A CalArts Opera production.
An original opera that unfolds along a series of virtual neural pathways revealing stories of
despair, remembrance, justice, and hope. These stories work together in a way that weaves the
experiences of many creative minds into one potentially universal human experience.
This performance premiered on May 7th, 2021
as part of the CalArts Opera Theater class, the culmination of eleven incredible artists working
together over thirteen weeks to produce a virtual opera. Composed of distinct pieces, much like the brain,
NeurOpera functions as the organ within which we exchange and evolve the deeply emotional and dynamic
expressions of the human experience. Though physically separated from one another due to the pandemic,
we remained committed to connection, to forging new pathways amongst ourselves and our communities.
As the brain, we are sustained upon cooperation between compartments. Sustained upon the bridges we
build between the self and the other.
--- Scroll down to see arist bios ---
Abigail Whitman
Abigail Whitman is an LA-based performer,
composer, and a trained Alexander Technique
teacher. Her work explores the mind-body
relationship and how our experiences translate
into our relationship in the world. She also
teaches and performs in the LA area.
Caretha Richardson (Chizuko)
Caretha Richardson is a 22-year-old studio artist,
singer, songwriter, vocal producer, pianist, cover artist
and dancer. She makes R&B, Hip Hop and Pop music
that dives into her experiences, emotions and what
goes on in the world. Caretha also works in digital
media and creates short films.
Gabriela Padilla (Gisella G)
Gabriela Padilla aka Gisella G., is a singer,
songwriter, published poet, commercial
recording artist, activist, frontwomen
to band Resonance and educator. She
is also director and worship leader at
her church, God’s house of liberty.
Honiball Joseph
Honiball Joseph is a composer, conductor, and pianist,
with more than thirty five years of extensive
international experience in music and art.
He is the founder and current CEO of Gilgamesh
Art & Culture Foundation where since 1986
he has been a music educator. Joseph is passionate about
helping high quality art become more accessible to the
community. The generation of new ideas through
creativity and innovative styles have been inseparable
aspects of his life.
Jordyn Foley
Jordyn has performed throughout the Bay Area
and Southern California. At age 12, Jordyn
competed on the "X-Factor", and holds the
title of the youngest contestant in the
show's history. Jordyn has worked in TV/Film
and on various albums. In addition to music,
Jordyn teaches voice and drama to underserved
youth through Aspire and is also a character
performer for PPF, which works with groups
such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Maddison Schneider
Maddison Schneider is a singer/songwriter from Sydney,
Australia. She specializes in Opera, R&B, Musical
theatre and pop, and has been performing since
she was 5 years old. She has performed in places
such as The Sydney Opera House and Dubai Opera
House, and hopes to expand her musical experiences
further across the globe.
Menghe Jing
Menghe Jing is a singer, songwriter, educator
and beauty blogger from China, Focusing on
Rock & Roll, Pop, and Worship music, performed
in churches, concerts, and music festivals. Menghe
commit herself to create music to sending god’s
message and inspire more people.
Rosa Evangelina
Rosa Evangelina is a Mexican-American vocalist, poet,
composer, performance artist, and educator based in
Los Angeles. Her work investigates the performative
capabilities of voice, text, and movement, often
drawing from language and energetic traces left
behind by her ancestors, including her past self.
Simone Zapata
Simone Zapata is a poet from San Jose, CA.
Her work is driven by documentary strategies
and forms that ~feel~. She challenges the idiom
“art for art’s sake” and aims to leverage her
practice as a tool for personal and
collective empowerment.
Tracy Thompson
Los Angeles based singer Tracy Thompson
(debuting professionally as Tracy Stearns) is an
emerging musician that has an extraordinary way of
cutting straight through to the core of her emotions.
With a passion for music running through her veins
from an early age, Tracy’s fervent lyrics and melodies
are firmly planting their roots in the country, rocks
and blues scenes. Her musical artistry exposes a truly
sensitive artist whose soul shattering vocals have
the power to provoke a profound response.
Tyler Sanders
Tyler Sanders is a musician/composer recently
based in California. Primarily writing for dance,
film and music theater, he aims to create music
that keeps an audience rooted in a sense of reality,
alters that sense and transitions between the
established reality and altered sense in a way that
feels timeless.
> > > ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Carmina Escobar & Paul Berkolds (Faculty Project Advisors)
Madeline Falcone (Producer)
Michaella Moon
(Web Developer)
Usha Venkat (Graphic Design)
Katelyn Maheia & Olivia Popejoy (Technical Directors)
Emilia Moscoso Borja (Live Performance Technician)