Verdi's Requiem: Meet the Soloists!

Our grand finale is coming up this weekend on Saturday, May 9 at 7:30pm at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. We'd love for you to join us in the hall!

Purchase tickets here!

Along with our special guests NEWVoices, we'd love for you to meet our soloists for Verdi's Messa da Requiem.

Marsha Thompson, soprano

Internationally acclaimed soprano Marsha Thompson effortlessly traverses the realms of classical and new vocal music. From prestigious opera houses to intimate concert halls, her voice has been noted as “leaving an indelible mark on the soul.” 

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, she began her musical studies as a violinist at the Centenary College Suzuki School. Ms. Thompson studied violin and voice at the University of Houston, Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and AIMZ in Graz, Austria. She has won numerous prizes in national competitions from the Metropolitan Opera National Council, Gerda Lissner Foundation, Orlando Opera Competition, Fort Worth Opera Competition, and several others. Her operatic roles include Tosca, Aida, Abigaille, Suor Angelica, Bess, and many other soprano heroines which she has appeared at Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, Opera Carolina, New York City Opera, New York Grand Opera, Piedmont Opera and several others. 

Ms. Thompson also maintains a career as a Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant in the financial services industry. She is the author of the book ‘The Passion for Happiness.’ You may read more about her at www.marshathompson.com

Kara Morgan, mezzo-soprano

Kara Morgan is a singing actress seeking out and lending her artistry to projects that broaden minds and inspire others. Career highlights include mainstage credits with Minnesota Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Pacific Opera Project, and An Opera Theatre; apprenticeships with Merola Opera, Sarasota Opera and Santa Fe Opera; and recognition from the Schubert Club, Opera Tampa D’Angelo Young Artist and Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competitions. As a Resident Artist with Minnesota Opera in the 2024-25 season, Kara debuts the roles of Stéphano (Roméo et Juliette) and Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia).

Josh Kohl, tenor

American tenor Joshua Kohl is known for his compelling stage presence and vocal clarity across a wide range of repertoire. He has performed with companies throughout the United States and Europe, including Minnesota Opera, Seattle Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Dallas Opera, Sarasota Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Omaha, Dayton Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Opera Santa Barbara, among others, as well as Musiktheater im Revier and Konzert Theater Bern.

He was a member of the ensemble at Theater Freiburg for six seasons, where he performed a broad range of roles and developed a versatile repertoire. In addition to his operatic work, he has appeared in concert with the Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg in works such as Die Schöpfung and Das Lied von der Erde. Recent performances include Calaf in Turandot, Des Grieux in Manon in Freiburg, and the title role in Amleto with Opera Delaware, the latter praised as a “star-making performance, tireless to the last, intimate and passionate” by Parterre Box.

In addition to his performance career, Kohl serves as Artistic Director of Fargo-Moorhead Opera, where he works to strengthen the company’s artistic identity, deepen community engagement, and build collaborative partnerships.

Kohl studied at the University of Cincinnati, Boston University, and Yale University.

Andy Papas, bass

Praised for his “vocal power & finesse” and “irresistible hijinks,” baritone Andy Papas is sought after for his impeccable musicianship and mastery of comic repertoire. Mr. Papas began his 2024-2025 season as the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff with Pacific Northwest Opera, a role he has also covered for Opera Saratoga. In March, he sings Mustafa (L’Italiana in Algieri) in Houston for Opera in the Heights, and again in April for Anchorage Opera (AK). In May he sings Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola for Wichita Grand Opera, and he returns to the Pacific Northwest next fall in the other Cinderella, as Pandolfe in Cendrillon for Vashon Opera. Last season Mr. Papas re-joined the roster of Boston Lyric Opera as Magnifico (cover), and as cover in Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice, and also returned to Opera Co. of Middlebury as Hortensius in La Fille du Regiment and as Stage Director for Rossini’s La Scala di Seta. The Major General (Pirates of Penzance) is a signature role for Mr. Papas, with prior performances for Opera Naples and Anchorage Opera, and he is the Modern Major General again next fall for Salt Marsh Opera (CT). 

Other noteworthy recent engagements for him include the title role in Don Pasquale for Union Avenue Opera and Opera Saratoga, Dr. Bartolo (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) for Anchorage Opera, Painted Sky Opera, and Opera Theater of Connecticut, the Music Master in Ariadne auf Naxos with Vashon Opera, Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow with Opera Saratoga, Pandolfe with Opera Company of Middlebury, and the title role in Falstaff and Tonio in Pagliacci with Raylynmor Opera. Mr Papas’ committed, musically sophisticated performances have consistently earned him praise for “creating a character both sinister and silly,” and for his “rich voiced portrayals... of considerable aplomb.” Mr. Papas made his debut in 2023 with The Ojai Music Festival alongside Rhiannon Giddens & Michael Abels, performing Owen/Johnson in Omar’s Journey, roles which he also covered in the Boston Lyric Opera production of Omar. He reprised his impassioned performance in Omar’s Journey for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra in February. Mr. Papas can be heard on Bridge Records as Bugs/Gent in The Cradle Will Rock, which he also performed with Opera Saratoga, on New World Records as part of White Snake Projects recording of The Ouroboros Trilogy: Naga, and on Albany Records as Stephano in the world premiere of composer Joseph Summer’s The Tempest. 

Mr. Papas completed his Master of Music at the University of Houston, and his Bachelor of Music at the University of Michigan. This winter he was the on-snow content producer for Bromley Mountain Ski Resort in the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. He teaches students around the globe in opera courses such as The British Operas are Coming and Strauss in the Haus, and maintains a private voice studio. andypapas.com