Vocalists

Aram Barsamian   Baritone

Aram Barsamian, originally from Plovdiv, Bulgaria, made his San Francisco Opera debut in Britten’s Death in Venice following his participation in the Merola Opera Program, in which he sang the role of Dandini in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, a role he reprised last November at Sacramento Opera, where he has performed in 11 productions since his debut in 1996. He has also performed at the Nevada Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and the Pacific Repertory Opera. He has performed at the Ventura Chamber Musica Festival and the Carmel Bach Festival.

Barsamian is a two-time district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and was a U.S. finalist in the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition. He is currently on the voice faculty of Pasadena City College and Cypress College, and is the opera director at La Sierra University.

Christopher Lindbloom    Baritone

Christopher Lindbloom completed undergraduate studies at Boston University, went on to receive his doctorate in vocal performance at the University of Southern California, and served for some years on the music faculties of Point Loma College in San Diego and North Texas State University in Denton. He has been active in Orange County as a musical editor, church musician and voice teacher. He has appeared as a soloist with the San Diego Symphony and the Santa Monica Symphony and in many recitals throughout the country.

Now residing in Richmond, Virginia, Lindbloom is a First Vice President and financial consultant at the Richmond branch of RBC Wealth Managment. He stays active musically, recently completing performances of Handel’s Joshua with the Boise
Baroque Orchestra, and is a member of the James River Singers, a vocal chamber music ensemble based at the University of Richmond. He has been a baritone soloist regularly in our Festivals since our first season in 1981.

Jonathan Mack   Tenor

Jonathan Mack earned degrees in both French horn and vocal performance at the University of Southern California. His recital, opera and concert career as a lyric tenor has taken him throughout the United States, Germany, France and Australia. American opera engagements have included Kentucky Opera, Opera Columbus, Opera Utah, Vancouver Opera, Portland Opera, and 17 seasons with the Los Angeles Opera, where he has performed more than 50 roles. His concert work includes engagements with Chautauqua Festivals, Carmel Bach Festival, Ojai Festival, Hollywood Bowl, London Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Minnesota Orchestra under conductors Giulini, Mehta, Previn, Boulez, Rattle, Hogwood and Tilson Thomas. He more recently appeared with Festival Miami and toured the Province of Quebec with the Montreal Metropolitan.

In demand as a studio singer, he has sung in more than 100 films, radio and television productions. He is on the voice faculty of the University of Southern California and Chapman University. This is his ninth season as a performer in the Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar.

Susan Montgomery   Soprano

Susan Montgomery earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Chapman University and a Master of Music degree from California State University, Fullerton, and is part of the adjunct vocal faculty at Chapman University. She has been featured in works ranging from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to Conrad Susa’s charming holiday cantata, Christmas in the Southwest. Orchestral and music festival engagements have included collaborations with the Santa Barbara Symphony, Ojai Music Festival, Carmel Bach Festival, Los Angeles Bach Festival, Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra, and Long Beach Bach Festival.

Montgomery’s other national and international appearances in recent years have included engagements with the London Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Choral Society, New York Virtuoso Singers, Long Island Baroque Ensemble, and the Dessoff Choir Concert Series. She has appeared often through the years at the Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar.

Daniel Roihl    Countertenor

Daniel Roihl, a native of south Florida, has enjoyed an active musical career since moving to Southern California in 2005. As a countertenor, he has been a featured soloist in the Los Angeles Bach Festival and the Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar, as well as on the soundtrack of Sony Pictures’ blockbuster film I Am Legend. On the opera stage, he most recently sang the role of the Sorceress in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas at USC; previously he appeared with the Yale College Opera in Handel’s Giulio Cesare and with the Harvard Early Music Society in Cesti’s Orontea. He sings regularly with the USC Chamber Choir, Cantus Pacificus, Millennium Consort, and the De Angelis Vocal Ensemble.

Roihl holds music degrees from Harvard and Yale, and is now completing doctoral studies in Choral Music at the University of Southern California, where he also teaches conducting. He is currently serving as Minister of Music at St. James’ Episcopal Church in South Pasadena, where he recently established a concert series.