Luke Housner
vocal coach
Synopsis
ACT I. In the house of a broom-maker deep in a German forest, Hänsel und Gretel have been left by their parents, who are off in town. Gretel puts down the stocking she is knitting to recite a nursery rhyme, which Hansel interrupts with cries of hunger. Gretel runs after her playful brother, calling him a complaining crocodile. She shows him a pitcher of milk hidden in the cupboard, but will not let him drink it. To keep him happy, she begins to teach him how to dance. The two become hilarious and roll together all over the floor. Suddenly the door to the hut springs open and Gertrude, their mother, comes in and angrily reproves them for their horseplay. When Hansel laughs at Gretel's punishment, his mother chases him around the hut; in a flash the milk pitcher falls to the floor and smashes. Furious, Gertrude chases both children out of the house and sends them into the wood to find wild strawberries. She exhaustedly puts her head down on the table just as the happy voice of her husband Peter is heard in the distance. Slightly tipsy, he walks around outside the hut and sits down to finish his bottle before entering. He shows Gertrude all the food he has bought and tells her that he sold his brooms to a wedding party for the best price he has ever received. They celebrate their good fortune with a toast to all broom-makers and he then asks where the children are. When Gertrude tells him that they have gone to the wood, he is horrified. He tells her about the Witch who lives there and who bakes children into bread. The two rush off to find Hänsel und Gretel.
In a forest glade, Gretel is making a wreath of wild flowers as Hansel picks the last of the wild strawberries. He offers his basket to Gretel, who eats one; as they start to leave, a cuckoo calls, and the children parrot the bird's call, eating strawberries all the while. As darkness falls, they realize they cannot refill the basket, and worse, that they are lost. Their fears multiply as they see wild animals behind every tree. A large owl menacingly glowers from an overhanging branch, just as an old man carrying a large sack appears. He scatters gold sand and promises restful sleep. When the Sandman leaves, the two children kneel to say their prayers and quickly fall asleep. The glade is gradually transfigured as a golden light filters down from above. Fourteen angels clothed in light forest-green and gold surround the sleeping forms and place a golden diaphanous blanket over them. As two angels ascend to keep guard, the curtain falls.
ACT II. The Dewfairy, sprinkling silver dust around her, awakens Gretel, who tries to drag the sleepy Hansel to his feet. Mist covering the back of the stage disappears, the trees vanish, and there appears a many-turreted pink-and-green candy house, with rows of gingerbread children forming a fence on either side. When Hansel breaks a piece of cake from one of the windows, he hears a voice from inside the house. An ancient crone comes out and grabs the children by their arms. She tells both of them that she is Rosina Dainty-mouth; when they refuse her blandishments, she puts a spell on them and claps Hansel in a large cage. Gretel is released to go into the house to set the Witch's table, and a huge oven comes into view. In a paroxysm of joy at her prospective banquet, the Witch jumps on her broomstick and rides all around, laughing as she flies. Gretel has overheard the Witch's plan to bake her, and while the Witch feeds Hansel raisins to fatten him up, Gretel whispers the Witch's magic words, which break the spell on Hansel. Hungry for Gretel, the Witch calls her to the oven. Gretel cleverly asks the Witch to show her how to make the oven work. As the Witch leans in, Gretel frees Hänsel und they push her in and slam the door. The two dance about joyously while the stage fills with animals from the enchanted forest who join in their dance. The oven gets hotter and hotter until it explodes. Hänsel und Gretel see that all the gingerbread children have become real children, still asleep. Hansel recites the Witch's spell and the children spring to life. As Peter and Gertrude rush in and embrace their children, a huge gingerbread cake of the Witch is found in the oven. Before eating, all join in giving thanks for the Lord's deliverance.
Singer Biographies
Gabriel Banda is a baritone currently studying under Dr. Robin Rice at the Shepherd School of Music. Some of his previous competition accolades include: Texoma NATS Region 1st place winner, South Texas Chapter NATS 2nd place, and 2025 Schmidt Vocal Arts Online Undergraduate Competition Finalist. Gabriel’s previous performances include: Lindorf in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’hoffman and Marcello from Puccini’s La Boheme in the UTRGV operatic scenes program. He has also performed as chorus member in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and chorus member in Verdi’s Falstaff at the Shepherd School of Music. Gabriel’s upcoming engagement includes Vater from Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel at LAH-SOW in Philadelphia.
Michael Banda is a baritone that studies with Dr. David Sadlier. He has excelled on the competition stage, being named a 1st place winner of the South Texas and Texoma NATS Conferences, a recipient of the South Texas NATS Herald Stark Award, 2025 YoungArts Winner with Distinction, as well as an Encouragement Award Winner for the Undergraduate Schmidt Vocal Arts Online Competition. He has performed as Count Almaviva in the UTRGV Opera Theater production of Le Nozze di Figaro. His upcoming engagements will include, covering the role of George Taber and performing in the Chorus in the world premier of Jake Heggie’s, “The Judgement of Paris” in July 2026, as well as performing the roles of Enrico from Lucia di Lammermoor and Belcore from The Elixir of Love at the Manetti Shrem Opera Program during Festival Napa Valley.
Chase Côté is an emerging baritone pursuing his Master of Music at Louisiana State University under the tutelage of Robert Grayson and Paul Groves. Most recent performances of his include the lead role of “Mac” in the collegiate premiere of Jake Heggie’s opera Before it All Goes Dark, and Mercutio in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette–both with the Turner-Fischer Opera Center at LSU. Additional credits include King Melchior in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors with Opéra Louisiane, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with the Turner-Fischer Opera Center, the titular role of Gianni Schicchi for Art City Opera, Junius in The Rape of Lucretia with Temple Opera Theater, and Tommy in Brigadoon and Masetto in Don Giovanni—both at Seagle Festival. Chase graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Music in 2024.
Annalee Crawford is a Mezzo Soprano from Clinton, Mississippi. She recently earned her Masters in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Mississippi College. Annalee has had the pleasure of performing in multiple operas with Opera Mississippi and Lyric Stage, her most recently performed roles being: the title role in Carmen, the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Ježibaba in Rusalka, the 3rd Spirit in The Magic Flute, and Tomas in A Christmas Gift. Performing the iconic role of Carmen was certainly the highlight of Annalee’s college career. Annalee was featured as a young artist two years in a row with Opera Mississippi performing in The Bremen Town Musicians and at multiple holiday celebrations hosted by the company. She has also worked with the company as a teaching artist, touring the state teaching children about opera. Annalee performed in many vocal competitions receiving multiple honors through the Laffont Competition and through the National Association for Teachers of Singing. These awards include, an encouragement award through the Laffont Competition, the Governor’s Award at State NATS in Mississippi, and First-Alternate in the Regional NATSAA vocal competition. Expanding her repertoire to the world of oratorios, Annalee recently performed the alto solos in Handel’s Messiah and in Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Pursuing new performance opportunities, Annalee is thankful as a young artist for all the past, present, and future opportunities as she expands her horizon in the world of Opera.
Lindsay Feldman is a soprano and recent graduate of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she studied under the guidance of renowned soprano Ana María Martínez. She will begin her Master of Music studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where she will study with Dr. Gwendolyn Coleman. She has also received training at the Accademia Vocale Lorenzo Malfatti in Lucca, Italy; the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria; and the Luke Housner Summer Opera Workshop in Philadelphia. In the 2025 season, Lindsay performed the role of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with the Shepherd School of Music. Currently, she will appear as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel with LAHSOW and as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with the Vienna Opera Company in summer 2026.
Magnolia Flynn-Lebischak is an opera singer having recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her experiences include studying under esteemed vocal teacher Dr. Delores Ziegler and performing in university opera productions such as Florencia en el Amazonas, and Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor. She has performed multiple opera scenes, her favorites being The Governess from The Turn of the Screw, and Eurydice from Orphée aux enfers. Her early achievements include participating in the AAMS International Summer Music Institute in Umbria, Italy, and studying under Stefanos Koroneos in Teatro Grattacielo’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro (Barbarina).
Praised by the Houston Press for performances “full of vigor and spirit,” soprano, Elizabeth Gautsche most recently appeared as Volunteer Girl in Houston Grand Opera’s premier workshop of A Space of Sky, and as a step-out soprano character in Marian’s Song. Her other workshop engagements with HGO have included Maggie Ann in Turn and Burn and Maxie/Barbelle 2 in Katie, the Strongest of the Strong. She has since performed the character Maxie/Barbelle 2 in Houston Grand Opera’s virtual touring opera, Katie, the Strongest of the Strong. Ms. Gautsche’s other operatic roles have included, Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Armida in Rinaldo, Peep-bo in The Mikado and Rusalka in Rusalka. In addition to her operatic career, Ms. Gautsche serves as a Teaching Artist with Opera Philadelphia. She is the lead facilitator of Opera Philadelphia’s Community Voices Choir, in partnership with the Curtis Institute and Penn Memory Center. She has also served as a Teaching Artist for the Los Angeles Opera and the Houston Grand Opera.
Ms Gautsche focuses heavily on building community through music. She has created and led workshops on cultivating empathy through music and storytelling at Juvenile Detention Centers both in Philadelphia and in Houston. She also teaches opera residencies in elementary schools with Opera Philadelphia. She also worked hand in hand with the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) to educate and empower women suffering from domestic violence. She was the coordinator and soprano soloist of the HAWC’s beneficiary concert, “Exultate! Uplifting women through song” in 2018.
Ms. Gautsche is also a passionate and sought after voice and piano teacher. She previously taught as an Adjunct Voice Professor at Sam Houston State University and maintains a full private studio in Philadelphia, working with aspiring musicians all over the United States.
Ms. Gautsche earned a Master of Music degree in Voice from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM).
Grace Lauther is a mezzo-soprano from Naples, FL. She most recently performed as Tisbe in La Cenerentola with Salt Marsh Opera. Other recent engagements include playing the title role in the children’s opera Jack and the Beanstalk for Opera Naples’ educational outreach tour in collaboration with ON Resident Artists, performing the Page in Rigoletto, and covering Lola in Cavalleria rusticana, both with Vero Beach Opera. This past season, Grace was an Emerging Artist with Gulfshore Opera, covering Mercédès in Carmen and appearing as a featured artist in their annual Professional Artist Workshop. She holds her Master of Music in Voice Performance and Literature from Eastman School of Music and her Bachelor of Music from Stetson University. This fall, Grace will be returning to Salt Marsh Opera to perform the role of the Third Wood Nymph in Rusalka.
Madeline Mazzotta, a Philadelphia-based soprano, is delighted to join AVA’s LAH-SOW program this summer. Recent and upcoming roles include Pamina (cover) in The Magic Flute with IndependentSounds!, A Novice in Suor Angelica with Arts City Opera, Ida in Die Fledermaus with Wilmington Concert Opera, First Spirit in The Magic Flute with Arts City Opera, and Second Witch (cover) in Dido and Aeneas with Delaware Valley Opera Company. She also performed, recorded, and produced the virtual French recital L’heure Exquise for Wilmington Concert Opera’s recital series.
Madeline earned her Bachelor of Music from Binghamton University, where she performed as the Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel, Spirit (Mercury) in Dido and Aeneas, and the Old Blue Lady in Pinocchio. She is also a regular artist with Opera on Tap Philadelphia.
Rachel Purvis, soprano, is a native of Indianapolis, IN, where she made her professional debut as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with Indianapolis Opera in May of 2023. Purvis was also seen as Barbarina and Countess (cover) in Le nozze di Figaro, Berta in The Barber of Seville, Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music and in Puccini’s Tosca (Chorus) with Indianapolis Opera. Additionally, Purvis appeared with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Other roles include Edith in Pirates of Penzance, First Witch in Dido and Aeneas, Madame Pompous in Too Many Sopranos, and the title role in Suor Angelica (Butler University), the title role in Rusalka (LAH-SOW Workshop), Mimì in La Bohème and title role in Suor Angelica (La Musica Lirica), Alice Ford in Falstaff (International Opera Performing Experience), and Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw (Indiana University).
Soprano Gisselle Salinas is a masters student studying voice at Louisiana State University. She earned her Bachelors in Music Education, from University of North Florida and currently studies with Professor Lindsay Kate Brown at LSU. She placed 1st in UNF’s Annual Opera Aria Competition and had been a frequent member of the UNF Opera Theater. She has performed in The Mikado, Second Witch in Dido and Aeneas, Così fan tutte, Mother in Hansel and Gretel, Héro in Béatrice and Bénédict, Mimì in an adaptation of La Bohème and the title role of The Merry Widow. Previous summer engagements include covering Sister Rose in Dead Man Walking with Miami Music Festival, attending the Italian summer program of “Si Parla, Si Canta” in Italy and performing Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Winter Harbor Music Festival. Fall of 2025, she covered and performed the role Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro with LSU Opera. In the spring of 2026 she sang the role(s) of Misha/Sally/Emil in the collegiate premier of Before It All Goes Dark with LSU Opera. Gisselle is thrilled to workshop the role of Mutter in Hänsel und Gretel at AVA in the LAHSOW summer program.
Julia Scannell, a soprano, is a native of Plymouth, Michigan, and in Fall 2026, will be a third year Doctor of Musical Arts student in vocal performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, where she also pursues a cognate in vocal pedagogy. She earned her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Indiana University and her Master of Music in voice performance and literature from U of I in 2024. Her recent operatic roles include Beth in Mark Adamo's Little Women, Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni, and Mimì in La Bohème. Recent awards include winning the 2026 Sara de Mundo Lo Award for Outstanding Performance and Potential in Opera, presented by the Vocal Arts faculty at UIUC. Other awards include the 2024 Margaret Goldsmith Rice Award, also from UIUC, and winning the 2023 Jaqueline Avent Concerto Competition at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Upcoming performances and projects for Scannell include performing the role of Countess in Chicago Summer Opera's 2026 production of Le Nozze di Figaro, and releasing her debut album in Winter 2026 of recently commissioned sacred music song cycles, composed by Nathaniel Harcar. Scannell currently studies under the tutelage of Professor Yvonne Gonzales Redman.
Brooklyn Spear is a soprano based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose repertoire includes light to lyric coloratura roles. Recently, she appeared as a featured soprano chorus member in the premiere of the new opera Time To Act by Laura Kaminsky at Pittsburgh Opera. Brooklyn has also appeared in several Carnegie Mellon University Opera productions in roles including Morgana in Alcina, The Princess in Transformations, Asphodèle in L’etoile, Cunégonde in “Grand Opera Scenes” with the CMU Philharmonic Orchestra, and chorus in La clemenza di Tito. Brooklyn Spear received her BFA in Vocal Performance and minor in Music Education at Carnegie Mellon University in 2026. Her operatic training also extends to vocal programs, including La Musica Lirica, a young artist program in Italy, where she performed in three concerts and in the chorus of L’elisir d’amore, covering the role of Adina. Brooklyn is pursuing her next artistic endeavors with Chicago Summer Opera as Almirena in Händel’s Rinaldo in July.
Hutton Tate Stiller (she/her) is a classically trained vocalist from Fort Worth, Texas. Her love for music began at a young age through choir and performance, and she was involved in numerous school choral programs while growing up.
After graduating from Timber Creek High School in 2021, Hutton continued her studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in voice. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at Louisiana State University, with a primary focus on opera.
Hutton is passionate about both performing and working with young musicians. She hopes to inspire future artists as a vocal professor and performer. After completing her master’s degree at LSU, she plans to return to Texas and continue performing.
Outside of music, Hutton enjoys doing crafts, watching sports, working out, and spending time with friends.