Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi

Artist Bios

David Neely, Conductor

Currently the Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Kansas, Neely brings extensive international professional experience to the podium. Having worked as a conductor in Germany for over 10 years in the opera houses of Bonn, Saarbrucken, Coburg, St. Gallen, Bielefeld, Kaisersautern, Halle and Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, he recently led Sarasota Opera’s production of Moniuszko’s rarely performed Polish opera, Halka. And, in 2007, Neely was honored with one of two nationally awarded Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Assistant Conductor Grants for his work with DMMO.

A. Scott Parry, Stage Director

A graduate and former faculty member at Indiana University with degrees in both Vocal Performance and Opera Stage Direction, he most recently directed Così fan tutte for the Peabody Conservatory and Sweeney Todd for Amherst College.  Next season he will direct Le nozze di Figaro for Madison Opera and L'elisir d'amore for New York City Opera, where he is currently a Resident Stage Director.  Scott has also been engaged by companies such as Chautauqua Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Santa Fe Opera, Dallas Opera, and Boston Lyric Opera to name only a few.  As a composer, his theatre song cycle On the Impracticality… was recently premiered in NYC at the Singer’s Forum and as a librettist, his adaptation of Beaumarchais’ third Figaro play, La mère coupable, is currently being set to music.

Todd Thomas, Baritone

Macbeth

Mr. Thomas was last seen on DMMO's stage in the 2008 production of Un ballo in maschera as Anckarström, as well as in the 2007 production of Otello as Iago and in the title role of our 2006 production of Rigoletto. He has performed with New York City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Omaha, Pensacola Opera, and Austin Lyric Opera. He has been seen on opera stages in Macedonia, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Germany.

Learn more about Mr. Thomas here.

Brenda Harris, Soprano

Lady Macbeth

Ms. Harris appeared as Agathe in the 2009 Company premiere of Der Freischütz and has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, The Washington Opera, Minnesota Opera, New York City Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Atlanta Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Arizona Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Pacific, and Utah Opera.

Click here to visit her website.

John Marcus Bindel, Baritone

Banquo

Mr. Bindel will make his DMMO debut this seson. He has peformed with Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florida Grand Opera, Nashville Opera, San Diego Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, New orleans Opera, Dallas Opera, Florentine Opera, New York City Opera, Spoleto Festival (USA and Italy) in over 60 roles and has twice been nominated for a Grammy award.

Click here to learn more about Mr. Bindel.

Benjamin Bongers, Tenor

Macduff

Mr. Bongers is making his DMMO debut during the 2010 Summer Festival. He has been seen on the stages of Livermore Opera, West Bay Opera, San Francisco Choral Society, and San Francisco Opera. He has participated in young artist programs with Utah Opera, The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Utah Festival Opera.

Click here to learn more about Mr. Bongers.