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Featured Artistes
 Edward Cumberbatch (Nemorino)Always a leading man, Edward has appeared as Calaf (Turandot), Nemorino (Elixir of Love), Koanga, Chibiabos (Hiawatha) and Orpheus (Orpheus & Eurydice) with the Lydians chorale. He is also a member of QEDTT and was the winner of the 25+ Recital Class at the 1997 International South African Eistedfod. He is a lecturer of mathematics at the University of T&T, holds his BA, MSc, MPhil, and is currently a PhD candidate. |  Natalia Dopwell (Adina)An award winning soprano, Natalia was Most Outstanding Performer of the T&T Music Festival 2004 and 1st Runner up at the 2012 Concurso Internacional de Canto Lírico in Trujillo, Peru. A graduate of Manhattan School of Music, she is on the vocal faculty at University of T&T and is Creative Director of Picoplat MDF. Natalia has been featured in recital in London, Poland and NYC, and her operatic roles include Queen of the Night, Fiordiligi, Rita, Dido, Micaela and the title role in "Jab Molassie" |  Paul Cort (Belcore)A native of Guyana, Paul received his Masters degree in Vocal Performance from Boston University where he trained with Simon Estes, and is currently a professor of voice at the University of the Southern Caribbean. His smooth baritone voice won him second place from the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) 2002, and he was awarded the Robert L. Mungar scholarship in 2004. |
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 Hyery Hwang (East meets West)Hyery Hwang, Opera Musical Director at the University of Memphis, is a native of Seoul, South Korea. She has been vocal coach and collaborative pianist for the Korea National Opera, Ohio Light Opera, and principal coach for the Young Artist Program held at the Pittsburgh Festival Opera. She has also sung in Baroque operas and concerts in Rochester, NY, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Italy. Recent engagements include soprano soloist for the works of Bach and Handel with Masterworks Chorale. |  Maegan Pollonais (East meets West)Winner of the 2014 CMDFTT Music Competition, Maegan was featured in our 2015 production of Cosi fan tutte (Dorabella). Currently pursuing her Doctorate of Arts Degree in Music, with a Concentration in Educational Psychology at Ball State University, Maegan was featured recently in the role of Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas) with the Ball State Opera Theater, as well as Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus). She was also recently won Ball State’s 10th Annual School of Music Vocal Competition. |  Mei Zhong (East meets West)Ball State University as Professor of Voice, Dr. Mei Zhong, earned a D.M.A. from the University of Illinois and an M.F.A. from the University of California, LA; both in Vocal Performance. She performed several leading roles in opera productions, such as Madama Butterfly, Suor Angelica, Micaëla in Carmen, and was a soloist in choral and symphony productions of Dvorák's Te Deum, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Dona Nobis Pacem. |
 Anneliese Kelly (Giannetta)Anneliese has always had a love for opera sang the role of Carlotta in the Caribbean Theater Production of Phantom of the Opera in 2014. As a member of Picoplat Young Artist Collective she sang in the ensemble of Cosi fan tutte and Tales of Hoffmann, then sang her first operatic role last year as Papapgena (Magic Flute). |  Krisson Joseph (Dulcamara)Krisson holds a Masters in Music Business from New York University and is currently Programme Coordinator at the University of T&T. His rich baritone was heard recently in the premiere of 'River of Freedom' for which the Guardian review noted "his huge voice filling the acoustically challenging hall and inspiring ambitious echoes from male members of the crowd even as the show came to an end". Krisson's previous roles include Papageno and Dapertutto |  Picoplat Young Artist CollectiveFormed in 2011 to bring full length operatic works to the local stage and enable local classical singers to experience unamplified theatrical singing, PYC members come from all walks of life, ranging from amateur music lovers to award winning university students, teachers and professional singers. Performed works include Ravel's L'enfant et les Sortileges, Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Handel's Dido & Aeneas, Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann, Mozart's Magic Flute, Impresario and Cosi fan tutte |
 Helmer Hilwig (Director)A medical doctor by profession Helmer came to T&T in 1983 with the intention to stay for one year, but Trinidad remains home 33years later. At present he Heads the Arima Emergency Department and also serves as Chairman of the Queens Hall Board. As Director and Actor, he's been involved in over 100 theatre productions in Trinidad and his native Holland, even directing a very young Natalia Dopwell when she was a member of the Love Movement choir. He has directed all CMDFTT operas to date. |  June Nathaniel (Musical Director)Principal of Key Academy of Music, and Musical Director of the CMDFTT, June was a Trinity College of Music exhibition champion at age 17, continuing her studies at Royal College of Music, London where she obtained the A.R.C.M. in Piano Teaching and Singing Performing. She later trained at Hochschule Fur Musik in Munich studying opera, and Professor Frederick Husler's Scuola di Canto in Switzerland. She appeared in Schonberg's "Die Gluckliche Hand" at La Scala, Italy. |  Margaret Sheppard (Costumes)Margaret has over thirty years experience in the design and production of costumes for theatre and carnival, specializing in ballet and period costumes. She has worked with most of Trinidad's most celebrated designers, and nearly every local theatrical production company. She is the winner of multiple Cacique Awards, including the National Drama Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NDATT)'s Lifetime Achievement Award. |
 Daniella Walcott (Set Designer)Daniella, is an artist, set and costume designer, who earned her BFA in Performing Arts in Theater Design and Production at UTT and is stretching her wings as an entrepreneur with her own company Daniella Walcott Creations. Highlights of her career thus far include set designer for the 2017 major production of “Man Better Man” at NAPA, and a commissioned piece for the British High Commission Residence which was shown along with a collection of her artwork to celebrate their 73rd anniversary |
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