Samuel McDonald has been praised for his singing and artistry which is “warm, expressive [and] first rate..." (Nino Pantano) and “...full of focus, passion, and enough elegance to impart fresh air into Bel Canto...” (GMM, Inc.) His recent awards include 2nd prize in The Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition, local and regional winner of the NANBPWC Vocal Arts Competition and a finalist in The Opera Ebony Benjamin Matthews Vocal Competition, The National Vocal Arts Competition, The Harlem Opera Theater Vocal Competition and The Alltech Opera Scholarship Competition. He continuously receives accolades for his "generous baritone" and "very believable portrayals" (Meche Kroop, Vocedimeche.) Stage Credits include the title role in Don Giovanni, Marcello (La bohème), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Alidoro (Cenerentola), Belcore (L'elisir d'Amore), Pandolfe (Cendrillon), Betto (Gianni Schicchi), King Arthur (Camelot), Baron Douphol (La Traviata), Jake (Porgy and Bess) and Cephus (Treemonisha). Some of his musical theater repertoire includes Dreamgirls, Ragtime, Miss Saigon, Aida, Parade, A Grand Night for Singing, Follies and Showboat. He has made appearances with the NY Philharmonic, NJPAC, at Teatro Valle (Rome, Italy,) The Royal Danish Theater, The West Virginia Public Theater, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Bucks County Playhouse. He has also toured internationally as a member of The American Spiritual Ensemble. He was a young artist at The Brevard Music Festival, Castleton Music Festival, Prelude to Performance and The Music Academy of the West. He has served on the voice faculty of Bucknell University and is currently on the voice faculty of Montclair State University while maintaining a local voice and piano studio. www.samuelamcdonald.com
Theodore Chletsos has garnering praise in the U.S. and abroad for his powerful voice and dynamic stage presence. He is regularly a soloist at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where he has performed O Holy Night for the last decade at the Candlelight Carol Sing, as well as Beethoven’s 9th and the Requiems of Mozart and Verdi. Chletsos performed in tours of Madama Butterfly, La bohème, and Rigoletto throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. Theodore made his Carnegie Hall and New York City Opera debut in Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra, and has sung with opera companies and symphonies across the US. Career highlights include performing Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Rodolfo in La bohème, il duca in Rigoletto, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Alfredo in La traviata, Luigi in il tabarro, Anatol in Vanessa, the title role in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Theodore was scheduled as soloist for a concert of Beethoven music with the NJSO in May, which will be rescheduled. www.theodorechletsos.com