NDSU Opera

This cast 💛🦬💚

🎶🎭 MAGIC FLUTE Cast Spotlight 🎭🎶

Our leading players: tenor Kyle Berkley (left) as the noble Prince Tamino, soprano Jessica Livdahl (middle) as the beautiful Princess Pamina, and baritone Floyd Althoff (right) as the lovable birdcatcher Papageno.

Kyle is a guest artist with NDSU Opera and is noted for his warm tenor tone, agility of voice, musical sensitivity, and charismatic stage presence. His stage roles include Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, Kaspar in Amhal and the Night Visitors, Henrik in A Little Night Music, Buford in Cold Sassy Tree, and Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas. He has performed with Opera Saratoga, Opera Cleveland, Sugar Creek Opera, the LancasterChorale, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Lancaster Festival Orchestra and Fargo-Moorhead Choral Artists. Kyle sang the world premiere of I’ve Known Rivers (2019) by American composer Gwyneth Walker. He teaches K-5 elementary music in the West Fargo School District and previously taught voice lessons at NDSU and Ohio University. Kyle holds the M.M. in voice performance from the University of North Carolina–Greensboro and a B.M. in vocal music education from Kent State University in Ohio.

Jessica is from Fargo, North Dakota and is currently a fourth-year student studying voice performance. She has previously been seen with the NDSU Opera in the roles of First Witch in Dido and Aeneas and Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro. Jessica serves as soprano section leader for the NDSU Concert Choir and has performed as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah. Jessica’s love of opera began at age 8 when she first sang in the children’s chorus for the Fargo-Moorhead Opera’s production of La Bohème. Jessica regularly performs with the FM Opera chorus and has been seen in their recent productions of Don Giovanni, Cinderella, and Le nozze di Figaro.

Floyd is a senior voice performance and anthropology major from Grand Forks, ND. They have performed with the NDSU Opera as the Sorceress in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Achilla in Handel's Giulio Cesare in addition to several scenes programs. They have also performed with the FM Opera as a chorus member in Don Giovanni, Il barbiere di Seviglia, and Le nozze di Figaro, and will perform in the chorus of FM Opera’s upcoming production of La Bohème.

NDSU Opera is excited to bring Mozart's masterpiece The Magic Flute to life on Sunday, February 26 (2:00PM) at Festival Concert Hall. Tickets for Thursday's canceled performance will be honored at Sunday's performance.

🎶🎭 MAGIC FLUTE Cast Spotlight 🎭🎶

Up next, our Three Ladies: soprano Camden Pruitt (left) as the First Lady, mezzo-soprano Julie Ly (middle) as the Second Lady, and mezzo-soprano Lauren Sandison (right) as the Third Lady.

Camden is from Woodstock, Georgia. She performed the title role last year in NDSU’s production of Dido and Aeneas as well as scenes that included Grandma in Little Red Riding Hood, Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. This Fall, Camden covered the role of Contessa for FM Opera’s Figaro, and will also sing chorus in the upcoming La Bohème production. Camden recently won an Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition for the North Dakota-Manitoba District. She is completing her M.M. in voice performance this semester.

Julie recently graduated with a B.S. in music and a minor in psychology at NDSU. Previous performances with NDSU Opera include the Second Witch in Dido and Aeneas, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, and various characters in opera scenes. Julie was a regular soloist in NDSU’s annual Messiah and was recently a guest soloist with the Grand Forks Master Chorale. Julie has performed with the FM Opera chorus for multiple seasons in production of Don Giovanni, Cinderella, and Le nozze di Figaro. She was an active member in many of NDSU’s ensembles such as the Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, and BisonArts Singers. When she’s not singing, Julie continues to manage and build her cosmetology business.

Lauren is a first-year M.M. student in voice performance. She received two bachelor’s degrees in music and religion from Augustana University in 2021. At NDSU, Lauren serves as a graduate assistant for the voice area and is a member of the NDSU Concert Choir. She teaches piano and voice lessons at Schmitt Music in Fargo. Lauren performed the role of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with the Vienna Summer Music Festival in 2022 and with Augustana University in 2019. She also sang the role of Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina with the Chicago Summer Opera in 2020.

NDSU Opera is excited to bring Mozart's masterpiece The Magic Flute to life on Thursday, February 23 (7:30PM) and Sunday, February 26 (2:00PM) at Festival Concert Hall.

Lewis Groves (pup of NDSU piano professor Dr. Bob Groves) brings so much light and love to the cast of Magic Flute at this afternoon’s tech rehearsal!
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