The Santa Fe Opera Awards 34 Outstanding Apprentices for 2024 Season
2024 Season Outstanding Apprentice Awards
Each season, talented young singers and technicians take part in the Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Programs, where they receive intensive training and play critical roles in the creation, both on stage and off, of the season’s five mainstage productions. Their work culminates in two nights of staged and costumed Apprentice Scenes, created and performed solely by the apprentices. Of this season’s 82 Apprentice Technicians and 42 Apprentice Singers, 34 won cash awards, honoring their exceptional talent and hard work.
2024 Apprentice Singers
The Donald Gramm Memorial Award
Spencer Hamlin, Tenor
The Katharine Mayer Award
Ginaia Black, Soprano
Elisa Sunshine, Soprano
Lillan Caroff Mayer Award
Yeongtaek Yang, Baritone
Anna Case MacKay Memorial Award
Andrew Turner, Tenor
Eleomar Cuello, Baritone
The Campbell/Wachter Apprentice Award for Singers
Jazmine Saunders, Soprano
The Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer Encouragement Award
Dylan Gregg, Bass-baritone
Albuquerque Guild Award
Tzvi Bat Asherah, Baritone
Richard Tucker Award
Ryan Bryce Johnson, Tenor
Outstanding First Year Apprentice Award
Aubrey Odle, Mezzo-soprano
Emma Marhefka, Soprano
Randell McGee, Baritone
Santa Fe Opera Award of Excellence
Kaylee Nichols, Soprano
Kathryn Henry, Soprano
Tessa Fackelmann, Soprano
The Donald and Luke Grahm Memorial Award
Ashlyn Brown, Mezzo-soprano
2024 Apprentice Technicians
The Albuquerque Guild Award in Memory of Emmah Ellis
Dameon Vasquez, Stage Crew
The Greg Teakle Memorial Award for a Technical Apprentice
Anthony Arzate, Stage Crew
Brenda Mendez-Maria, Stage Crew
The Randall R. Lutz Award for Technical Apprentices
Kayla Cotter, Properties
The Katharine M. Mayer Memorial Award
Katie Barnes, Production/Music Services
Tzu-Hsuan (Celine) Lin, Wigs & Makeup
The Craig J. Miller Technical Apprenticeship Award
Frida Capitán Parra, Electrics
The Lawrence Reehling Memorial Award
Rylan Marincovich, Scenic Art
The Gustave & Jane Baumann Memorial Award
Hunter Hubler, Properties
Annabelle Gauthier, Properties
Emma Rose Harrison, Costumes
Travis Gawason, Costumes
The Caroline Chao Apprentice Award
Eden Resnik, Wardrobe
“Are You Ready To Pick” Stage Crew Award
Mike Cooprider, Stage Crew
James Irven Staley Award
Emily Jones, Electrics
Meara Kronsperger, Audio/Visual
Brooke Sauerwein, Audio/Visual
The mission of the Santa Fe Opera is to advance the operatic art form by presenting ensemble performances of the highest quality in a unique setting with a varied repertory of new, rarely performed, and standard works; to ensure the excellence of opera’s future through apprentice programs for singers, technicians, and arts administrators; and to foster an understanding and appreciation of opera among a diverse public.