2016-2017 Season

William Andrews and Katie Manukyan, Vocal Duo

William Andrews, Tenor

William Andrews, a Pittsburgh native, graduated from Muskingum University where he was co-principal trumpet in the orchestra and was awarded the Mary Bartlett Reynolds Award for excellence in music.

In the past four years, he has performed a vast array of both traditional and contemporary operas such as Sam (Susannah), Alfredo (La Traviata), Nemorino (L’Elisir d’Amore), Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte) under the baton of the late maestro Sidney Harth, and the title role in Pygmalion.

In 2011, he was awarded the first prize in a singing competition of the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh and was given the role of Rodolfo in the world premiere of Alberto Garcia Demestres’ The Honeymoon Suite  at their Summerfest. The following year, he sang the role of Don José (Carmen) with Undercroft Opera, covered Rodolfo (La Boheme)  with Opera Western Reserve and Buster Peeves in a world premiere of Penthouse Suite with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Andrews’ most recent performances were last year when he sang B.F. Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and Martin Luther in the world premiere of Mihai Valcu’s Katharina von Bora at Westminster. William  studies voice under Ross Dacal.

Katie Manukyan, Soprano

Since emerging in the Pittsburgh opera community, Katie Manukyan has rapidly become a regional favorite for the beauty and strength of her voice as well as for her specialization in Slavic repertoire.

Operatic roles that Katie has performed since her debut in 2014 include: Cio-cio-san (Madama Butterfly), Micaela (Carmen), Pamina (The Magic Flute), Mabel (Pirates of Penzance), Monica (The Medium), Sacerdotessa (Aida), and Winnie Blocker (world premiere of Gilda Lyons’s A New Kind of Fallout). From her beloved Russian repertoire, Katie has sung the role of Gorislava (Ruslan and Liudmila) and will sing Tatiana (Eugene Onegin) with Undercroft Opera this winter.

She frequently appears in principal roles with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh and Bel Cantanti Opera (Washington DC) and with the ensemble of Pittsburgh Opera. Katie received musical training at Northwestern University, Tchaikovsky Musical College-Conservatory in Moscow, Russia, and The Ohio State University. Please see www.katiemanukyan.com.