Introducing Daphne wonderful creative team!

Theresa Patten-Koeckert - Stage Director, Gaea

A native of Los Angeles, Theresa Patten-Koeckert has sung professionally as a soloist in Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. She has performed in over 20 opera productions as a member of the Bavarian State Opera chorus in Munich. Her choral experience includes the Backakademie's Gaechinger Kantorei (Stuttgart), the Bavarian Radio Choir (Munich), the Oregon Bach Festival (Eugene), and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. She currently divides her time as a professional singer and business development manager in the entertainment industry.

Liza Barskaya -choreographer

Liza Barskaya spent her childhood training in dance throughout the greater Los Angeles area. She attended summer programs for American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet and Ballet Austin. She joined Ballet Austin as a Professional Division Trainee from 2010-2012 and then relocated to NYC before returning to LA. Liza spent four seasons with Benita Bike’s DanceArt Company based in LA. She has also performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Ballet Austin, Los Angeles Choreographers and Dancers, The Assembly, Evan Rosenblatt and Dancers, Rappaport Dance, Dances Patrelle, American Swiss Ballet, Homo Veritas Dance Theatre, and Mesopotamian Opera Company. Liza has performed, choreographed and directed for Creating Higher Ground and Independent Opera Company. Liza performed in John Tesh’s documentary and performance tour, “Alive: Music and Dance”, Red Hot Organization’s “Master Mix: Red Hot + Arthur Russell” and in Darling Media’s “Self(i.e.)”. Her choreographic work includes the musical production of “I Love You, Because” by the Red Brick Road Theatre Company and Endeavor Theatre Ensemble, Emelia Austin’s “Desire to Reveal” music video and Surf Curse’s music video “Disco” in which she also starred. Most recent projects include highly acclaimed choreographing/codirecting Los Angeles premiere of Alice in Wonderland by Brooke deRosa. In addition to performing and choreographing, Liza teaches ballet lessons throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Karine Karapetyan - Daphne

Armenian-born dramatic coloratura soprano, Karine Karapetyan, is renowned for her captivating voice and versatile artistry. She began her musical journey at the prestigious Yerevan Komitas Conservatory, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts. During this time, Karine distinguished herself in numerous opera productions, showcasing her powerful vocal range and dynamic stage presence. In addition to her opera career, she served as a soloist and music director at the Evangelical Church in Armenia, further honing her musical leadership and performance skills. Karine was also a soloist at the Tehran Armenian Apostolic Church, where she further deepened her connection to the Armenian musical and cultural traditions.

After relocating to the United States, Karine pursued her Master of Music in Performing Arts at California State University, Northridge. There, she excelled in opera productions, participated in a chamber choir, and presented a successful solo recital. With a reputation for vocal excellence and expressive performances, Karine continues to captivate audiences with her remarkable artistry and dedication to the operatic tradition.

Emesh Wijewardena - Apollo

Sri Lankan-British Tenor Emesh Wijewardena, began singing at age ten and studied in Catania, Sicily. Emesh holds a Diploma for singing Sacred Latin Canticles and Songs and achieved a Merit in Singing from The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). He also graduated with honors in Law from the University of London and Oxford (LLB), Emesh's passion for singing led him to participate in Voices of South Africa International Opera Singing Masterclass and Competition in Cape Town and the Mediterranean Opera Festival in Sicily. He is pursuing a Masters Degree in Music at California State University, Northridge, under the mentorship of Diane Ketchie-Saar. There, he has performed Rodolfo in La Bohème and Prince Tamino in W. A. Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Under scholarship, he attended Opera Studio of the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria. Most recently he was received the Runners-up award in the Palm Springs Opera Competition. He was also the Finalist of the Hennings-Fischer Music Competition held in Los Angeles, California. He has recently finished playing the role of Rodolfo in La Boheme at the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina and he will be playing the role of Cavaradossi in Guild Opera Company’s  75th Anniversary Production of Tosca. He will also be doing his Graduate Recital this fall at California State University, Northridge 

Frank Watnick - Leukippos

Tenor Frank Watnick is a recent Master of Music graduate of California State University, Fullerton and a 2022 graduate of Chapman University’s Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music. He is thrilled to be making his debut with Independent Opera Company as Leukippos in Richard Strauss’ Daphne. Frank has been seen in several roles, including Sam Kaplan in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene and Nerone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea at the CSUF Opera Theater, Bardolfo in Verdi’s Falstaff and the title role in Mozart’s Idomeneo with Lyric Opera of Orange County, Basilio in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with the International Lyric Academy in collaboration with Opera Carolina in North Carolina and Italy. He has also performed scenes of many other roles, including Ferrando in Così fan Tutte, Lindoro in L’taliana in Algieri, and Alfredo in La Traviata at CSUF, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus with Bach Millennium Music. He recently debuted with the Opera Aeterna Windy City Operafest in Chicago as Lensky in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and won 2nd place in Divisions VIII and IX of the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition for Piano and Voice this past winter. Upcoming, Frank will make his mainstage debut with Opera Italia Los Angeles as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème and will return to Opera Aeterna to reprise Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro. 

Michael Payne - Peneios

Michael Payne is a classically trained singer, teacher, and musical director based in Los Angeles. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degree from Lee University (Cleveland, TN) and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance degree from Missouri State University (Springfield, MO). 

He made his Carnegie Hall solo debut with Manhattan Opera Studio in 2017 and was a part of the inaugural Teatro Nuovo (formerly Bel Canto at Caramoor) in 2018. Michael was able to represent his country twice in the 2013 and 2017 inaugurations at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. He has been on numerous music tours across the nation, and internationally to Ireland and South Africa. He was an avid performer with Ozark Lyric Opera under the mentorship of Michael Spyers. 

In addition to classical music, Michael found a love for musical theatre direction in Missouri. He was the music director for many shows at Marshfield Community Theatre (Annie, Seussical, Mamma Mia!) and Spectra Theatre Co (Spring Awakening, Head Over Heels). 

Memorable roles include Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Chelio (The Love for Three Oranges), Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Bartolo (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Timur (Turandot). Michael currently performs as the bass section leader at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church and is a voice faculty member at California State University Dominguez Hills.

Matthew Cook - First Shepherd

Matthew Cook is a baritone currently living in Claremont. He holds degrees in music and voice from Pomona College and the University of Southern California. Last winter, Matthew was an Apprentice Artist with the Sarasota Opera in Florida. Upon returning to Southern California in the spring, he sang the role of Garibaldo in Rodelinda with Opera Neo and the role of Jacob in The Ballad of Baby Doe with Opera Buffs. In addition to singing, Matthew is in demand as an organist, and can be heard playing in churches across Southern California each Sunday.

Jackob Walters - Second Shepherd

Jacob Walters is a multi-genre vocalist whose youthful, but powerful voice touches the Heart as much as it does the Ear. Having begun training in music at 8 years old, taking lessons in both voice and piano, Walters has developed and refined his musical flexibility and passion for the art form. Throughout his life, he has performed in productions that span the entirety of the classical/contemporary spectrum, including his own compositions and arrangements. In addition to singing and songwriting, he has served as Music Director and Piano Accompanist for several youth theatre companies, including Troubadour Theatre and Gaslight Youth Theatre in Tucson, and Sierra Canyon Dance Studio in Los Angeles. An Arizona native, he received his Bachelor of Music in Voice from The University of Arizona, and recently earned his Master of Music in Voice from California State University, Northridge. He is currently teaching voice and performing in the Los Angeles area. When not partaking in musical projects, you’ll probably find him enjoying a big helping of pasta! Visit him on instagram at @khakijake

Alexei Helmbock - Third Shepherd

Alexei Helmbock has been a mainstay of several choral groups in the Los Angeles area, singing in various genres both sacred and secular. Born and raised in Boston, Alexei has been a lifelong musician who has shown repeated flexibility in the roles he has undertaken, including both tenor and bass section leader. Alexei has enjoyed singing music as varied as oratorio, opera, and bluegrass.

Bedjou Jean - Fourth Shepherd

Bedjou Jean "discovered" opera in 2018 and loved it so much he went to Valley College just to study voice for two years. He recently appeared in Landmark Opera's production of Gianni Schicchi and Nocturne Theater's production of the musical Jekyll & Hyde. He is honored to have the chance to be part of this Independent Opera production.

Sam Rosenberg - First Maid

Samantha Rosenberg is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, dancer, and choreographer. Raised in New Jersey by a bandleader and a dancer, she developed a passion for music and movement from a young age.

Her operatic credits include: Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), Mathurine (L’ivrogne corrigé), Jennie Hildebrand (Street Scene), White Cat/Bat (L’enfant et les sortilèges), and Despina cover (Così fan tutte). She has performed with Independent Opera Company (The Love for Three Oranges), Guild Opera Company (Tosca, Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood), Valley Opera Performing Arts (La Bohème), Source/Filter Music Collective (Sancta Susanna) and LA Opera Connects (Las tres mujeres de Jerusalén). 

Ms. Rosenberg holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Cal State Northridge, where she is currently pursuing her M.M. under the guidance of Diane Ketchie and Mercedes Juan Musotto.

Jessica Berns - Second Maid

Jessica Berns-Garner, Dramatic Coloratura Soprano, is an up-and-coming performer in the Los Angeles area, known for her warm, rich timbre and powerful instrument. Her operatic roles have included Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Frasquita (Carmen), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Fortuna (L’incoronazione di Poppea), both First and Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte) and multiple roles in Suor Angelica including Dolcina, Nursing Sister, and First Touriere. Additionally she has covered Gilda (Rigoletto), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), die Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte), Adele (Die Fledermaus) and Genovieffa (Suor Angelica). Operetta roles Jessica has sung include Gianetta in The Gondoliers, Constance in The Sorcerer, Phoebe in The Yeoman of the Guard, Countess Stasi in The Gipsey Princess and Sylviane in The Merry Widow. In addition to her operatic work, Jessica is also an accomplished concert soloist, having performed as a soloist in the Rutter Requiem, The Messiah, The Creation, and the Vivaldi Gloria. Jessica holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Arts Performance, from California State University, Northridge, which she received in 2013, and continues to study voice with Jessica Tivens-Schneiderman.

Shepherds/chorus

Laura Barrows (also Second Maid Cover)

Laura is thrilled to be joining Independent opera company once again. She has received her Bachelors of Music from Cal State University Northridge. She has most recently appeared as the Wardrobe in Beauty and the beast with Actors Repertory Theater of Simi Valley and Papagena in Landmark Opera’s production of The Magic Flute.  Laura has played many roles with VCGSRC including Utopia (Zara) , The Pirates of Penzance(Mabel), Patience(Patience), The Sorcerer(Aline) and Yeoman of the Guard (Elsie). With The Musician Club she performed in Dido and Aeneas (Belinda). She has been a part of Riverside lyric opera in Amahl and the night visitors, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, and HMS Pinafore. She has performed in many musicals including A Little Night Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret, Gypsy, Pippin and Into the Woods. She is excited to be joining this cast and crew and is grateful for this wonderful opportunity.

Janice Batzdorff

Janice Batzdorff, mezzo soprano, has had the pleasure of singing with the chorus for numerous IOC productions including Goyescas, The Tsar’s Bride, Eugene Onegin, Romeo and Juliet, The Snow Maiden, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor and The Dialogues of the Carmelites. She has also been in the chorus with Celestial Opera Company, Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera and Pacific Opera Project, and is a long time member of the Verdi Chorus.

Bianca Galicia

Bianca Galicia began honing her craft at renowned institutions such as, The Los Angeles Music and Art School, The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and East Los Angeles College. With over 18 years of choral experience, she has performed as a soloist in iconic works including, Handel's The Messiah, Mozart's Requiem and Coronation Mass, Bach's Magnificat, and Schubert's Mass in G. She has been a part of various productions as both a lead and chorus member, such as, Mozart's The Magic Flute (Queen of the Night), Bizet's Carmen (Michaela/chorus), and Menotti’s Ahmal and the Night Visitors (chorus). After a hiatus, Bianca is determined to perform again. She has participated in the productions of Rachmaninov’s Aleko (chorus) and Leoncavallo's Il Pagliacci (chorus) with Pacific Lyric Association in fall 2024. She is currently performing with the vocal group Voces de Amarilis, specializing in a repertoire that ranges from operatic trios to Spanish boleros.

Niko Murakami (Also First Maid Cover)

Niko Murakami is a Japanese-American soprano. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music -

Vocal Performance from California State University Long Beach and earned her Master’s

degree in Vocal Performance at California State University Northridge.

Ms. Murakami’s credited roles in opera include Rose Maurrant in Street Scene,

The Princess in L’enfant et les Sortiléges, and Sister Mathilde in Dialogues of the Carmelites.

She has collaborated with organizations like Pacific Opera Project (Superflute,

Madama Butterfly), Independent Opera (Love for Three Oranges),

and Los Angeles Opera Connects (On Gold Mountain).

She has also performed as a guest soloist hosted by the Japanese Consulate of Los Angeles.

Her recent work includes singing as the soprano soloist for a Japanese rendition of Handel’s

The Messiah with The Japanese Messiah Project.

Niko studies classical voice with Shigemi Matsumoto.

Ivanna Vargas

Ivanna Valdespino began her start in music when she was living in Mexico in 2017.

She sang in a church choir with her friends and later joined a community choir

where they sang works of composers including Handel, Offenbach, Orff, and Verdi.

She became interested in singing opera when she heard a recording of the

famous soprano Maria Callas singing the aria “O mio babbino caro”

from the opera Gianni Schicchi by Puccini. After that, she moved back to the

United States, where she began studying classical voice at Los Angeles City College

under LA Opera Chorus member, Lori Stinson. She transferred to the

University of California, Irvine in Fall 2020, where she studied under

the founder of the African American Art Song Alliance, Dr. Darryl

Taylor. While at UCI, she sang the roles of Madame Goldentrill in Mozart’s

The Impresario and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. While at UCI,

she was a winner of the Concerto Competition in 2023.

She was also a finalist in the George Shirley Voice Competition in 2024.

Recent performances include singing in the chorus of Pacific Opera Project’s

production of Don Bucefalo by Antonio Cagnoni. She had the honor of competing

in the Los Angeles district of the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition

in January 2025. She is also a teaching artist with Pacific Opera Project’s

“Cuentos Cantados” opera education program, which is a

Spanish-language opera education program designed for young children

enrolled in ESL classes at school. Upcoming performances for her include

the chorus in Independent Opera Company’s production of Strauss’s Daphne

and the chorus in Guild Opera Company’s

forthcoming productions of Bizet’s Carmen and Verdi’s Macbeth.

Lynn Wang

Lynn Wang is an emerging soprano based in Los Angeles, CA. Previously she has sung in chorus for IOC’s Love for Three Oranges. She has been a soloist with The Opera Ensemble since 2013 under the direction of Rhona Klinghofer. Additionally, she has performed the roles of Cendrillon (Viardot) and Adele (Fledermaus) with Santa Monica College Opera Theater under the direction of Janelle DeStefano and Mercedes Juan Musotto. She is a MM candidate at the California State University of Northridge in the studio of Diane Ketchie, and has sung roles of Musetta and Pamina. Lynn would like to thank all of the generous and brilliant mentors who have opened their hearts and worlds to her over the years. They have all been beautiful catalysts in a journey that at one time seemed impossible.