Villainous Vixens

Erin Armstrong is well-known in Windsor/Essex for her many creative endeavours as well as her ability to captivate an audience with her commanding stage presence and warm vocal colour. She is the founder and director of Music Moves Kids, Abridged Opera, former conductor of the Windsor Community Choir, music director at Leamington United Church, UMEI Christian High School, and a regular performer/collaborator with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. Role highlights include, Mrs Grose (Turn of the Screw), Amneris (Aida), Octavian (Rosenkavalier), Adalgisa (Norma), Beppe (L’amico Fritz), La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), and Dalilah (Samson et Dalilah). 

Kaitlyn is thrilled to lend her voice to this eerie concert! A graduate of the B.Mus and M.Mus programs at Western University, Kaitlyn is a high school teacher, performer and free spirit who thrives in creative environments, especially when working as part of a musical team. Originally from Leamington, ON, Kaitlyn lives in London, ON and enjoys participating in community theatre and artistic events. Kaitlyn loves to learn new languages to travel, and her greatest aspiration is to pet every cat she sees. She thanks her wonderful parents, sister, kitties and partner, James, for their ongoing love and support. 

Canadian opera singer Amelia Daigle has graced stages across North America and Europe with her rich, lyrical voice and expressiveness as an actress and musician. In 2015 Amelia placed first among Canada’s most talented singers at the National Music Festival in Edmonton, Alberta, where Miss Daigle was invited to perform at the Francis Winspear Centre for the closing ceremonies of the competition.

Other notable performances include the title role in Bizet’s Carmen with Opera Nuova and Abridged Opera (2014 & 2017), Cendrillon with the WSO at Willistead Manor (March 2019), Liu in Puccini’s Turandot with Opera by Request (March 2020) and Esmeralda in Cardinal Music Production’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Kordazone Theatre (February & March 2022). 

Dr. Brianna DeSantis is a coloratura soprano based in Windsor, Ontario. She is known for her ability to connect with the audience through her expressiveness and unique artistry. Though classically trained, Brianna performs a variety of genres from fifteenth century choral works to the mainstream music of today in and around Windsor and Essex County. She also serves as Administrative Director for Abridged Opera.

Some past performance credits with Abridged Opera include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), The Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute), Despina (Cosi fan tutte), and Monica (The Medium). Brianna is thrilled to reprise the role of The Governess in Abridged Opera’s The Turn of the Screw.

Following two years of online operas and a shift to more dramatic roles, Alyssa Epp returns to the stage this fall as Miss Jessel in Abridged Opera’s The Turn of the Screw.  Roles studied during the pandemic include Elsa (Lohengrin), Die Marschallin (Der Rosenkavalier), Giovanna, (Anna Bolena), Giulia (La Vestale), Anna (Le Villi), and portions of Turandot (Turandot).  Epp also serves as the Director of Operations for Abridged Opera.

Past credits with Abridged Opera include Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Suzel (L’amico Fritz), Micaëla (Carmen), Marianne (Der Rosenkavalier), and the Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), as well as La Novizia (Suor Angelica) with Opera Niagara and covers of Musetta (La bohème), Micaëla (Carmen), and High Priestess (Aida) with the same company.  In addition to on-stage roles, Alyssa has frequently played a role behind the curtain as well as Assistant Director for Opera Niagara’s Bohème under Aprile Millo and has stage managed a number of Abridged Opera’s productions including Cendrillon and the company’s 2017 production of The Turn of the Screw.

Tenor Andrew Derynck hails from the small farming community of Jeanette’s Creek, Ontario.  Andrew completed the Emerging Artist program at Calgary Opera after receiving his Opera diploma and Bachelor of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. Most recently, Andrew was seen on stage performing the role of Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme at Lunenburg Academy for Musical Performance. He has had the pleasure of premiering both Leopold in The Lionheart  with Mightier Productions and the Father in Ghost Opera with Calgary Opera and the Old Trout Puppet Company.

Other recent highlights from his time on stage include Borsa in Rigoletto (Calgary Opera), Benvolio in Roméo et Juliette (Calgary Opera) and Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Opera Laurier) Andrew was a district winner for Western Canada in 2021 and winner of an encouragement award from the Buffalo/Toronto District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2018.

Baritone, Anthony Rodrigues is pursuing Doctoral studies in Vocal Performance at Western University. Based out of Montreal, Toronto and London, he continues to perform across Canada’s opera and concert stages. Highlight roles in his operatic repertoire include Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), Schaunard (La bohème), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Peter (Hänsel und Gretel) and Leporello (Don Giovanni).

Recognized for his “warm baritone and magnetic presence” (Opera Canada), Anthony’s passion for performing has brought him to the stage in the styles of opera, musical theatre, classical ballet, oratorio and art song. Upcoming engagements include the role of Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Western University Opera. He looks forward to joining his friends at Abridged Opera again this fall!

Avery is a Grade 8 French Immersion student at Kingsville Public School and is thrilled to be performing as Flora in Abridged Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw. She has been a piano and vocal student under the expert instruction of Alyssa Epp for over 7 years. Avery made her Windsor Symphony Orchestra solo debut last November singing “I’m Walking in the Air” in The Snowman.  She has also sung in children’s opera choruses for La Bohème with Opera Niagara, Der Rosenkavalier with Abridged Opera and has performed as The Page in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Abridged Opera. Avery is very grateful and honoured for this opportunity to perform alongside the talented artists of Abridged Opera and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. 

Addysen is a Grade 5 French Immersion student at Kingsville Public School and is excited to be performing as Miles in Abridged Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw.  She has been taking piano and voice lessons with Ms. Alyssa Epp for 4 years and just had her theatre stage debut this past June in Welcome to Underland with Windsor Essex Community Arts Project (WECAP). Addysen is so excited to share the stage with her big sister for the first time and is truly honoured to be a part of this incredible production with Abridged Opera and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.