Download Read the opera singers` full bios here

A Night at the Opera – GIS Fall Fundraiser
Opera Singers
Rebecca Sacks
Mezzo soprano Rebecca Sacks is known for her dynamic stage presence, smart musicality, and
stylistic versatility. She performs opera and concert repertoire in the Pacific Northwest and Northern
California. Roles have included Dorabella in Così fan Tutte (Mozart), Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro
(Mozart), Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), the title role in El Gato con Botas (Montsalvatge),
Sesto in Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Händel), and Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck). Equally
comfortable in concert repertoire, Ms. Sacks has performed as an alto soloist in Handel's Messiah,
Haydn's Missa Sancti Nicolai, Monteverdi's Vespro della beata Vergine, the Mozart Requiem ,
Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, and the Vivaldi
Gloria.
Ms. Sacks won first place at the 2016 NATS Artist Awards Northwest Regional Finals and will compete
in the national semifinals in July. She will additionally compete as a semifinalist in the NATS National
Student Auditions in the same week. She was a semifinalist at the 2016 James M. Collier Young Artist
Competition in San Francisco, CA and an encouragement award winner at the 2014 Oregon District
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. While completing post-baccalaureate work at the University of Oregon, she was a
member of the small ensemble that won second place at the National Opera Association’s collegiate scenes competition (graduate
division).
This fall and winter Ms. Sacks will join Portland Opera to Go, Portland Opera’s school outreach ensemble, to perform the role of Hänsel
for students across Oregon and Southern Washington. Following that, she will begin her Masters of Music study at the University of
Georgia as their Mezzo-Soprano Opera Fellow.
Rebecca is a member of the Portland Opera Chorus and currently studies with Ruth Dobson.
Daniel Buchanan
Daniel Buchanan, tenor, is a multifaceted artist active as a singer, actor, composer, pianist, and
music educator. Last season, he made his European debut singing St. John Passion with Finland's
Kuninkaantien Muusikot and performed the role of Nemorino in The Elixir of Love at the Portland
Opera. Other recent performances include the Portland Chamber Orchestra (Messiah), Portland
Opera (Madama Butterfly), Walla Walla Symphony, a tour of the Greek Islands with Cappella
Romana, title role of Werther with Opera Theater Oregon, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with
Newport Symphony, and Mozart's Mass in C Minor at the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival.
For three years, he performed regularly with the Houston Grand Opera, including the roles of Tonio
in The Daughter of the Regiment, Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville and The Witch in Hansel
and Gretel. Other opera roles include Ferrando in Così fan tutte, the title role in Albert Herring, and
Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. Mr. Buchanan enjoys frequent appearances with the Oregon Bach
Festival (St. John Passion, Christmas Oratorio), Southwest Florida Symphony, Bach Society of Houston (St. Matthew Passion, Brockes
Passion), Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and Houston Chamber Choir (B Minor Mass).
Since 2005, Mr. Buchanan has sung with the internationally-acclaimed vocal ensemble Conspirare, based in Austin, Texas. With the
group, he recorded the Grammy-nominated release A Company of Voices, which was aired nationally on PBS. Conspirare was a
featured choir at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Copenhagen in 2008. He is also a founding member of Opera Vista, an
innovative opera company based in Houston, Texas. Presenting a festival of contemporary opera every year, Opera Vista has become
a vibrant addition to the arts community. With the company, he sang in Amy Beach’s Cabildo, including performances at the French
Quarter Music Festival in New Orleans.
Mr. Buchanan has served on the voice faculties of the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College and Lone Star College. He is also
the founder and primary instructor of an active voice studio called Resound NW. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Abby.
Pianist
Kira Whiting
Currently based in Portland, Oregon, collaborative pianist Kira Whiting graduated from Manhattan
School of Music in May 2014 with a Master’s in Classical Accompanying with a Vocal Emphasis.
Ms. Whiting has participated in masterclasses with Martin Katz, Thomas Hampson, Craig
Rutenberg, and Roger Vignoles. She has performed several art song recitals in Scandinavia,
including a program of American art songs for a balcony concert at the Oslo Opera House in
spring 2014. She has played for the vocal studios of Monica Harte, Maitland Peters, Neil
Rosenshein, Brian Jauhiainen, Carl Halvorson, Nancy Olson-Chatalas, and Richard Zeller.