Young artist program

---

Soprano Emily Kurcan Stephenson is thrilled to be part of the inaugural year of Vegas City Opera’s Young Artist Program! Praised for her “impressive high notes” (How Was The Show) and “glowing upper range” (Examiner.com), Ms. Stephenson performs regularly around the Las Vegas valley.   In addition to her regular concert work, recent favorite roles include La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, featured solos in Pagliacci, Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto, Rigoletto and Zinnia in L’Etoile.  

Prior to moving to Las Vegas, Ms. Stephenson maintained an active performance schedule in Minnesota and Colorado.  Favorite performances include Cupid in Garden of Song Opera’s Orpheus and Eurydice, Aline in Empire Lyric Players’ The Sorcerer, and Minnesota Concert Opera’s outreach production of Opera 101.  Additionally, Ms. Stephenson was a featured soloist with Sonomento and Coro! 

Katherine Ewell - a proud native of Boulder City, Nevada-- has recently returned to the Las Vegas area after completing her master’s degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from the University of Houston. She is thrilled to be performing as a young artist this season with Vegas City Opera! A few of her favorite credits include Baby Doe in The Ballad of Baby Doe (University of Houston), Norina in Don Pasquale (UH), the national premiere of Lady Teazle in School for Scandal (UH), Millicent Jordan in Dinner at Eight (UH), Nanetta in Falstaff (Utah Vocal Arts Academy) and Mimi in La boheme (Brigham Young University). Katherine also had the privilege of being an invited soloist in the world premiere of the new oratorio Eine Herde, Ein Hirte in Vienna. When she isn’t performing or teaching voice, you can probably find her snuggling with her husband and two cats.   

Miguel Alasco is a tenor, classically trained since 2007 and a Young Artist at Vegas City Opera. He has sung in ensembles and minor roles for UNLV Opera Theater including Carmen, L'elisir d'amore, and Ariadne auf Naxos. In 2016, he served as the cover for the role of Rodolfo, as well as singing in the chorus, in UNLV's Spring production of La bohème, and has performed roles with Sin City Opera, in their 2017 production of L'Etoile - The Star as Tapioca, and in their 2018 production of Pirates of Penzance as the cover for Frederic, as well as a pirate and policeman. He also recently performed in his first musical theater role, playing the Padre in PS Production’s 2017 production of Man of La Mancha.