University of Houston Masterclass

Recognized as “a rich and fluent mezzo” by The New York Times, “a master and virtuosa of voice” by Opernwelt, and “richly seductive” in The Times (London), Melanie Sonnenberg’s international performances in the Hamburg Staatsoper, Teatro San Carlo, Graz Oper, Salzburg Festspielhaus, Tbilisi Sarajashvili Hall, Tokyo Yoyogi Arena, Carnegie Hall, New York City Opera, Washington National Opera, Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, San Diego Opera, Edmonton Opera, and Opera Ontario, among others, have garnered critical accolades. Her television and recording credits include ORF Der Ring, Live from Lincoln Center, PBS Great Performances, and Reference, Acis, and House of Opera labels.

Timothy Jones (Voice), Doctorate of Musical Arts University of Michigan, is an American Bass-Baritone who enjoys a reputation as a charismatic presence on operatic and concert stages throughout the United States, Europe and South America. The Boston Globe hailed his voice as "stentorian and honeyed" and the Chicago Tribune called his "complete connection with the text extraordinary." The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review praised him for his theatricality, noting that he "relished the dramatic possibilities of the songs' text and music." His eagerly anticipated performances combine intelligent musicianship, commanding vocal technique and a unique ability to connect with audiences. A distinguished concert performer, Mr. Jones has soloed with the Cleveland Orchestra singing Handel's Messiah and Bach's St. Matthew Passion. He has also performed with Boston Baroque, Baltimore Symphony, St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra, Austin Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Portland Symphony, Saginaw Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Utah Symphony, Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony. Dr. Jones is widely celebrated as an enthusiastic champion of new and contemporary music. His tour de force performance of Eight Songs for a Mad King by Peter Maxwell Davies was called "an amazing feat, making unnatural demands seem natural … bizarre behavior coalesced into a sympathetic portrayal." (The Salt Lake Tribune) He has commissioned and premiered numerous compositions by composers Derek Beryl, Robert Avalon, James Balentine, Laura Carmichael, John Vasconcelos Costa, Kevin Puts, Marcus Maroney, Pierre Jalbert, Karim Al-Zand, Anthony Brandt, Kieren MacMillian, David Passmore, David Cutler, Jeffrey Goldberg, David Heuser, Doug Opel, and Jeffrey Nytch. His annual appearances with Kevin Noe and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble are a highpoint of the season. The Salt Lake Tribune raved over his performance of Argento's A Waterbird Talk conducted by Keith Lockhart, stating "Jones was a marvelous singing actor…. His wry enjoyment was contagious." His performance of Pulitzer Prize Winning Composer Kevin Puts' Einstein on Mercer Street is featured on PNME's recent recording Against the Emptiness. Other recordings include "Drunken Moon" and "The World of Ruth Crawford Seeger".