Meet the new Resident Artists!
June 2, 2021
AVA is proud to introduce audiences to our three new Resident Artists: Lydia Grindatto (soprano), Angel Gomez (tenor) and Luke Norvell (tenor). Get to know them better by reading their biographies below. Stay tuned over the next few weeks, as we will unveil our 2021/2022 opera season soon.
Lydia Grindatto, soprano
A native of Albuquerque New Mexico, Lydia Grindatto made her professional debut with Opera Southwest, covering roles such as the title role in Puccini’s Tosca and Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata as well as appearing as Erste Edelknabe in Wagner’s Lohengrin. Lydia was also recently cast in Opera Southwest’s 2020/2021 season as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte and Annina in La traviata, which were unfortunately canceled due to Covid-19.
Having graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Mexico with a B.M. in Vocal Performance, Lydia has performed leading roles including Adele in Die Fledermaus and Madame Silberklang in Die Schauspieldirektor. While a student, Lydia also appeared as the soprano soloist in Schubert’s Mass in D and Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis. Lydia has performed in several competitions, placing first in the Vocal Artistry Art Song Festival Competition in both 2020 and 2021 as well as receiving first prize and being named Most Promising Singer in the 2021 Rio Grande NATS Student Auditions. Other achievements include being a semifinalist in the 2017 Classical Singer Magazine Competition and an Encouragement Winner in the 2021 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Angel Gomez, tenor
Angel Raii Gomez, is in his senior year at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley studying Vocal Music Performance. A native of McAllen, Texas, some of Mr. Gomez’s collegiate achievements include Gulf Coast regional finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, 1st place winner at the South Texas National Association of Teachers in Singing competition in the senior men division, 1st place winner at the Texoma NATS junior men Division, and winner of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Concerto Aria Competition.
Mr. Gomez made his undergraduate opera debut performing as Princess Altamira in UTRGV Opera Theatre’s world premiere of The Ugly Princess. In the Summer of 2019, Mr. Gomez performed in UTRGV Opera theatre’s first fully staged production of Carmen as Don Jose, performed scenes from La bohème as Rodolfo with OPERA AEDO, as well as Scenes from La traviata as Alfredo.
Luke Norvell, tenor
Hailed as “one of opera’s youngest and most talented rising stars” (Command Virformance), American tenor Luke Norvell has been praised for his show-stopping interpretations and electrifying performances. A 2021 graduate of The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California, Luke made frequent appearances on the operatic and concert stages in the Los Angeles and Orange County regions.
Previous roles include Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus with Clyde Opera Group and Independent Opera Company, Alfredo in La traviata (cover) with Landmark Opera, King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Azaël in The Prodigal Son (cover), and Prince Charming in Cinderella with Lyric Opera of Orange County, the title role in Faust (cover) with Valley Opera and Performing Arts, Die Knusperhexe in Hänsel und Gretel and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with LAH-SOW, Count Vaudémont in Iolanta (role study) with Eurasia Festival, and Lensky in Eugene Onegin (role study) with Russian Opera Workshop. Upcoming roles include Loge in Das Rheingold and Prince in Rusalka with LAH-SOW, Fenton in Falstaff with Puget Sound Concert Opera, and Alfredo in La Traviata with Clyde Opera Group. He also appeared in the 2020-2021 Season Closing of the Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert. On the concert stage, he has sung the tenor solos for Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah with The Master’s University Singers and Orchestra and performed Dvořák’s Biblické písně in recital.