studio artists

Donald and Donna Baumgartner Studio Artists

KATHRYN HENRY, SOPRANO

Soprano Kathryn Henry, a Wisconsin native, received her Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School as a proud recipient of the Toulmin Foundation Scholarship in 2018.

At The Juilliard School, she performed the role of Arminda in Mozart’s La finta giardiniera, as well as featured performances in Liederabend, opera scene showcases, and recital programs. After finishing her degree, she was a member of the Wolf Trap Opera Studio where she covered the role of Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette. Acclaimed for her “magnificent color and simplicity” (Urban Milwaukee), her opera credits include Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Clarina (La cambiale di matrimonio), and L’écureuil (L’enfant et les Sortilèges). Additionally, Ms. Henry has covered roles including Katya (Katya Kabavona) and Mimi (La Bohéme). Ms. Henry has appeared as a guest soloist with ensembles including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. In recital, she has performed alongside pianists Brian Zeger, Craig Rutenburg, and Mikael Eliasen. In the summer of 2017, Ms. Henry participated as a guest singer in the Kyoto International Student Music Festival of Kyoto, Japan. Ms. Henry has been a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the 30thEleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers.

MEGHAN FOLKERTS, MEZZO-SOPRANO

Mezzo-soprano Meghan Folkerts, a native of Scottsdale, AZ, has sung with Seattle Opera, Shreveport Opera, Sea- gle Music Colony, and Opera in the Ozarks.

Her recent roles include Countess Ceprano (Rigoletto), Madrastra/ Madrina (Cinderella in Spain), Toledo (The Falling and the Rising), Autumn (Service Provider), Jordan Baker (The Great Gatsby), Babette (Beauty and the Beast), Domme (Safe Word), Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte), and Franca Naccarelli (The Light in the Piazza). Her concert work includes Vivaldi’s Gloria, Berg’s Sieben Frühe Lieder, and Brahms' Liebeslieder, Op. 52. Folkerts completed her Master’s degree at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, so she is thrilled to be returning to Milwaukee for Florentine’s 2019-2020 season!

LUKE SELKER, TENOR

A Wisconsin native, tenor Luke Selker has had the privilege of performing many diverse roles, recently as Lenny in Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men. He has also recently performed as Rodolfo in La Bohème.

Other roles Luke has sung include Don Basilio from The Marriage of Figaro, Chevalier de la Force from The Dialogues of the Carmelites, Vašek from Bartered Bride, The Gobernador from Candide, and music from many other roles and operas. He is known for his deeply nuanced interpretation of character and for the burnished warmth and brilliance in his vocal tone. Luke has recently graduated from Florida State University with his Master’s degree in Music. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Belmont University. He has enjoyed a varied range of solo repertoire, including newly written works such as the premiere of “On Death,” for tenor voice and orchestra written by Ian Good; oratorio and sacred works such as Vaughan Williams’ Hodie and Handel’s Messiah; as well as an extensive array of art song, with special attention to the music of Robert Schumann.

SAMUEL JAMES DEWESE, BARITONE

American baritone Samuel James Dewese is rapidly making a name for himself as an evocative artist in the US and abroad.

Samuel is a graduate of the Royal College of Music, London (mPerf with Distinction). He was supported there by a Vivian Prins Award, studying under Graeme Broadbent and Gary Matthewman. On the competition stage Samuel has twice been honored as a district winner by the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, captured second prize in the 2015 James Toland Vocal Arts International Competition, was a grand finalist in the 2017 Hariclea Darclée International Competition (Braila, Romania), and was invited to the 55th Francisco Viñas International Singing Contest 2018 in Barcelona. In June 2017, Samuel gave the European premiere of Eric Malmquist’s Chicago Songs in London and appeared as the baritone soloist in Handel’s Chandos Anthem No. 9 in Portsmouth Cathedral. In 2018, Samuel performed the title role of Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky in scenes at the RCM and appeared as a soloist with Highgate Choral Society. He also created the title role in the world premiere opera John Henry by McCarthy with Tête à Tête Opera, and joined Opera Della Luna singing Astrophel in The Arcadians at Wilton’s Music Hall. In August 2019, Samuel sings Lady Macbeth in the world premiere of The Perfect Opera by Davis at the Edinburgh Festival.