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)
José Heredia, a captivating operatic tenor from the Dominican Republic, has enchanted audiences globally with his powerful voice and stage presence. He honed his skills at the Manhattan School of Music and is celebrated for his versatile repertoire, including roles like Rodolfo in “La Bohème,” the Duke of Mantua in “Rigoletto,” and Don José in “Carmen.” Heredia won first prize in the NJAVO International Competition and was a finalist in the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition. His notable performances include Pinkerton, Canio, Ricardo, Turiddu, Alfredo, Cavaradossi, Radames, Marcello, Nemorino, Edgardo, and King Kaspar. He debuted at Carnegie Zankel Hall in the world premiere of Julián De La Chica’s “Four Short Stories” and has soloed with the West Point Military Academy, Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus, and Long Island Choral Society. Heredia has toured South Korea, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US, representing the Dominican Republic at the 1st Caribbean Lyric Festival 2021. In 2023, he debuted in Singapore with The Singapore Lyric Opera in “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci,” and in 2024, he sang Jesus de Nazaret in Rafael Grullon’s “El Caminante de Nazaret.” Mr. Heredia is also an advocate for body positivity and size inclusion (particularly in men’s fashion) and runs a blog called SUITable, in which he shares fashion and lifestyle advice to empower plus size men to take up space and find their unique voice.
Alexis Cregger, Soprano (CAO)
Alexis Cregger Olinyk, Soprano - From Winchester, MA, now living in New York City, has performed with OperaDelaware, Chelsea Opera, the Blue Hill Troupe, Regina Opera, Opera Manhattan, Annapolis Opera and the Helena Symphony. Praised by Opera News as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni “Alexis Cregger [Olinyk]’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 Leonora in Il Trovatore, Micaëla in Carmen and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with Regina Opera, Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera with Amore Opera, Donna Anna, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Konstanze in Abduction from the Seraglio, and Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow with Geneva Light Opera, and Josephine in Utopia Opera’s HMS Pinafore. She returns to Geneva this summer to perform Alice Ford in Falstaff. www.alexiscregger.com
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.