Guillermo Lopez, tenor
Lyric tenor Guillermo Lopez has been hailed as one of the promising voices in Mexico and the
US. He participated as a soloist in the International Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado. Mr. Lopez got third place in the NATS competition of the Great Lakes, and he was a semifinalist in the first edition of the International Francisco Araiza Vocal Competition. In 2014 he performed in the world-premiere of the opera Illegal Alien by the Mexican composer Alfonso Molina. He has performed with Tampa Opera, Opera for Earth, Saint Pete Opera and SFLO.
Among his opera roles are Ernesto from Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Alfredo from Puccini’s La Traviata, Parpignol in La Bohème, and Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth. In Zarzuela, he’s performed with the Spanish Lyric Theater as Leandro in La Tabernera del Puerto and Julián in La Verbena de la Paloma. Future engagements include the role of King Kaspar from Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Mr. Lopez is a sought-after tenor in the Tampa bay area, and he performs regularly with Tampa Opera Singers in private events and concerts. In addition to his performance schedule, Mr. Lopez is a dedicated voice teacher and coach.
Fernando Lopez, piano
Mr. Lopez has participated in various music festivals such as the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, the Piano Academy & Festival International in St. Andrews, Canada, and the Brancaleoni International Music Festival in Piobbico, Italy.
Additionally, Mr. Lopez is an active collaborative pianist in the Tampa Bay area. Mr. Lopez holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Music degree from the University of South Florida. Over the years, Mr. Lopez has cultivated an engaging curriculum for his students, grounded in his passion for teaching music through the piano.
His extensive experience with children and adults alike yields a teaching style that is uniquely adaptable to the individual student; one that incorporates custom-fit nuances for each student to maximize his or her focus, engagement, and progress.
He is currently an adjunct faculty at the State College of Florida in Bradenton, where he teaches class piano and applied piano. Additionally, he has his private studio at his home in Temple Terrace.
Lebanese-American soprano, Jodi Karem has been described as having a rich sound and creamy legato as well as being a sensitive performer. She performs in both opera and concert in a variety of roles throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. In 2023, Ms. Karem had the opportunity to cover the role of Leonore (Fidelio) with St. Petersburg Opera under the baton of Maestro Mark Sforzini and perform in several preview concerts of this wonderful opera. In 2022, Ms. Karem performed in music festivals such as Music @ Moccasin Lake and Arts Earth Festival in Mississippi. In 2021, Ms. Karem performed the role of Lady Macbeth both in Opera for Earth’s New York City production and in Austin, TX for the Neill Cochran House Museum’s Porch Concerts Series. In 2019, Ms. Karem was a prize winner in the Lyra New York International Vocal Competition, Opera Division. Ms. Karem’s 2019 performances include the role Alice Ford (Falstaff) and Gertrud (A Hand of Bridge) as well as concert performances in Dubai, UAE and in Germany. In Ms. Karem’s performance of Venus in Wagner’s Dresden version of Tannhäuser with Apotheosis Opera in New York City, she “inhabited her role with seductive tone and movements”. In her portrayal as the Mother in Amahl & the Night Visitors, Ms. Karem “reached emotional and vocal heights that set the pulse racing and the emotional barometer practically bursting” (BrooklynDiscovery.com).
Ms. Karem grew up the only girl of 7 children and played a variety of sports as a child. When she discovered her voice in college, she immediately fell in love with opera. Ms. Karem keeps her mind in both sports and opera to stay fit for the demanding roles she sings. She completed the Tough Mudder, which consisted of 10 miles of running and military obstacle courses. After this success, she went on to sing scenes from Tosca and Tannhaüser as a guest artist with the Canton Symphony Orchestra.
Ms. Karem premiered the role of Lady Mabel with the Center for Contemporary Opera’s production of The Secret Agent in New York City, the European debut with the Armel Festival in Hungary as well as in Avignon, France at Opera Grand Avignon. The release of The Secret Agent CD features Ms. Karem as part of the debut cast. As a mezzo soprano, Ms. Karem has performed with Springfield Regional Opera, Long Leaf Opera, Union Avenue Opera, Inter Cities Opera, Florentine Opera, Skylight Opera, Natchez Opera Festival, Center for Contemporary Opera, Armel Opera Festival and Opera Grand Avignon. In a performance of Santuzza with Cape Cod Opera, Ms. Karem’s performance was described as “one of the finest performances I have witnessed, not just stylistically, but in every other way – acting, emotion, facial expression, body movement.” (operaOnline.us)
Recent concert performances include guest solo artist with the Athena Music Foundation in Dubai, UAE and with New York Dramatic Voices in excerpts from La Gioconda and La Fanciulla del West. Other performances include a recent performance at Carnegie Hall as a Soloist in Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore, as a soloist at Carnegie Hall in Mozart’s Requiem, soloist in the Dayton Philharmonic’s Messiah, as guest artists with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, as a soloist with the Louisville Orchestra, a concert and master class at Wabash College, as a soloist with the Palm Beach Theatre Guild, Waukegan Public Library Concert Series, Northwest Community Church Concert Series, and Carmen preview concerts with Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. Ms. Karem has been a prize winner and scholarship recipient with Opera Columbus Competition, National Opera Association, Marguerite McCammon Vocal Competition, Lyra New York International Vocal Competition, Aspen Music Festival, Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute and Opera Theatre of Lucca. Young artist programs include Natchez Opera Festival, Cincinnati Opera Outreach Ensemble, Utah Opera, and Aspen Opera Theatre. Ms. Karem also performs in recital throughout the United States, and had the opportunity to perform as a solo artist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s “Spinning Strauss” Master Class Series with Jane Marsh as well as for the Lincoln Center Patrons. Ms. Karem has appeared as a solo artist with the Louisville Orchestra under Maestro Mester.
Upcoming events include Miss Havisham (Miss Havisham’s Wedding Night) at OperaFest in Dunedin and with the Pinellas Opera League as a soloist in ‘Hot Flashes’, as Mimi in La Boheme and as Lampito in Phryne with South Florida Lyric Opera.
