13 year old Eden Kontesz is a singer and actress who has already made a name for herself in Hollywood. Eden has been performing/singing in concerts, shows, TV, sporting events, musicals and galas since she was 5, in venues such as the Beverly Hilton, The Saban theater (Beverly Hills), the Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA (in front of a crowd of 45,000), and more.

Eden, who has a perfect pitch, was featured as a soloist on Director Catherine Hardwicke’s (“Twilight”) series “Don’t Look Deeper” and her recent release is BETTER TIMES - the theme song from the movie JACOB THE BAKER (AMAZON PRIME) that she recorded when she was 11.

At age 9, Eden participated as a lead singer in a global project for Corona Relief- a collaboration between OSCAR winner iconic songwriter Diane Warren, composer Sharon Farber and the United Nations. The project featured lead singers from 6 continents and an orchestra/choir of 200 musicians.
Eden has much experience in musical theater, from “Aladdin”, “Legally Blond“ and “High School Musical” to “Frozen” , “The Sound of Music” and “The Little Mermaid” - all in the lead role. Since 2019, Eden performed the National Anthem at the opening games of “Supercross” at the Angel Stadium in Anaheim five times, in front of a crowd of 45,000.

As an actress, Eden was featured in commercials, filmed for the TV show “Transparent”, and sang on “The Simpsons”, to name a few. As a voice over actress, Eden was recently the lead character (Anna) in “BIRDBOX BARCELONA” and she has recorded voice over for Netflix and other networks.

Grammy winner (for her music on the album “Women Warriors - The Voices of Change), Four-time Emmy Award Nominated, A member of the Executives Committees of both the Motion Pictures and TV Academies, ASCAP Board member, Winner of the Society of Composers and Lyricists Award for “Outstanding work in the Art of Film Music”, the Visionary Award In Music by The Women’s International Film & Television Showcase, winner of the Telly Award, and ASCAP Composer Choice Award nominee, Sharon Farber is a celebrated Film, TV and concert music composer.

A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Film scoring and Concert composition, Sharon has been working with networks and cable broadcasters like NBC, CBS, Showtime, Lifetime and the WB as well as writing music for feature films. Her film music is commercially released and performed live in concerts.

Sharon’s soundtrack for the feature “Jacob the Baker” was recently released and the song she composed from the movie to lyrics by Noah Ben Shea, “Better Times” (performed by her daughter, Eden) was nominated for the Society of Composers and Lyricists award.

Sharon’s score for the acclaimed feature documentary “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power”
was also released commercially. Both films are available on Amazon prime. Her latest TV series “Red Skies”, will be aired in the US in the next few months.

Sharon is one of 8 female composers featured at Lincoln Center at the “Women Warriors” concert, and she was also one of the few composers featured in the concert event celebrating female composers. The International Film Music Critics Association wrote about her piece: "Composer Sharon Farber wowed the crowd with a suite of music from three of her scores: "Children of the Fall", When Nietzsche Wept" and "The Dove Flyer"...

In the concert music world, Sharon has many national and international credits to her name, including The Los Angeles Master Chorale, The Northwest Sinfonietta, The Jewish Symphony Orchestral, Juilliard School of Music, The National Children Chorus, The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, Voxfemina, Orange County Women’s Chorale, and many more. Her acclaimed concerto for cello, orchestra and narrator, “Bestemming” ("Destination" in English), based on the remarkable life story of Holocaust survivor and hero of the Dutch resistance Curt Lowens, has received many performances since its creation, including a 4-city tour of the Pacific Northwest with renowned cellist Amit Peled, conducted by Maestro Yaniv Attar.

Dr. Noreen Green is the Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS), which she created in 1994. A trailblazing, inspirational conductor, educator and lecturer known worldwide for her knowledge and skill in presenting music with Jewish themes, she has served as guest conductor and lecturer in the United States, Israel, Spain, South Africa, Australia, Canada and the Caribbean. Wherever she appears, Green exudes a spirit of joy and harmony – bringing people together through the universal language of music through a Jewish lens.

In 2022, due to her noteworthy accomplishments and prominence in her field, Green was inducted into the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry. In November 2022, she spoke at the United Nations on Music and the Holocaust: History, Memory and Justice. In January 2023, she gave a presentation on Jewish Music Repertoire in Multi-Cultural Programming at the International Conductors Guild Conference in Valencia, Spain. In June of 2023, Green served as artist-in-residence, dramaturge, musical director and pianist for a month-long run of the play “Stories from the Violins of Hope” in Sydney, Australia, where she was also honored by a member of the Parliament of New South Wales for her participation in Jewish Arts’ “Melodies of Memories” at North Shore Temple.

After a 21-month pandemic delay, on December 12, 2021, Green and the LAJS gave their long-awaited concert as part of the International Violins of Hope Project at The Soraya. The soloists and several orchestra members played instruments from the Violins of Hope collection that had been rescued from the Holocaust. The powerful performance garnered three standing ovations from the capacity crowd and had more than 4,000 online views. On November 20, 2022, Green and the LAJS returned to The Soraya for The Music of Inon Zur, which included the World Premiere of the Suite From Syberia: The World Before. The concert was enthusiastically received by audience members, who raved about the “unique and exceptionally brilliant” program of music that made the “complexity and appeal” of video games accessible to classical music lovers.

In 2020, Green’s life and career was the subject of a Spotlight Series documentary by the Milken Archive of Jewish Music. Green also was recently honored by Musical America, the oldest and most prestigious American magazine on classical music, as one of the Top 30 Musical America Professionals of the Year, which hailed her as “the most energetic advocate for Jewish music and music-making in the Los Angeles area.” Deeply committed to new works as well as traditional repertoire, she has earned accolades from critics and colleagues alike. Grammy Award-winning conductor/composer Lucas Richman says, “Noreen has done me the honor of commissioning and conducting several of my own compositions over the years and I am ever grateful for the inspiring and moving performances she has rendered at the helm.”

Additional recognition for Green includes honors from the National Foundation of Jewish Culture, the State of Israel Bonds, and California Legislature Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield for creating the Interfaith Tribute Choir and Orchestra Concert for Remembering 9/11. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has awarded her a Commendation for her contribution to the Los Angeles arts scene.

Under Green’s direction, the LAJS has performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Ford Theatres, The Soraya on the campus of CSUN, Royce Hall at UCLA, the Gindi Auditorium at American Jewish University and other venues. Special guest performers have included such personalities as 20-year-old Grammy and Emmy winner Emily Bear, Tovah Feldshuh, Randy Newman, Dave Koz, Hershey Felder, Melissa Manchester and many others. As a choral conductor, Green also has served in past years as music director for several synagogue programs, the American Jewish University Choir and the Pierce Encore Singers.

Green is deeply committed to the education of the next generation. The LAJS and its Teaching Artists annually serve over 1200 elementary students with an innovative outreach education program, A Patchwork of Cultures: Exploring the Sephardic-Latino Connection. In April 2023 she will present a Holocaust education program at The Soraya entitled Triumph of the Spirit: Music of the Holocaust.

In great demand as a lecturer and educator, Green has spoken at numerous national and international symposia, including a highly acclaimed lecture-concert, A Celebration of Women and Music through a Jewish Lens, in Sydney, Australia. She also has spoken at the National and Western Division Conferences of American Choral Directors, the Conference of the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and Berkeley’s Magnes Collection for Jewish Art and Life.

Green and the LAJS have two CDs on the prestigious Albany Records label: contemporary Philadelphia composer Andrea Clearfield’s oratorio “Women of Valor” and Holocaust survivor Eric Zeisl’s ballet “Jacob and Rachel” and “Variations on a Slovakian Theme” on The Music of Eric Zeisl.

Green holds a Master of Music degree from California State University, Northridge, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California.

Dylan F. Thomas recently returned from teaching as guest lecturer and stage director at Yale University, where he staged the Opera Scenes and taught his unique acting method, The Dressler Technique, in "Acting for Opera". Mr. Thomas was named Opera Program Manager for the GRAMMY-winning National Children's Chorus's youth opera program, National Youth Opera Academy (formerly Vail Opera Camp) where he teaches acting and co-directs the fully-staged operas during the summer opera camp. Superstar baritone Quinn Kelsey, a faovirte leading baritone at the Metropolitan Opera, says the Thomas "utilized his own intuitive twists on the storyline of certain pieces to give me as a singer a different perspective of my interpretation". Kelsey says that Thomas' unique new production and staging concepts "...could prove quite useful in bringing more and more audiences back to the opera. Mr. Thomas' insight just seems to me to be a very healthy way to reenergize opera productions." As a singer/actor himself, Thomas has performed all over the world in many different musical genres, including opera, musical theater, jazz, pop, and classic rock. He spent 11 months performing in several different productions for Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan, singing for tens of thousands of people every day. At Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Thomas had the honor of performing for legendary musical theater lyricist and songwriter Sheldon Harnick in two of Harnick's musicals: the rarely seen Rex, and the iconic Fiddler on the Roof, a musical Thomas will direct and star in with VOPA this June.

Shira Renee Thomas is the General & Artistic Director of Valley Opera & Performing Arts (VOPA), currently in its 18th season, based in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley. She has produced over 40 fully-staged productions, in addition to numerous concerts and other events, including the company’s many outreach, education, and community service activities. VOPA has helped launch the careers of many singers and instrumentalists who’ve gone on to perform in organizations such as English National Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Opera, the Academy Awards, and the Hollywood Bowl, to name a few. As a singer herself, Ms. Thomas has performed as a soloist alongside such opera superstars as Quinn Kelsey and Christian Van Horn, as well as renowned artists such as Nicole Cabell, Rodell Rosel, and Milena Kitic. Among the numerous awards earned by Ms. Thomas, she won 1st prize in the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Vocal Solo Competition in North Wales, which has hosted such legendary singers as Luciano Pavarotti and Bryn Terfel in past years.

Having suffered from debilitating recurrent Depression for 25 years, Ms. Thomas has become an advocate for mental health, and is frequently invited to attend various events in order to tell her story of finally finding a treatment, Ketamine Infusion Therapy, that put her Depression into remission.

Katie McTyre is a graduate from NYU Steinhardt’s Master of Music program in Vocal Performance in Music Theater. She obtained her BA in Music from the University of Connecticut. While performing throughout the New England area, New York City, and California, Katie has also found time and enjoyment in all aspects of live performance, most recently directing The Wizard of Oz at the High Street Arts Center. She has worked as musical director, director and production stage manager for multiple productions. Katie is a frequent guest artist for VOPA’s Best of Broadway series, where she is an audience favorite. When not performing, Katie found her passion in teaching, and has been teaching voice and piano lessons full time for over 10 years. Katie is the music director for Kismet Kids musical theater, and heads the music program at the Egremont School and Kirk O' the Valley.

Favorite past roles include: Maria Rainer - Sound of Music (2022 HSAC Outstanding Lead Actress) Ms. Andrew - Mary Poppins (2019 HSAC Outstanding Featured Actress); Doralee Rhodes - 9 to 5; Mrs Lovett - Sweeney Todd; Mother - Ragtime; Petra - A Little Night Music; Irene Malloy – Hello, Dolly!; Maggie Mundy – Dancing at Lughnasa; Rona Lisa Peretti – 25th Annual...; Eve – Children of Eden; Miss Andrew - Mary Poppins.

Kit is thrilled to be on stage with VOPA for the first time. After relocating from Arizona a couple years ago, Kit has performed at the High Street Arts Center (Moorpark) in Wizard Of Oz, Escape to Margaritaville and Sound of Music and at Conejo Players (Thousand Oaks) in 9 to 5 and The Secret Garden. Favorite past roles include Jean Valjean, Sweeney Todd, Cervantes/Don Quixote, and Georges Seurat. He would like to thank his amazing wife, Debbie, and his three wonderful daughters, Savannah, Piper, and Indigo for their boundless love and inspiration!

Orange County-based soprano, Sarah Salazar, is elated to return to VOPA’s Best of Broadway! Holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music Performance, Salazar has an understanding of the vocal instrument which allows her to seamlessly cross genres. Salazar has been seen throughout California performing opera, musical theater, and pop. She has performed with numerous companies including Opera Santa Barbara, Pacific Opera Project, Valley Opera and Performing Arts, Lyric Opera of Orange County, and as a Fox singer with the Verdi Chorus of Santa Monica. She was Miss Tustin in 2010 and was awarded the preliminary and non finalist talent awards at Miss California. She has performed the national anthem at many events including singing for the LA Galaxy. In addition to performing, Salazar is currently impacting the lives of young children as a Transitional Kindergarten teacher and teaches music privately. She resides in Rancho Santa Margarita with her French Bulldog, Don Giovanni.

Mitchell Lam Hau is very excited to return to the stage with VOPA. He is a Los Angeles-based actor from Fresno, California. He received his Bachelors of Art in Theatre, with an emphasis on Acting, from the California State University, Fresno. He went on to study for two more years with the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts. He has worked regionally and internationally, and his recent credits include Beautiful with La Mirada Theatre, The Human Comedy with The Actors Co-Op, Lead Soloist with Princess Cruise Lines.

Lisa Margaroli is a classically-trained singer known for her versatility and skill to sing many styles. She has most recently performed in the choir of Home Alone in Concert at Walt Disney Hall with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and Wynton Marsalis’s “All Rise” at the Hollywood Bowl with the Maestro, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra & Los Angeles Philharmonic. She has performed other choral works at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Hall, Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall), St. Patrick’s Cathedral and toured the country as an Andrews Sister and soloist with In the Mood, a 1940’s big band tribute to the music of World War II. Lisa has performed background vocals on stage with “Weird Al” Yankovic, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Juliette Lewis, Linda Perry, Jane Wiedlin (The Go Gos), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Juliette Lewis, Tiffany, Edwin McCain, Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme, Rhianna), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Johnny Depp, and Nancy Wilson (Heart). Some favorite musical theater roles include: The Pirates of Penzance, (Edith), A Chorus Line (Sheila), The Rocky Horror Show (Magenta), She Loves Me (Ritter), Gypsy (Electra), Hair, and more. Lisa currently sings alto with the Metropolitan Master Chorale, SoCAL
Chorale, the gospel choir RAISE and the Doo-Wop group The Belmont 4. Lisa is also the lead singer/Linda of It’s So Easy: a tribute to Linda Ronstadt. Lisa is a session singer and has recorded demos and background vocals for Seal, Jeff Beck, Harry Nilsson, Mark Hudson, Caitlyn Taylor Love, the television series Nashville, and most recently for FX’s award-winning show What We Do In the Shadows. Lisa can be seen as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story on Roku TV.

Julia Timmons is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University School of Music in Classical Vocal Performance. Ms. Timmons is currently in pursuit of her Master's in Entertainment Industry Management from the Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College. While working on her degree, she serves as Executive Assistant to General and Artistic Director of VOPA, Shira R. Thomas, teaches voice through her own studio - JCT Vocal Studio, and is Music Directing at Kismet Kids Children's Theater. Ms. Timmons has been performing with VOPA since she was 16, and is honored to return to the stage
with them after a college hiatus.

Bella Aboulhosn is a Theater major at UCLA’s school of Theater, Film, and Television. In addition to being a member of SAG-AFTRA, she has won and placed in many regional and national competitions, as she was named the Non-Classical Voice Finalist in the Music Center’s Spotlight Competition in 2022, and an honorable mention winner in the Youngarts national competition, for Theater in 2023. Recent work includes a guest spot as Josie, on Dreamworks’ Spirit Riding Free, currently on Netflix!

Andréa Yamamoto is a mezzo-soprano from the Los Angeles area. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice Performance from the University of Arizona and a Master of Vocal Pedagogy in Musical Theatre from Rider University. She began her professional career with VOPA in 2009, participating in 5 fully-staged operas with the company. She is now a private voice and piano teacher with the Yamamoto Music Studio in Cerritos.

Cymbaline is a professional singer with many years of experience in sacred, classical, and musical theater. She loves to perform in many facets, including vocal and instrumental music (flute & piano), dance, and drama, which is why she loves musical theater. Her favorite roles include Anna in The King and I, Fiona in Brigadoon, Nellie in South Pacific, and Marian the Librarian in The Music Man. She also teaches general music, choir, and band at CHIME Charter School, to inspire the next generation of musicians. This is her second production with VOPA, and she feels blessed to be a part of it.