Meet Our Board Members
Rachel Hippert, Soprano (CEO)
Soprano Rachel Hippert exemplifies the modern interdisciplinary artist, uniting classical operatic performance of the highest caliber with a passion for supporting and presenting new works and a bold commitment to making music accessible to all as a conviction of social justice. An acclaimed actress, she is known for bringing intensity and emotional depth to her physical and vocal portrayal of operatic heroines. Ms. Hippert has recently performed with the Amore Opera Company of New York as “Fiordiligi” in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, “Mimì” in Puccini’s La bohème, "Violetta" in Verdi's La Traviata, “Micaëla” in Bizet’s Carmen, and “Rosalinda” in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. She has also appeared with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera (NJAVO) as the “High Priestess” in Verdi’s Aida, The Opera Collective as “Nedda” in Leoncavallo’s I PagliacciI, and the Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus as “Santuzza” in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and “Mother” in Giancarlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night visitors. Ms. Hippert has also been a resident artist with the Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus, and soloed in works such as Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Brahms’ Zigeunerlieder and Ein Deutches Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, Bach’s Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, and others. Ms. Hippert is also a recoding artist, having released two albums with independent label Irreverence Group Music. Both albums, Experimentelle und unbestimmte Lieder, Op. 9 and Profanum: the early sacred songs of Julian De La Chica, can be found on Apple Music and Spotify. Upcoming performances include the role of “Donna Anna” in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with Amore Opera.
Jose Heredia, Tenor (CTO)
Born in the Dominican Republic, Jose won first prize winner in the NJ Association of Verismo Opera International Competition, and was a finalist and Encouragement Award winner in the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition. He has performed the roles of Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Canio (I Pagliacci), Ricccardo (Un ballo in Maschera), Turidu (Cavalleria Rusticana), Alfredo (La traviata), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Radames (Aida), Don José (Carmen), Rodolfo (La bohème), Duca (Rigoletto), Marcello (Leoncavallo’s La Bohème), Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), and King Kaspar (Amahl and the night visitors). He has been an active member with Amore Opera, Long Island Lyric Opera, Regina Opera Company, New York Lyric Opera Theater, NJ Association of Verismo Opera, dell’arte Opera Ensemble, Bravo Opera Alliance, Opera Ithaca and Fundacion Sinfonia, OperaRD, and Opera West! Mr. Heredia made his Zankel Hall debut in a world première of Four Short Stories at the Standard Hotel Op. 6 by Colombian composer Julián De La Chica. He has soloed with the West Point Military Academy, Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus and Long Island Choral Society in Handel’s Messiah. Additionally, he has soloed in Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, and in Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem and Zigeunerlieder. Other appearances as soloist have included Verdi’s Messa da Requiem in Siena Italy and Ariel Ramierz’s Misa Criolla at David Geffen Hall in NYC, as well as a 34 concert multi-city tour in South Korea. He represented his Native Dominican Republic in the 1st Festival Lírico del Caribe 2021, a festival which, in partnership with the European Union, seeks to highlight the talent of Caribbean singers. Most recently, Mr. Heredia made his Singapore Debut in a Double-bill production of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci with The Singapore Lyric Opera, taking on the challenging roles of Turiddu and Canio. Upcoming performances include the role of Jesus de Nazaret in Dominican Composer Rafael Grullon’s Spanish Opera El Caminante de Nazaret. Performances are in Dominican Republic, at the Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito on March 23rd & 24th, 2024. www.joseheredia.com
Alexis Cregger, Soprano (CAO)
From Winchester, MA and currently residing in New York City has performed with OperaDelaware, Chelsea Opera, Regina Opera, Opera Manhattan, Annapolis Opera and the Helena Symphony. Recently hailed by Opera News as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni “Alexis Cregger’s eye-opening Donna Anna sailed through the difficult role with vocal ease and stylistic aplomb, wielding her gleaming soprano like a shining sword of justice”. Recent highlights include Donna Anna and Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with Geneva Light Opera, Donna Anna with Regina Opera in Brooklyn, the Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Putnam County Chorale in Brewster, NY, in Poulenc’s Gloria with the Rockland Camerata, in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with the Litha Symphony, and reprised her performance in Litha Symphony’s New Year’s Eve concert in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. 2018 brought a change in repertoire with her debut as Aida, and Lady Macbeth. This season, she revisits the role of Amelia in Ballo in Maschera with the Amore Opera (NYC), and Leonora with Regina Opera (Brooklyn). She currently studies with Mark Oswald.
Jonathan Green, Baritone (CPO)
Jonathan R. Green is originally from the south side of Chicago, IL and resides in Brooklyn, NY. He is an alum of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. While at Oberlin, Jonathan studied with RIchard Miller. He also studied at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music studying with Distinguished Professor of Voice Timothy Noble. Jonathan extended his studies at the University of Kentucky with Dr. Everett McCorvey. His operatic credits include the title characters in “Rigoletto” and “Falstaff”, “Giorgio Germont” in Verdi’s La Traviata, “Figaro” in Le Nozze di Figaro, “Figaro” in Il Barbieri di Siviglia, “Marcello” in La Bohème, “Crown” in Porgy & Bess, “Baron Scarpia” in Tosca, “Sid” in Albert Herring, “De Bétigny” in Manon, “Capulet/Duke” in Romé et Juliette, “Mandarin” in Turandot”, “King Melchior” in Amahl and the night visitors and “Renato” in Un ballo in maschera.
Anna Viemeister, Mezzo-Soprano
Anna Viemeister is a Dramatic Mezzo Soprano living and performing in New York City. Her passion for performance is equaled by her passion for outreach. Opera is an incredible artform with a rich tapestry of history and pathos that she desires to share and preserve for the masses. Along side her performer’s journey Anna has assisted in creating opportunities to make opera accessible to more and more demographics in the city as well as in rural areas in Oregon. Anna works with The Opera Collective finding new ways to make opera accessible to everyone with free performances on the subways and a number of professional concert series within the five boroughs.
A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Anna has been praised for delivering her warmth, engaging presence, musicianship and intensity of sound to countless audiences on the stages of New York City, the Pacific North West, Bulgaria and Germany.
F E A T U R E D R E V I E W S
“Anna developed her ever warming voice where she was “destined perhaps for heftier assignments…” - The New York Times
“… singing with warmth and intensity, capturing the uneasy mix of yearning and repression in Alma [Lee Hoiby's Summer and Smoke]” - The New York Times
"The secret weapon of the evening was Anna Viemeister, Mezzo Soprano who performed pieces by Verdi as well as the "Witch's Aria (...) Viemeister ... had an easy splendor to her voice and gave a compelling and lively performance..." - The Ridgeview Echo NJ
"Anna Viemeister inhabited the role as if she were born to play it. [Purcell's Dido] ...She could charm the birds from the trees and actually did so as they joined in from time to time." - Voce Di Meche NYC
Jeremy Griffin
Colorado native, and NYC transplant Jeremy Griffin has an impressive range of musical skill and stylings. As a working Baritone, Jeremy has been renowned for his consistency of sound and rogue charm on stage. Jeremy delivers a powerful sound with ample dramatic skill lighting up the stages of the East and West Coasts alike.
A graduate of University of British Columbia, Jeremy had the opportunity to perform at the Estates Theatre in Prague bringing Mozart to life as well as on Canadian stages in Nobu Uematsu's Final Fantasy Distant Worlds Orchestra Tour under the baton of legendary conductor Arnie Roth. He continues working in NYC and on the west coast bringing this amazing art form to all walks of life.
Along with his passion for the craft Jeremy has worked with local opera companies in NYC producing operas oratorios since 2012. He continues his passion and ability with The Opera Collective creating new shows every season.