Artists-in-Residence Program

The Dayton Opera Artists-in-Residence Program was established in 1987 to serve as a professional training program for young singers as a bridge to move from the university/conservatory education experience into the arena of a professional opera company. Since its inception, over one hundred young artists have participated in this program. Artists are selected by audition and, in addition to their training schedule, they work together to perform education and outreach programs in our community, helping to ensure the future of this magnificent art form in our area.


2022-2023 Dayton Opera Artists in Residence

Allison Deady, Mezzo-soprano

Allison Deady joins the Artist in Residence this season as mezzo-soprano soloist for Who Wants to be an Opera Star? and community outreach concerts. In March she will appear as a soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic in their Magic Carpet Concerts and in April will make her Dayton Opera debut as Flosshilde in Das Rheingold. Earlier this season Allison made her company debut at Opera Tampa singing Lola in Cavalleria rusticana. She was also seen with Knoxville Opera as Marta in Mefistofele and Marcellina in the Marriage of Figaro with Peach State Opera. Last summer she was a festival member of the 2022 Spoleto Festival USA in the premiere of Omar. Allison was featured with Nashville Opera as a Mary Ragland Emerging Artist, where she performed Persephone in Hercules v. Vampires and Mrs. McClean in Susannah. Allison received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Fredonia and her Master’s from the University of Tennessee. Ms. Deady is a native of Rochester, NY and now makes her home in Phladelphia.


Artega Wright, Baritone

Artega Wright made his Dayton Opera debut in the role of Balthazar in their recent production of Amahl and the Night Visitors and joins the Artists in Residence, touring as bass-baritone soloist in Who Wants to Be and Opera Star? and will sing the role of Donner in Das Rheingold. He will be a soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic in the Magic Carpet Concerts. Originally hailing from Dallas, Texas, Artega is now based in the Mid-West, where he recently covered the role of Sam in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s world premiere of The Factotum. Wright has performed with Opera Columbus, most recently singing Alidoro in La Cenerentola as well as Spurton and Nat Turner in Leslie S. Burrs’ Vanqui. Last summer, as an Apprentice Artist at Des Moines Metro Opera, he stepped in on short notice as the lead role in Porgy and Bess to great acclaim. Later this year he will be singing the role of Talpa in Il Tabarro for On Site Opera. Wright earned his master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University and a bachelor’s in Vocal Performance from Wayland Baptist University


Carl Rosenthal, Tenor

Tenor Carl Rosenthal has performed a wide range of operatic repertoire, from Tamino in Die Zauberflöte and Ferrando in Così fan tutte to Don José in Carmen and Rodolfo in La Bohème. Other favorite roles include Alfredo in La Traviata, Ruggero in La Rondine, and the Celebrant in Leonard Bernstein’s MASS. He has performed with a number of professional U.S. regional companies, including MIOpera, MassOpera, Loudoun Lyric Opera, and Franklin Light Opera. He is thrilled to join the Artists-in-Residence program at Dayton Opera, where he will sing Nemorino in the tour version of The Elixir of Love and King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors. He will also perform with Dayton Philharmonic as Tenor Soloist for Handel’s Messiah. Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Rosenthal holds a Master of Music from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University. He worked as a mathematics teacher in New York City before pursuing a career in classical music. www.carlrosenthal.com 


Kayla Oderah, Soprano

Soprano Kayla Oderah is an emerging young artist and graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Kayla made her professional debut in 2022 performing the role of Girlfriend 2 in Blue with Toledo Opera as well as Despina in Così fan Tutte with Finger Lakes Opera as a Tomita Young Artist. Last Fall she sang as a young artist with Opera Ithaca. There, Kayla performed the role of Zegner Daughter Littler in Proving Up and Anna in Nabucco. While completing her master’s at Michigan she performed the role of Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In 2016 she attended the Aspen Music Festival as a studio artist. Oderah is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance with a minor in artistic entrepreneurship. At UNC she was the recipient of the prestigious four-year Kenan Music Scholarship and performed opera roles including, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito, and Mary in Highway #1 USA. Kayla has performed internationally at the University of Cape Town where she sang the role of Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites. She’s also performed in opera at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival and the Berlin Opera Academy.