2023 Patricia Crump Vocal Competition 
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$5000 Grand PriZe Winners

​Aria Minasian & Tzytle Steinman

ARIA MINASIAN, 26
​MEZZO-SOPRANO
​Armenian American mezzo-soprano Aria Minasian graduated from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance studying with soprano Joanne Bozeman. Following her graduation, Aria resided in Appleton to continue her training, while teaching & performing in church choir, and went on to receive her Master’s degree from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, & Dance. Aria will receive her Specialist of Music in Vocal Performance from UM in April 2024, under the tutelage of mezzo-soprano Freda Herseth. Ms. Minasian’s upcoming roles include Elizabeth Cree in Puts’ Elizabeth Cree and Zita in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.
TZYTLE STEINMAN, 28
​MEZZO-SOPRANO
Tzytle Steinman, Mezzo-Soprano, is a second year Baumgartner Studio Artist with The Florentine Opera and has been living in Milwaukee for the past 2 years. She has performed with multiple companies including Fargo-Moorhead Opera, San Diego Opera and Sarasota Opera. Her other roles include Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, Rosina in The Barber of Seville (Tour), Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti and Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. Tzytle is a recipient of three Encouragement Awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. She received her MM in Voice and Opera from Northwestern University and her BM from Boston Conservatory. @Tzytle
$2500 ENCOURAGMENT AWARD
MARIAH SCHAUMBERG
MARIAH SCHAUMBERG, 20
​SOPRANO


​Mariah Schaumberg, soprano, is a Milwaukee native young artist. She is currently completing her undergraduate degree in vocal performance at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. Her recent roles include covering Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni at La Musica Lirica in Novafeltria, Italy, as well as numerous scene works and musical theater performances. Upcoming performances include Quinn in Melissa Dunphy's Alice Tierney. 
$500 FINALISTS
MADISON BARRETT, 24
MEZZO-SOPRANO
NICK FAHRENKRUG, 25
BARITONE


​Madison Barrett is a mezzo-soprano currently pursuing a D.M.A. in Voice Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison was most recently seen performing as Smitty (HTSIBWRT) and Flora (No No Nanette) with the Ohio Light Opera. Madison is an active performer in the Madison area and has been seen performing with companies including Four Seasons Theatre, Middleton Players Theatre, and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Recent UW-Madison Opera engagements include Flora (La Traviata), Nancy (Albert Herring), and The Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd). Madison holds an M.M. in Voice Performance form the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. in Voice performance from the University of Florida and is a Collins fellow.
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​Lawrence University alum, Nick Fahrenkrug, has been lauded for his supple sound in concert and expressive story-telling on stage. In 2021, he was awarded the American Prize for his guerilla-style art film “Dichterliebe: Within and Without”. Earlier this season, Nick premiered ADRIFT!, a new choral opera commissioned and created by Nightingale Vocal Ensemble and recently performed its first reprise performance at the Emily Dickinson International Society Conference in Amherst, MA. Since moving to Boston, he has appeared with Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Boston Opera Collaborative, and will be making his debut with the Boston Pops this December. Learn more about his recent and future engagements at nickfahrenkrug.com 
ZACHARY FRANK, 30
BARITONE


​Born and raised in Wisconsin, baritone Zack Scott Frank recently completed a residency for Shreveport Opera (2020-22) as one of their young artists. There, he starred in mainstage productions, including the roles of “Marullo” in Rigoletto, “Escamillo” in La Tragedie de Carmen, and “Count Almaviva” in Le nozze di Figaro. Zack moved to LSU to earn his Master's degree (2020). Following this he relocated to Texas, where he currently teaches and performs in the Houston area. Zack first began studying music at UWWhitewater in 2012, and he is excited for the opportunity to return home.
DAVID GUZMÁN, 32
BASS


​Puerto Rican bass David Guzmán has established himself as a regular performer across the stages of Wisconsin. Based in Milwaukee, he has performed with The Florentine Opera, Madison Opera, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, and most recently the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the chorus. Some of his roles include Leporello (DON GIOVANNI), Bartolo/Antonio (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO), Vodník (RUSALKA), Truffaldin (ARIADNE AUF NAXOS), Pistola (FALSTAFF), the Fifth Jew (SALOME), the Duke of Verona (ROMÉO ET JULIETTE), and Sarastro (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE). David Guzmán holds a Master of Music Degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
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MIKAYLA LIU, 26
​SOPRANO

​Known for her “crystalline purity of tone and masterful control,” Lyric Coloratura Soprano, Mikayla Liu, was born in West Allis and raised in Mosinee, WI. She recently completed her M.A. in vocal performance at the University of Iowa where she served as a graduate voice T.A.. This summer she attended AIMS opera institute wherein she sang in recitals throughout Graz, Austria. She is currently completing her Graduate Diploma at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Mary Schiller. Recent engagements include, Alcina (Alcina), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Violetta Valery (La traviata), Carolina (Il matrimonio segreto), Beatrice (3 Decembers). In addition to opera, Mikayla is an active concertist with her most recent engagements as the soprano soloist in Johann Valentin Rathgeber’s Missa in D and Hadyn's Missa Brevis.
XINYI LIU, 19
​SOPRANO


​Xinyi Liu, soprano, is a sophomore Bachelor of Music student studying with Julia Rottmayer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With a background in Peking Opera, she is excited to explore Western music and opera. Xinyi has appeared with Opera Workshop and Chorale at UW-Madison and looks forward to many more performances at UW! She also won 1st place in the United States International Music Competition (2021), the bronze medal in The Global Music Award (2021), and third place in The American Prize (2023).
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GRACE MCMAHON, 21
​SOPRANO
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​Grace McMahon is a soprano originally from Jefferson, Wisconsin. She attended high school at Kettle Moraine School for Arts and Performance in Wales, Wisconsin. She’s a senior at the UW Milwaukee studying Voice. In 2022 Grace was awarded 1st place in her division at the Wisconsin Chapter of NATS. She had the opportunity to sing the national anthem at American Family Field for a Brewers game in 2022. Some of her recent performance’s include: covering Mrs.Grose in Turn of the Screw with Chicago Summer Opera in 2023, Adele in UWM Opera Theater’s Die Fledermaus in 2023, and Beth in UWM Opera Theater’s Little Women in 2022.
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ROBERT RIORDAN, 29
​BARITONE


​Robert Riordan is a versatile performer originally raised in Pulaski, WI before his family settled down in Green Bay as he started kindergarten. This season, Robert performs with Minnesota Opera as the Customs Officer in La bohème and with Lyric Opera of the North as a Dater in Speed Dating Tonight! and as the Father/Witch in their educational tour of Hansel and Gretel. He was a soloist in the Grammy-nominated premiere of Edward Tulane with Minnesota Opera and has been a young artist with Lakes Area Music Festival, Finger Lakes Opera, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Yasuko Oura, pianist



​Pianist Yasuko Oura has been praised for her sensibility and passion for collaborating with others. She has maintained a busy schedule of performing concerts and working for various opera companies while keeping an active teaching schedule. She is currently a lecturer of collaborative piano at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music where she enjoys working with talented pianists as well as coaching chamber music. Also in demand as a vocal coach, she has been on the music staff for Des Moines Metro Opera for over eight seasons. She also regularly works for Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chicago Opera Theater. She has played under many prominent conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Stephen Lord, and Jane Glover. Additionally, she was the principal production pianist and coach for Florentine Opera for seven years. Her other past affiliations include companies such as Fort Worth Opera, Kentucky Opera, Madison Opera, Toledo Opera, and AIMS in Graz, Austria.