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Making his debut in Monroe with the LA Opera, singing the charming title role of Figaro, is the American baritone Corey McKern, who is known for his portrayal of the Barber.  McKern has sung the leading baritone role in La Boheme with the Santa Fe Opera and the Faure Requiem in Carnegie Hall, and is one of the preeminent young American baritones at this time. Another newcomer to the LA Opera is leading tenor Paul Kroeger, a young man with a very 

bright future.  Originally from Texas and a graduate of SMU, Paul recently received his masters degree in voice from the University of Colorado in Boulder.  He made his professional debut in New York last summer, and this summer he will return to New York to sing the role of the Count after he sings the role with the LA Opera.  Another new addition to the Louisiana Opera this year is Seattle-based singer Michael Delos, formerly with the New York City Opera.   He joins Monroe's favorite Ron Ulen, who has sung three major roles for the Louisiana Opera, and is the head of the voice department at the University of Texas-San Marcos. Ulen sang major roles in Germany and Switzerland for 19 years, and sang at the beginning of May as soloist with the Monroe Symphony for their final concert of the season. 

The female central character of the opera is Rosina, and popular soprano Claire Vangelisti, who has sung the leading roles in the Louisiana Opera’s first three productions, sings this delightful role.  Richard Seiler is the pianist, and Mark Ross Clark stage directs and produces the opera. The cast includes ULM voice faculty members Julian Jones as the servant Ambrosius, and ULM student Nathanael Medlin, performing the role of Fiorello. ULM graduate Lance Dumas is singing the role of the officer.  Lynn Clark, Executive Director of the Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana, who has sung recitals and opera roles in Paris and Seattle, sings Berta.  Joining the production is conductor Jeffrey Peterson, professor of opera at Baylor University.