Kyle Stegall, Evangelist

Kyle Stegall’s flexible and stylish artistry has been a powerful presence on stages around the world. Celebrated for the astonishing diversity of his repertoire, he lends the same penetratingly emotive artistry to music spanning Bach evangelists, leading tenor roles in the works of Mozart and the masters of the Bel Canto, and operatic world-premieres.

Acclaimed as one of the finest evangelists of his generation, performances of Bach’s passions and cantatas pepper each season, and forthcoming recording projects are soon to be announced. The New York Times said of his Lincoln Center debut under Maestro Masaaki Suzuki “Stegall was the most impressive by far, singing the demanding part of the evangelist with lovely tone and ardent expression.”

In the opera theater, Mr. Stegall’s repertoire is distinguished for its breadth and his stagework for its depth. OperaWire calls Kyle “An appealing hero, his voice arcing beautifully in the top register and his acting full of youthful ardor.” This season he makes his Australian operatic debut as Ferrando in Mozart’s Così fan tutte with the State Opera South Australia.

A committed recitalist, Mr. Stegall was twice invited to be a performance fellow with the Britten-Pears Programme at the Aldeburgh Music Festival. There, he studied Schubert song with Christoph Prégardien, and Britten song with Ian Bostridge. Mr. Stegall and Fortepianist, Eric Zivian hold a long-standing relationship with the Valley of the Moon Music Festival. Their album Myrtle and Rose drew international attention, launching the duo’s reputation as distinctive interpreters of song, Gramophone calling Kyle “a passionate and engaged communicator.” They next perform Schubert’s magnum opus Winterreise presented by Left Coast Chamber Ensemble.

Kyle is a proud alumnus of the Universities of Yale, Michigan, and Missouri. More information at kylestegall.com.

Chung-Wai Soong, Jesus

Bass-baritone Chung-Wai Soong has performed with companies in Australia and the US, in extensive repertoire which includes world premieres: David Chesworth (Sabat Jesus); Lisa Bielawa’s groundbreaking streaming opera, Vireo; and the title role in Meira Warshauer’s Elijah’s Violin (to be reprised in January 2025). He has been featured soloist in works by Bach (including Magnificat, various cantatas), Mozart (including Requiem, Coronation Mass, Vesperae solennes de confessore), Dvořák (Requiem, Stabat Mater), Berlioz (L’enfance du Christ), Schubert, and Handel (Jephtha, Belshazzar). He sang Schumann’s Dichterliebe at the Melbourne International Festival, which was broadcast live nationally on ABC.

Chung-Wai has sung with the San Francisco Symphony as Mityukha (Boris Godunov), Stravinsky’s Les Noces, and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy under Kurt Masur, which he also performed at Ojai Festival under Artistic Director Jeremy Denk. Roles include Sadistic Sailor (Missy Mazolli’s Breaking the Waves), High Priest (Nabucco), Melchior (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Kuligin (Katya Kabanova), Un vieux paysan in Dukas’ Ariane et Barbe-Bleue, Marco in Gianni Schicchi (Hawaii Opera Theatre), and Senator in The Shining (Opera Parallèle). Recent and upcoming: Chamberlain (Stravinsky’s Le Rossignol – West Edge Opera), the title role in Il Ducato – The New Mikado (Lamplighters Music Theatre), Fauré Requiem (Grace Cathedral), Mass in B Minor (California Bach Society), Alidoro in La Cenerentola (Pocket Opera), Prince Gabriel III of Belgium’s Trainer in Vinkensport by David. T. Little (Opera Parallèle), Benoit and Alcindoro in La Bohéme (Hawaii). He is excited to debut with San Francisco Bach Choir as Christus in Bach’s St. John Passion.

Michele Kennedy, soprano

Praised as “an excellent and impassioned soprano” possessing “a graceful tonal clarity that is a wonder to hear” (San Francisco Chronicle), MICHELE KENNEDY is a versatile specialist in early and new music. A Winner of the 2023 American Prize in Voice, her recent venues include Carnegie Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, The Getty Museum, Lincoln Center, and Washington National Cathedral.

Michele’s recent solo highlights include Haydn’s Die Schöpfung with Washington Bach Consort in DC. Bach’s St. John Passion with The San Francisco Symphony, Poulenc’s Gloria (Bach Society of Saint Louis), Summer Fireworks of Handel & Purcell (Portland Baroque Orchestra), Handel Messiah (Trinity Wall Street), Undine Smith Moore’s MLK Oratorio (UC Berkeley), Monteverdi Vespers (The Thirteen & Dark Horse Consort), and her Carnegie Hall debut with The Hollywood Film Orchestra. A lifelong champion of new works, Michele has sung premieres with Experiments in Opera, Kaleidoscope Ensemble, Seraphic Fire, The New York Philharmonic, and with Lorelei Ensemble in a world premiere tour of Julia Wolfe’s Her Story, culminating with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood. She is thrilled about her newly released solo debut album with AGAVE – called In Her Hands – showcasing brilliant female composers from over the ages.

Michele completed her musical studies at Yale University, the Yale School of Music, and NYU. She lives in Oakland with her husband, visual artist Benjamin Thorpe, and their adventurous daughter, Audra May. Please visit www.michele-kennedy.com for her latest musical adventures.

Heidi Waterman, mezzo soprano

With a voice that has been praised for its “…rich, lustrous tone and gorgeous legato” (San Francisco Classical Voice), Petaluma native Heidi L. Waterman has enjoyed a wide-ranging career encompassing everything from film scores to early Renaissance chant to cutting-edge modern oratorio. She has been a soloist with San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, the San Francisco Choral Society, and the San Francisco Bach Choir, among many others, and has performed under the baton of some of the world’s most prominent conductors, including Masaaki Suzuki, Nicholas McGegan, Michael Tilson Thomas, Donald Runnicles, and Herbert Blomstedt.

In recent years, Ms. Waterman has been fortunate to specialize in Baroque and Classical repertoire, earning enthusiastically positive reviews: “remarkable, with a performance both fresh-voiced and Baroque-authentic” (San Francisco Classical Voice). Recent highlights include Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium (San Francisco Choral Society) and St. John Passion (San Francisco Bach Choir and Bay Choral Guild), Rossini’s Petit Messe Solennelle (SF Choral Society), Mozart’s Requiem, J.C. Bach’s Magnificat, and Marianna Martines’ Dixit Dominus (San Francisco Bach Choir), repeat appearances with maestro Nicholas McGegan on PBO’s Sessions concert series featuring composers such as Giacomo Meyerbeer, Jacques Offenbach, and Fanny Mendelssohn, as well as her most recent a program of Handel arias with Philharmonia Baroque creative partner Davóne Tines.

David Kurtenbach Rivera, tenor

Tenor David Kurtenbach Rivera, described as having a voice “lined with silver” (Classical Voice), enjoys an active ensemble and solo career, specializing in early music. He has appeared as featured soloist with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, Bach Collegium San Diego, Cantata Collective, American Bach Soloists, Conspirare, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Bach-Akademie Charlotte, Oregon Bach Festival, Apollo’s Fire, and many others. He is privileged to share several GRAMMY nominations for Best Choral Performance with the musicians of Conspirare.

During the pandemic, David continued freelance work from his home in San Francisco, recording premieres and performances, and teaching master classes with ensembles around the country. He also served as Guest Lecturer in Composition at University of California, Berkeley. Recently, David premiered a new Spanish language translation of Handel’s Messiah and a full-length concert of the music of Margaret Bonds. This season’s highlights include the release of two new recordings, Gospel performances with Isaac Cates and Ordained, and a full spring season of Bach.

A trained conductor, David previously spent ten years as an opera conductor, including five seasons as Chorus Master of Opera San Jose and a summer at the Tanglewood Music Center. He works as clinician, guest conductor, and coach for ensembles around the country and is in demand as a church musician and organist.

David is also pursuing a degree in Ornamental Horticulture with a focus on Greenhouse Operations, Nursery Management, and Taxonomy. When not traveling for music, he works as an Identification and Inventory Specialist for wholesale nurseries and has his own gardening business.

As a reconnecting Indigenous Puerto Rican (Taíno), David is committed to decolonization in his life and work. He is deeply grateful to the Ramaytush, Muwekma Ohlone, and Me-Wuk Peoples for allowing his continued presence on their land.