basilio & Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro; Spoletta in Tosca; Benoit in La Boheme/Puccini];  Marco, Spine/Joccio, the Notario,& Pine/lino in Gianni Schicclti; Vincenzo in Marin Fal/iero; Spiridio,ie in JI Campanello; Monostatos in Die Zauberjlote; Giuseppe, Commissionaire,Servant in La Traviata; Becero, and Signor on tlte Frst Floor in La Boheme/Leoncavallo]. He performedsolo roles with two opera companies in Italy and with opera compallies in New York City & the W ashington , DC area. He performed in over 40 staged opera productions &in numerous concerts with the Washington Concert Opera, Tlte American Center for Puccini Studies, Annapolis Opera, Summer Opera of Washington, Tri-Cities Opera, Opera Bel Canto, Opera Camerau,, Washington Civic Opera, Opera International,&Opera JV. He is the Director of the Cantanti Singing Ensemble & studies voice with Dr. Harry Dunstan. He produces a weekly TV show feat11ri11g vocal music on Channel 21: Fridays at 2:30 PM and Sundays at 4:30 PM. He //as recordings of his musical programs 011 CDs and DVDs.

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ERIN TWARDOCHLEB/MEZZO SOPRANO/  made lter operatic debut at the age of 18 singing the shepherd boy in Tosca by Puccini. She attended the University of Maine where site received lter Bachelor of Music in vocal performance. While in college she starred in multiple operas and masterworks and traveled abroad to Vie11na. Currently, she is a young artist with The American Cellter for Puccini Studies Opera Company. Past credits include Sally (Hand of Bridge by Barber), Mother (Amal,/ and tlte Nigltt Visitors by Menotti), Jessica (Tile Worst One Ever by Belshaw), Bastienne (Bastien und Bastiem,e by Mozart), Armallinde Pictordu and Barigoule (Cendrillon by Viardot), and Zanetto (Zanetto by Mascagni). Additionally, she performed with the University of Maine Singers as tlte alto soloist in Rejoice in the Lamb by Britten, and as the mezzo soloist in the Holocaust Cantata by McCullough.

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JOE BLUMKA [ACCORDIONIST] is a native of Chicago and 5·t udied with Jazz accordionist, Leon Sa5-/,. Since the 1970 ' s Joe has played at various performance venues in the Chicago and Washington, DC areas, including the Chicago Stadium and the Kenn edy Center. He has also performed in productions of the opera "Naked Revolution 11 , in communi(y theater productions of ''Fitldler On Tile Roof" and Zorba' ' and in concerts witlt tile Resto11 Chamber Orchestra. Joe is a frequent performer witlt several string ensembles in the are". He is very much appreciated as an accompanist for vocalists . inging Italian Opera and Italian-Neapolitan Songs.