Hannah Madeleine Goodman
soprano

Mariana, a young girl

Soprano Hannah Madeleine Goodman, hailed for her “adept coloratura” and “exquisite dynamics,” is delighted to be a Fort Worth Opera Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artist for the 2024-25 season! Originally from Oregon and based in New York, her credits include: Los Angeles Opera, Portland Opera, Opera Saratoga, Philadelphia Orchestra, Bangor Symphony Orchestra, television’s Glee, iSING! International Young Artists Festival (China). Semifinalist, 2023 Camille Coloratura Awards; Quarterfinalist: 2024 American Traditions Competition.

Katherine Watson
soprano

Rosita (Mariana’s grandmother); Fulang Chang (the monkey)

From 2022-2024, Katherine was a Studio Artist with Fort Worth Opera and received her Artist Diploma from Texas Christian University.  Katherine has covered the roles of High Priestess (Aida) and Mrs. Gobineau (La Medium) and portrayed Gretel (Hansel and Gretel). A graduate of University of North Texas, she will make her debut with Opera Arlington as Maguelonne in Viardot's Cinderella in November 2024.

Mariam Mouawad
mezzo-soprano

Alicia (Mariana’s mother); Frida Kahlo

Born and raised in the city of Zahlé, Lebanon, mezzo-soprano Mariam Mouawad, is currently a resident artist at Fort Worth Opera. Notable appearances:

Dorabella, Così fan tutte (Shreveport Opera); Musetta, La Bohéme (Shreveport Opera); Federico Lorca,  Ainadamar (Moores Opera Center); Charlotte, A Little Night Music,(MOC); Tolomeo, Giulio Cesare (MOC); Adélaïde, La Belle et La Bête (MOC); Ariodante (cover), Ariodante (Opera Neo); Cendrillon, Cendrillon (San Diego State University); Minsk Woman, Flight (SDSU); Orfeo, Orfeo ed Euridice (SDSU).

Ndumiso Nyoka
tenor

​Eduardo, Jr., (Mariana’s brother); Mr. Xoloti (the dog)

Ndumiso Nyoka completed his Performer’s Diploma and Master’s in Voice from SMU, his Doctoral Fellowship in Opera at OU, and his Artist Diploma at TCU. He has a long history of opera performance, including singing with the Fort Worth Opera and Dallas Opera Outreach Programs, and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. He hails from Ladysmith, South Africa, and sang at the late former South African President Nelson Mandela’s funeral. Now located in Dallas, he sings with his wife at Christ the King Catholic Church.

Seth Emmanuel Clarke
bass-baritone

​Eduardo (Mariana’s father); Bonito (the parrot); Diego Rivera

A local resident of Dallas, TX, Seth-Emmanuel Clarke, bass-baritone, completed a Performance Diploma in Voice Performance at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in May 2024 under Professor Barbara Hill-Moore after having also completed his Master’s in May of 2023. Most recently, Seth was a vocalist for the 2024 Hart Institute for Women Conductors Showcase Concert in which he sang the role of Figaro in excerpts from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro.

Igor Parshin
pianist

A graduate of the famous Gnessin State Musical College (2004 – 2008) and Gnessin Russian Academy of Music (2008 – 2015), Igor Parshin graduated with the highest marks of his graduation year. Igor Parshin currently serves as a collaborative and solo pianist as well as music teacher in Fort Worth, Texas. He gives piano lessons at The Music Conservatory at Fort Worth Country Day, performing Cliburn in the Classroom series of educational programs organized by The Cliburn foundation, as well accompanying singers at the Fort Worth Opera. He is also pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts degree at TCU under the guidance of Doctor Tamas Ungar.

Joe Illick
composer

Joe Illick has written nine operas, four of them with librettist Mark Campbell (the other three being Stone Soup, Bernadette’s Cozy Book Nook, and Ricky). His opera Feel the Tango (libretto by Susan Westfall) has been performed in Fort Worth, Santa Fe, Shreveport and Nashville. Zozobra: The Revenge (libretto by Doug Preston) was premiered in Santa Fe at the end of August, 2024. UnShakeable (libretto by Andrea Fellows Fineberg) has been performed throughout New Mexico and Colorado by the Santa Fe Opera, and later by Opera Charleston as part of the Spoleto Festival and by Opera Omaha.