Opera is made possible by passionate artists—and generous people like you.
Our upcoming production of Le nozze di Figaro features incredible local talent – and many of these artists still need sponsors to help cover essentials like housing, travel, costumes, and artist pay.
Each singer has a story, and your support connects you directly to their journey. Stay tuned for our spotlight posts to meet the cast and choose your favorite to sponsor!
Sponsors will be listed in the program next to their chosen artist.
Meet the cast and become a sponsor here:
Kenneth McCall as Count Almaviva
Kenneth McCall, baritone, is a native of Amarillo, Texas. He has performed a range of operatic and musical theatre roles, including the Count in The Marriage of Figaro—a role he is especially thrilled to revisit—Papageno in The Magic Flute, Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and, most recently, the Pilot in The Little Prince: A Magical Opera. Kenneth was a cast member in TEXAS! The Outdoor Musical for three consecutive seasons and has become a familiar face to Panhandle audiences. In 2024, he won the Edward Baird Singer of the Year Competition at the Texoma Region National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Conference.
Taylor Moreno as Countess Almaviva
Taylor Moreno, soprano, is based in Canyon, Texas, where she serves as Choir Director at Ascension Academy and Adjunct Professor of Voice at both West Texas A&M University and Wayland Baptist University. A versatile performer, she recently appeared as The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte (WTAMU), and Gerda in The Snow Queen(Opera of the Plains). In March 2024, she was named the grand prize winner of the inaugural Eric Barry Vocal Competition. Upcoming engagements include her role debut as Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera of the Plains. In addition to her performance work, she will also make her debut as assistant music director for TEXAS: The Outdoor Musical this summer.
Kanani Crandall as Susanna
Kanani Crandall, soprano, is currently refining her vocal artistry with Mr. Matt Oglesby at West Texas A&M University. She began her graduate studies at the University of Mobile, where she trained with Dr. Maryann Kyle and made her professional debut as Sister Genovieffa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with Opera Mississippi. While in Alabama, she regularly performed for outreach events, galas, and weddings. Crandall holds her undergraduate degree from Young Harris College, where she studied with Karen Calloway and performed extensively in ensembles including jazz band, pep band, classical guitar ensemble, and multiple choirs. She was consistently featured as a soloist and graduated a semester early. In 2020, she was a soloist with the GMEA Honor Choir and placed third at the NATS South-East Regional competition. This summer, she will appear in the chorus of TEXAS: The Outdoor Musical!
Robert Cardwell as Figaro
Dr. Robert Cardwell, baritone, has performed with opera companies and festivals across the United States and Europe, including Sarasota Opera, Amarillo Opera, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, the Amalfi Coast Music Festival, and the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria. His operatic repertoire includes leading roles such as Don Giovanni, Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Tonio (Pagliacci), Giorgio Germont (La Traviata), and the Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance). While at AIMS, he was a featured artist in numerous concerts and a finalist in the Meistersinger Competition. He also appeared in Aida, Fidelio, and La battaglia di Legnano as an Apprentice Artist at Sarasota Opera.
Dr. Cardwell has earned recognition as a winner of the Texoma NATS Edward Baird Singer of the Year Award, the Mila Gibson Young Artist Award, and the Robin Angly & Miles Smith Award from the Lois Alba Aria Competition. He has also been a semi-finalist in the Dallas Opera Guild Competition. Equally at home in concert repertoire, he has appeared as soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, The Messiah, The Crucifixion, and The Seven Last Words.
Dr. Cardwell earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas and currently serves as Director of Opera and Assistant Professor of Voice at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Lauren Salazar as Cherubino
Lauren Salazar, mezzo-soprano, is a second-year Voice & Opera Graduate Artist Certificate student at the University of North Texas, studying with Dr. Carol Wilson. She holds degrees from The University of Texas at Austin (B.M.) and the University of North Texas (M.M.) in Voice Performance. A versatile performer with a passion for opera, Lauren has performed title roles in Carmen, Hänsel, and Dido, and appeared as Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Third Wood Sprite (Rusalka), Dorothée (Cendrillon), Annio (La clemenza di Tito), and Despina (Così fan tutte). She has performed with Fort Worth Opera, Austin Opera, Opera Arlington, the Dallas Bach Society, and the TEXAS Outdoor Musical Company. In 2024–2025, she sang the Alto solos in Il Concerto Delle Donne, Merrie England, and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Dallas Bach Society. Upcoming roles include the Witch in Into the Woods, Carmen with Opera in the Ozarks, and Cherubino with Opera of the Plains.
Frankie Barraza as Marcellina
Frankie Barazza, mezzo-soprano, holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from Stephen F. Austin State University. During her time at SFA, she performed leading operatic roles including Zita in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen, and Anna Maurrant in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene. As a soloist, Frankie has appeared at major conventions such as TMEA and SWACDA, including performances of G. B. Martini’s Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina and Rautavaara’s Lorca Suite. In 2023, she was a featured soloist throughout the SFASU A Cappella Italy Tour. Her recent concert credits include the soprano solo in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Stone Fort Chorale.
Aaron Fish as Don Basilio
Aaron Fish is a recent graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music with a focus in voice studies. During his time at SFA, he performed a wide range of operatic roles, including Falke in Die Fledermaus, Dr. Gregg in Gallantry, El Remendado in Carmen, and Sam in Street Scene. He also appeared as a featured soloist with the Stone Fort Chorale, performing the works of Gabriel Fauré. A native of the Texas Panhandle, Aaron is a graduate of West Texas High School in Stinnett, TX. Despite the absence of a choir program at his school, he advanced to the Texas All-State Choir four times and was twice awarded Outstanding Performer at the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest. In college, Aaron was also a finalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition.
Joshua Moreno as Don Curzio
Joshua Moreno, tenor, is currently based in Canyon, Texas, where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at West Texas A&M University. His operatic and theatrical credits include Albert Herring in Britten’s Albert Herring, Ferrando in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Pasquin in Bizet’s Doctor Miracle, and the Man with a Suitcase in Argento’s Postcard from Morocco. He also performed as Ted Bates and Lonnie Cheeks in the TEXAS! Outdoor Musical. Joshua is currently student teaching at Canyon High School and Junior High. Along with his studies, Joshua also maintains a private voice studio, and serves as an assistant cheer coach for the Canyon High School cheer team.
Oscar Hample as Doctor Bartolo
Oscar Hample is a bass vocalist in his first year of graduate studies in Vocal Performance at West Texas A&M University with Dr. Cloyce Kuhnert. Originally from Wasilla, Alaska, Oscar aspires to perform professionally as an opera singer and make his family proud. His stage credits include Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Georg Nowack in She Loves Me, Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, The Puppet Master in Postcard from Morocco, and Dude in the TEXAS Outdoor Musical, among others.
Steve Parker as Antonio
Steve Parker is a Southern California native who has called Amarillo home for the past 25 years. He studied music and worship at Pacific Christian College and Ozark Christian College, and has spent the last decade studying vocal performance with Dr. Cloyce Kuhnert at West Texas A&M University. Steve worked as a worship minister for 12 years across churches in California and Texas and now serves as a patient sitter at Northwest Texas Hospital. In his “old” age, Steve went back to school and received his associates degree in Theatre from Amarillo College. Steve has performed extensively with Amarillo Little Theatre and Amarillo College Theatre. Le nozze di Figaro marks Steve’s operatic debut!
Sarah Estes as Barbarina
Sarah Estes is a junior at West Texas A&M University, where she studies Vocal Performance with Mr. Matt Oglesby. Sarah is thrilled to make her professional opera debut in Le nozze di Figaro! She was previously seen in Amahl and the Night Visitors (Amahl) and Così fan Tutte (Despina) with WTAMU Opera and in The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel) with TEXAS Opera. Sarah has spent the last two summers performing in TEXAS Outdoor Musical (Clara Armstrong, Grace Sheffey) and Shakespeare in the Canyon, where she made her professional Shakespearean debut in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peaseblossom/featured dancer). In January 2024, Sarah was a finalist and placed second in the United States in the National Opera Association’s Robert Hansen Collegiate Scenes Competition. She is a winner of the Panhandle NATS competition, the runner-up of the 2024 Eric Barry Vocal Competition, and a two-time NATS regional semifinalist.
