Opera Department Showcases First Graduating Class of Artist Diploma Program
News StoryFour of the five students in this year's Opera Artist Diploma program are graduating this year. One will return next year, joined by two current SFCM students.
Students in SFCM's first highly selective Opera Artist Diploma program put on a triumphant show on May 2, with some of the performers making their last appearance on the Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall stage before they graduate and embark on their professional careers.
The evening showcased some of opera's biggest composers, from Verdi to Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Puccini, Bizet, and Rossini, and also featured a high-profile guest star: 2013 Voice grad Efraín Solís, who currently performs as part of the LA Opera cast.
At least a few members will be staying local, Nathan Bryon, will be sticking around San Francisco after he graduates: Along with recent SFCM grad Lindsay Martin, Bryon has been accepted into the San Francisco Opera's prestigious Merola Program in 2024, one of the most prestigious opera training programs in the world. Two other grads, Hyesoo Kim and Chea Kang, have already notched performances with the Oakland Symphony and the SF Opera, respectively.