Soprano Soloist

Amber Rose Romero

Praised for her uniquely effervescent and iridescent vocal qualities, American soprano Amber Rose is rapidly establishing herself as a dynamic and versatile artist. Performing throughout the United States, she is celebrated for her stylistic range across opera, oratorio, musical theatre, and folk music.

In the 2024–2025 season, Ms. Rose made her First Coast Opera debut as the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, returned to Greensboro Opera as Zerlina in Don Giovanni, joined Opera Carolina as Kate Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, and originated the role of Ruth Graham in the world premiere of The Grahams, a new opera presented by Chun University. In concert, she appeared with the Mount Pleasant Symphony as a soloist for their Land of Eire concert and performed Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the acclaimed Taylor Festival Choir, with whom she also recorded as a soloist in their upcoming album Pathways to Healing.

Recent seasons have featured Ms. Rose’s international debut as Olympia in Les contes d’Hoffmann at the Teatro Comunale, her portrayal of Della in The Gift of the Magi with Greensboro Opera, and her creation of new roles including Megara in House of Orpheus (Opera Carolina) and Mama in An Extra Penny (Signature Inc.). Additional concert credits include solo appearances in Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Bach’s Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme with the Masterworks Chorus of the Palm Beaches, and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with the Taylor Festival Choir. A champion of crossover repertoire, she also performs regularly as a Celtic music artist with renowned fiddler Jamie Laval.

Ms. Rose has received recognition from numerous prestigious competitions. Most recently, she was awarded 2nd Place in the 2023 Heafner Williams Vocal Competition. She is also the 1st Place winner of both the 2022 South Carolina District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the Michael Ballam Vocal Competition. Additional accolades include semi-finalist placements in the SAS Performing Arts Competition (2022) and Orpheus Vocal Competition(2020), finalist honors at the NH Piccola Opera Competition (2020), an Encouragement Award from the Camille Coloratura Awards (2021), and earlier prizes including 3rd Place in the St. Petersburg Opera Guild Competition (2015) and 1st Place in the PBAU Concerto Competition (2013).

As a young artist, Ms. Rose appeared with Utah Festival Opera as First Lady in The Magic Flute, as Adele in Die Fledermaus with NH Piccola Opera and Opera Fusion, and portrayed Zerlina in Don Giovanni with NC Summer Opera. She also appeared as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos and Le Rossignol in L’enfant et les sortilèges with the Miami Summer Music Festival.

Ms. Rose holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she performed roles including Nannetta (Falstaff), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Madame Silvertone (The Impresario), and Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi)

Baritone Soloist

Kendrick Williams

Praised for his captivating and warm lyrical sound, Kendrick Williams stands as a distinguished vocalist in the realm of classical music. Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Music from Claflin University and a Masters of Music from Loyola University in New Orleans, Williams has diligently crafted a musical journey marked by excellence and passion. His stage presence has left an indelible mark on productions of timeless operas, including Tosca, The Magic Flute, La Boheme, Carmen, and Porgy & Bess. Audiences and critics alike have been captivated by the richness and expressiveness of his voice, earning him praise for his ability to infuse emotion into each performance.

Beyond his operatic endeavors, Kendrick Williams has collaborated with esteemed orchestras, adding a symphonic dimension to his musical repertoire. Notable partnerships include performances with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Charleston Chamber Orchestra, and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. His versatility extends to concerts and oratorio works, where he has delivered exceptional renditions of Handel's Messiah and Mendelssohn's Elijah. These experiences have solidified Williams' reputation as a multifaceted artist with the ability to seamlessly navigate diverse musical landscapes.

Recent highlights in Williams' career include a stellar debut as Jake in Porgy & Bess with Opera Carolina and North Carolina Opera, where his compelling interpretation of the character garnered great acclaim. Undoubtedly dedicated to his craft, Williams recently finished his role debut as Yamadori in Puccini's Madama Butterfly with Opera Carolina, showcasing his commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. Under the mentorship of the esteemed Grammy-nominated artist Victoria Livengood, Kendrick Williams continues to refine his artistry, ensuring that his voice continues to resonate and elevate the classical music experience for all audiences.

Tenor Soloist

Johnathan White

Tenor, Johnathan Stanford White began his Operatic studies at the College of Charleston in 2004 while working on his BA in Vocal Performance.

As a celebrated young artist, Johnathan performed in many leading Operatic roles with the College of Charleston Opera/ Musical Theatre productions and was both a State and Regional Winner in several competitions. In 2011, he was selected to sing at the Jussi Bjorling Centennial Celebration at Gustavus College at the Jussi Bjorling Concert Hall.

Since moving to Charlotte and joining Opera Carolina as a Resident Company Member in 2013, Johnathan has become a staple in the classical music scene.  After making his Opera Carolina debut in Turandot as the Emperor in 2015, Johnathan has performed numerous Comprimario roles in productions with Opera Carolina, Toledo Opera, and Grand Rapids Opera: Carmen (2019), I Dream (2018), Le Nozze di Figaro (2018), Rigoletto (2018), Cyrano de Bergerac (2017), Fanciulla del West (2017), Cosi fan Tutte (2016), La Canterina (2016), Fidelio (2015) , Lucia di Lammermoor (2015), and Turandot (2015).

Apart from his Operatic pursuits, Johnathan is also an accomplished Symphonic soloist performing: The Messiah (CSO), Saint Saens Christmas Oratorio (CSO), and The Seven Last Words of Christ (CSO). He was selected as the tenor soloist for the Andrew Lloyd Webber Requiem with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra (2018). He most recently performed the operatic roles of Remendado (Carmen, Toledo/Opera Carolina), Jerry (Nemorino) in The Magic Potion (adapted from The Elixir of Love, Opera Carolina), as Triquet in Eugine Onegin (Opera Carolina).

Last season he performed as the Chief of Police in Opera Carolina's I Dream, and Pang in Opera Grand Rapid's Turandot.  Johnathan was recently seen as Spoletta in Opera Carolina's production of Tosca, the Comedians in ILA's Production of Tales of Hoffman, and as Beppe in Opera Caolina's production of Pagliacci.