Tenors

Michael Wade Lee
Tamino

Critics hail American tenor, Michael Wade Lee, as “that rarity among operatic tenors, a really good-looking, virile, well-built and gifted thespian with a wide-ranging voice to match.” He made his international debut in 2007 to great acclaim with the Greek National Opera, singing Don José Carmen with Denyce Graves. He has since performed with Staatstheater Mainz (Germany), San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera Productions (Ireland), San Antonio Opera, New York City Opera, Glyndebourne Opera Festival (UK), Opera Theatre of St Louis, Musica Viva (Hong Kong), Chautauqua Opera, El Paso Opera, Connecticut Lyric Opera, Raylynmor Opera, Opera in the Heights, Dicapo Opera, Chelsea Opera, and others. His many roles include B F Pinkerton Madama Butterfly, Duke Rigoletto, Rodolfo La Bohème, Don José Carmen, Cavaradossi Tosca, Turiddu Cavalleria Rusticana, Nemorino L’elisir D’amore, The Prince Rusalka, Tamino Die Zauberflӧte, the Male Chorus The Rape Of Lucretia, Grivet Thérèse Raquin, and Froh Das Rheingold. 

Daniel Juarez 
Monastatos  

Tenor Daniel Juárez’s operatic credits include Don José in La Tragédie de Carmen (an adaptation of Bizet’s opera), Rodolfo and Parpignol in Puccini’s La Bohème, Ferrando in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore, Jaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and leading tenor roles in many opera scenes programs.  He is a former Minnesota Opera Studio Artist and appeared regularly for six years in the Minnesota Opera’s Chorus.  Daniel was a finalist in the 2005 Southwest Region Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. Daniel also performs frequently in recital and in concert and has been featured as the tenor soloist for performances of Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperae solennes de Confessore, J.S. Bach’s Magnificat, Ariel Ramirez’ Misa Criolla, Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ, and Schütz’ Sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz. Daniel holds a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music.  He is currently the Administrative Manager of the Yale World Fellows Program and Director of Music at Branford Evangelical Free Church.  Daniel lives in North Branford, CT with his wife, mezzo-soprano, Cybil Jones-Juarez, and their two sons, Danny (3) and Ricky (9 mos.).   

Alexis Benson
1st Priest

Puerto Rican Lyric Tenor Alexis D. Benson received his Master of Music in Voice Performance and Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance degrees from Shenandoah Conservatory. Alexis is a native of New York, New York and is the past pupil of renowned tenor and professor emeritus Jackson Sheats and also held the Jackson H. Sheats Endowed Scholarship of Music. Alexis continues to be an active accompanist and is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Men’s Music Fraternity.  He has participated in master classes with Bradley Moore, Russell Braun, Thomas Barrett and Verena Rein. He was a participantof the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival, Shenandoah Performs Music Festival, Centro Studi Lirico in Bologna and has performed as a member the Belcantanti Opera Company. In addition to his studies, Alexis has performed as Jacquino in Fidelio, Sailor in Dido and Aeneas, Prunier in La Rondine, Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore, King Kasper in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro and Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus with the Loudon Lyric Opera.  Alexis has been a tenor soloist for Bach’s Cantata BWV 111 and Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, Coronation Mass and Requiem, and Saint-Säens Christmas Oratorio. Scholastically, Mr. Benson has publicly presented research on the Life and Music of Garcia Lorca, Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe, opus 39 and the History of the Spiritual entitled “Goin’-Home”. He is currently preparing research on the Life and Music of Puerto Rican salsa singer, Hector Lavoe for Spring 2011.  Recently Alexis was tenor soloist for Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the LSU Symphony Orchestra in Baton Rouge, LA. Alexis made his solo debut as a student in Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes at the National Shrine in Washington D.C. and will return in Spring 2011 for a solo recital. Coming from a detailed background of Student Affairs history, Alexis recently served dual responsibilities as Adjunct Professor of Voice and Diction and directed the University Chorale (Department of Fine Arts) and was Residence Coordinator (Division of Student Affairs) at Barry University in Miami, FL. Alexis is currently teaching privately and Residential Hall Director at Mitchell College in New London, CT   

Fred Goff
1st Armed Man

Fred is a long standing performer with CLO and has frequently been seen in character roles as varied as Guiseppe (la Traviata), Peasant Leader (Eugene Onegin) Elder Hayes (Susannah), Benvolio (Romeo and Juliette) and Kromov (Merry Widow). His voice is frequently heard througout Connecticut in solo and ensemble works. He currently resides In Old Saybrook with his wife Ralene.

Harrison Gatch
3rd Spirit 

Born and raised in Westerly, RI.  Attended Saint Michael School in Pawcatuck, CT (K to 8th.)  Harrison is presently a 9th grade honors student at The Prout School in Rhode Island.  This past January Harrison had his debut as Amahl in “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in Stonington, CT to a sold out crowd.  He will play Amahl one last time in Rhode Island in December.  His first production with CLO was “Gianni Schicchi” last spring. Besides singing, Harrison enjoys bird watching, fly fishing and tying, boating, surfing, and snowboarding.  He is also a Black Belt, very accomplished competitive Optimist sailor, a published poet, and won numerous awards for prize speaking.  His favorite actors are Rex Harrison, Nathan Lane, and Jonny Depp.  He hopes to be cast in a role in “Sweeney Todd”, his favorite musical, someday.