Marietta native and founding member of the Georgia Spiritual Ensemble Timothy Harper made his opera debut as Thomas in the world premiere performance of Zabette. He performed the role of Don Jose in Bizet's Carmen with Peach State Opera. Other roles consist of; Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Spoletta, in Puccini's Tosca, Cavaradossi cover, in Tosca, Don Jose in Bizet's Carmen in Rome Italy, Second Man in Armor in Mozart's The Magic Flute, and Judge Danforth in Miller's The Crucible. He holds degrees from Kennesaw State University (Bachelors of Music in Opera Performance) and Georgia State University (Masters of Music in Opera Performance) and is currently is on the voice faculty at the University of North Georgia. He has won numerous honors throughout the state and South Eastern region. Mr. Harper has been featured as a soloist with the Ludwig Symphony Orchestra as well as the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. Other featured works include; Handel's Messiah, Bach's Magnificat, Saint Saëns Christmas Oratorio, Shubbert's Mass in G, Mozart's Coronation Mass, and Requiem to name a few. Mass, and Requiem to name a few.
Soprano Christina Dragoo has an extensive performance resume, singing at a wide variety of venues, including, the Florence International Music Festival, Los Angeles Fashion Week, the Renaissance Fair, the Viper Room, and many opera companies including Diversita Opera. Her most frequently performed roles include Gretel from Hansel and Gretel, and Donna Anna from Don Giovanni. In Mozart's the Magic Flute, she has performed as Pamina, Papagena, and the Queen of the Night. She also appeared in many world premieres of operas by Jonathan Price.
Ms Dragoo also has over 20 years of experience as a voice teacher with students performing at Disney Hall, the Winspear, and Angel Stadium. They have appeared in numerous operas, musical theatre productions and TV shows including, Blackish, Once Upon a Time, and the new Wonder Years. Her student Lorena Tassinari's album, Lulebu, features duets with Placido Domingo Jr. Christina has served as the children's chorus master for the California Philharmonic, Opera Pasadena, and Repertory Opera Company. She has music directed several shows including Little Women, Descendants the Musical, Shrek Jr, and Annie Jr. Christina currently runs a private studio in McKinney, Texas and is a member of the NATS, a professional organization for vocal education.
Pianist Portia Shuler Hawkins holds degrees from Fisk University and Yale University School of Music. Her private piano teachers include Geneva Handy Southall, Matthew and Anne Kennedy, Ward Davenny, Francis Whang, and George Walker. Mrs. Hawkins has taught at Georgia Perimeter University, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Agnes Scott College. Her CD, “African American Sampler”, is heard on WABEFM radio, Atlanta, and several public radio stations throughout the country. Several years ago, she edited a piano collection of works by William Grant Still at the request of his daughter, Judith Still. Presently, Portia performs collaborative concerts throughout the region, teaches privately in her Roswell studio, and frequently serves as a vocal and instrumental accompanist. Also, she served as principal organist at First Church of Christ Scientist until 2017. Mrs. Hawkins is an adjudicator and is an active member of the Georgia Music Teachers Association, The National Federation of Music Clubs, and Mu Phi Epsilon International Professional Fraternity. She has served as a member of the Executive Board of Georgia Music Teachers Association.
In 2019, Mrs. Hawkins received a grant from the Georgia Music Teachers Association to enable her to continue promoting the piano music of classically Trained African-American Composers. In 2020, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year by the North Fulton Music Teacher's Chapter of GMTA.
Nancy Bartke hales from San Diego, California, and studied vocal performance at Indiana University, the University of North Texas, and the “Mozarteum” (Salzburg, Austria). She performs in musicals and theater around the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, as well as teaches voice at Tarrant County College Southeast.
Favorite roles include Flora/Alexandra/Victims in No Way to Treat a Lady and Lily Garland in On the Twentieth Century. Nancy and husband Thomas met performing dinner theater in Austria; they have seven children. Nancy plays tuba in The Coulson Family Jazz Band.