The Bonnie Cummins Fielder Grant for Career Advancement is awarded biennially to promising vocalists who are beginning a music career. This year’s finals were held on May 5 at the Steinway Gallery of Austin: the judges were Liz Cass from LOLA and Ron Ulen, Professor of Voice, Texas State University.  

Catherine Goode studied at the University of Houston and Michigan State University, where she received her Master’s Degree in Performance. Ms. Goode performed this past year with the Kentucky Opera as well as in the Merola Opera Program, where she was named as Young Artist for 2021. One of her career goals is to create roles and commission a song cycle for women composers.

Renée Pape is a soprano who holds a Master’s Degree in Music, Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Houston. She also studied at the Moores School of Music, where she recently performed in Carmina Burana. Ms. Pape is Resident Artist, Opera North and, in 2019, she was named Emerging Artist at Opera in the Ozarks.

Brian Yeakley, currently the director of the Houston opera company
Operativo, also studied at and holds degrees from the University of Houston. Mr. Yeakley has pending contracts for 2021 at both the San Antonio Opera and Opera Saratoga, where recently he showcased his talents(from the ridiculous to the sublime) in performances from Pirates of Penzance and Madama Butterfly.