2024 Patricia Crump Vocal Competition 
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$5000 Grand PriZe Winner

​Emily Secor, SOPRANO
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Praised for her “spicy and rich lyric soprano,” (Vocal Arts Chicago) Wisconsin native Emily Secor enjoys performing on and off the operatic stage. Recent engagements include performances with Cedar Rapids Opera, OPERA Iowa, Madison Opera, and the Madison Symphony Orchestra. As an active teaching artist, Emily maintains a private voice studio and regularly adjudicates for the Wisconsin State Music Association’s regional and state festivals. Upcoming performances include a recital tour with pianist Connor Buckley, and Mozart Requiem with Luther College. Emily holds an MM from the University of Northern Iowa and a BA from Luther College. (www.emilysecorsoprano.com)

$2500 ENCOURAGMENT AWARD
WILLIAM RASKIN, BARITONE

Born and raised in Wisconsin and a native of Milwaukee, baritone William Raskin recently graduated from UW–Madison with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. In past seasons, William has performed both in Wisconsin, with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Madison Savoyards, and Madison Ballet, and out, holding resident young artist positions with Ohio Light Opera, Chicago Summer Opera, and Opera in the Ozarks. He now studies at the Lyric Opera of Chicago with Wisconsin native Julia Faulkner. This season, William will perform the role of Schaunard in scenes from La bohème with the Janesville Choral Union and go on to hold an Apprentice Artist position with Sarasota Opera in the winter followed by a Young Artist position with The Glimmerglass Festival in the summer. 

$2500 SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
NICOLE HEINEN, SOPRANO

Originally from Monroe, WI, soprano Nicole Heinen was a touring artist with Opera for the Young and was a Baumgartner Studio Artist at Florentine Opera. She has performed with such companies as Chautauqua Opera, New Orleans Opera and Pensacola Opera. This season Nicole performs as a soloist with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (Handel’s Messiah) and Gulf Coast Symphony (Orff’s Carmina Burana) and makes her role debut as Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) at Pensacola Opera and Giannetta/Adina (cover) (L’elisir d’amore) at New Orleans Opera. Nicole received her MM in Vocal Performance from UW-Madison and her BM in Vocal Performance from the Eastman School of Music and is a Wisconsin District MET Competition winner.

2024 FINALISTS

MADISON BARRETT, 25
MEZZO-SOPRANO

HAILEY COHEN, 28
​MEZZO-SOPRANO

JEREK FERNÁDAZ, 22
​TENOR

STEVE GROTH, 35
​BARITONE

Madison Barrett is a mezzo-soprano based in Madison, Wi. She was recently seen performing with the Ohio Light Opera, the University of Wisconsin- Madison Opera Theatre, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and Middleton Player’s theatre. Recent role credits include Margaret (Light in the Piazza), Lady Jacqueline (Me and My Girl), Ilene Cavanaugh (The Arcadians), Endimione (La Calisto), and Flora (La Traviata) among others. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance at the University of Wisconsin where she holds the prestigious Collins Fellowship. Madison is also an active educator and teaches voice at Beloit College.

Hailey is excited to be a finalist for the Patricia Crump Vocal Competition. She was a studio artist with Madison Opera for their 2023/2024 season and will return for the 2024/2025 season. Hailey will perform the role of Berta in The Barber of Seville and cover the roles of Rosina in The Barber of Seville, María in María de Buenos Aires, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. She looks forward to continuing her collaboration with Madison Opera and contributing to Wisconsin’s vibrant arts community.

Jerek Fernández is currently in his second year as a Baumgartner Studio Artist with The Florentine Opera for the 2024-2025 season. This year, he will perform the roles of Remendado in Carmen, Damon in Acis & Galatea, and Guglielmo in Viva la Mamma. Since making Milwaukee his home, Jerek has built strong connections with Wisconsin’s opera community through his work with The Florentine Opera’s Summer Ensemble and the 2023-2024 Studio Artist program. He has also performed with companies such as Wolf Trap Opera and Sarasota Opera, expanding his professional experience in various productions.

​Steve Groth, baritone, is a classical vocalist and collaborative pianist currently residing in the metro-Milwaukee area.  Recent performances with the Italian Montefeltro Festival include Count Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff, and Taddeo in Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algieri.  He has recently sung the baritone solos in Puccini’s Messa di Gloria in Italy and Carmina Burana by Carl Orff at SUNY Geneseo.  He is pleased to be singing with Sarasota Opera next season in productions of Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, and Le nozze di Figaro.  Steve received his Bachelor’s degrees from UW-Madison and hails from Hartland, Wisconsin. 

KAISA HERRMANN, 27
MEZZO-SOPRANO

Wisconsin native Kaisa Herrmann is a mezzo-soprano based in the Milwaukee area. She received her MM in Vocal Performance at CU Boulder and her BFA from UW Milwaukee. Some operatic roles include Ruggiero (Alcina), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Judy (Night of the Living Opera), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Nerone (Agrippina), Arsamene (Serse), Euridice (L’Orfeo), Annio (La Clemenza di Tito), and the Fox (The Little Prince). Outside of performing, Kaisa teaches at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in their Early Childhood department, is the Media Manager at Milwaukee Opera Theatre, and cantors at the Basilica of St. Josaphat.

KATIANN NELSON, 24
MEZZO-SOPRANO

Mezzo-soprano Katiann Nelson, originally from Waterford, WI, is a second year Master’s Degree student at the University of Colorado-Boulder studying Voice
Performance under Abigail Nims. She graduated from Carthage College (Kenosha, WI) with degrees in Vocal Music Education, and Piano and Clarinet Performance. Katiann has just finished singing Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, and her other opera credits include Meg in Falstaff, and Taller Daughter in Proving Up. Katiann is looking forward to singing in the chorus Opera Colorado’s production of La Boheme in February and then
graduating in May.

JULIANNE PERKINS, 36
SOPRANO

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​Wisconsin native Julianne Perkins holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Denver and was recently seen in Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s Night of the Living Opera as Barbara. Other recent collaborations include performances with Lamont Opera Theatre, Opera Colorado, Boulder Opera Company, Vienna Summer Music Festival, Collaborative Piano Institute, Dandelion Opera Institute, and Varna International Music Institute. She has also sung with Opera Fort Collins. Upcoming performances include singing the lead in Camille’s Rainbow with MOT and a dream lead role soon to be announced. She currently studies with international opera singer Jennifer Rowley.

MEGAN SANTORA, 35
​SOPRANO

Megan Santora, Soprano, lives in Wauwatosa, WI and is excited to be a part of the Patricia Crumb Vocal Competition. Recent opera engagements include singing the roles of Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera, Miss Pinkerton in The Old Maid and the Thief, Adele in Die Fledermaus, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Project Columbus (Columbus, OH). She also covered the role of Nella in Gianni Schicchi as a member of the Manetti Shrem Opera Program with Festival Napa Valley (Napa Valley, California). Megan received her AD in Opera and MM in Voice Performance from The University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music (CCM) and her BM in Voice Performance from Oberlin Conservatory. She was also the soprano young artist with Opera Saratoga (Saratoga Springs, NY), Opera Columbus (Columbus, OH), and Cincinnati Opera (Cincinnati, OH). Megan is the new Middle School Choir Director for the two Middle Schools in the Wauwatosa School District. www.megansantora.com