Jeffrey Springer portrayed Mario Cavaradossi opposite Steffanie Pearce in Opera Naples' premier performance of Tosca, in April 2006. He returns in the title role of Manrico to again play opposite Ms. Pearce. A dramatic tenor who recently made his San Francisco Opera debut and was honored as one of the emerging Wagnerian Artists by Evelyn Lear, and the Washington DC Wagner Society, he studied the heroic tenor repertoire under the instruction of the legendary heldentenor, James King. He has performed to popular acclaim across Europe and North America in theaters such as the Florida Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, the German National Theater in Mannheim, Opera of the Netherlands, Opéra de Nantes in France, Spain's Teatro de Navarra, Cincinnati Opera, Arizona Opera, Connecticut Opera, the Opera Theatre of St. Louis and many others.

Willie Anthony Waters is a regular guest conductor with opera companies in North America, Europe, and Africa. Notable appearances include the Australian Opera, Capetown (South Africa), Cincinnati Opera, Cologne Opera, Montreal Opera, New York City Opera, Opera de Quebec, Orlando Opera, San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the Florida Grand Opera. Last season, he conducted Porgy and Bess at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

He has conducted recordings for Philips Records for Simon Estes and Shirley Verrett, and conducted concerts for many of opera's notable artists.

Mr. Waters was formerly Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Connecticut Opera Association and Greater Miami Opera. He is a native of Miami and graduate of the University of Miami. Following that, he served as Artistic Administrator of the San Francisco Opera under Kurt Herbert Adler. In 1991, he was the recipient of the "Prix de Martell," in honor of his contributions to the community.

Steffanie Pearce, Soprano
Founding director of Opera Naples, Ms. Pearce has thrilled audiences from Paris, Madrid & Lisbon, to Cincinnati, Denver and Los Angeles, with over 200 performances in her signature role of Violetta in La Traviata.
Other distinctive portrayals of tragic heroines including: Tosca, Leonora, Marguerite, Donna Anna, Mimi, Konstanze and the Three Heroines of Tales of Hoffman. She has been a guest artist with many opera companies including; Opera de Marseille, Opera Lisboa, Opera Colorado, The Opera Co. of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, San Diego Opera, The Buxton Festival in England, Baltimore Opera, Opera Delaware and New Jersey Opera Festival.
Equally at home on the concert stage, she has performed the Strauss 4 Last Songs and Carmina Burana with The Montreal Symphony. Her oratorio repertoire is extensive and she has appeared as a soloist at many famous theaters including: Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl and The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles.

Ashley Howard Wilkinson is an Opera Naples favorite after his great portrayals of King Balthezar in November 06’ Amahl and the Night Visitors and The Bonz in February 2007 Madama Butterfly. and Sparafucile in Rigoletto, March 2009. Wilkinson won a coveted position in the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artist Program and made his Metropolitan Opera debut singing the role of Barnabotto in La Gioconda. He has performed leading roles with the opera companies of Washington, Virginia, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Minnesota, Pacific, Utah, Columbus, Nashville, Dayton, Boheme of New Jersey, Utah Festival, Toledo, Palm Beach, Buffalo and Deutsche Oper. Recent engagements include Crown in Porgy and Bess with Fresno Grand Opera, Osmin in The Abduction from the Seraglio with Connecticut Opera, Ramfis in Aida with Baltimore Opera, Osmin in The Abduction from the Seraglio with Hawaii Opera (February 2009) Crown in Porgy and Bess with Baltimore Opera (May 2009).

Korby Myrick’s diverse repertoire and impeccable artistry earn her praise in both concert and operatic work. Opera News says, “Korby Myrick has emerged in a series of roles as a spectacular stage personality with a dusky mezzo and exotic looks.”

She has recently added several dramatic mezzo roles to her repertoire including Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Amneris in Aida, Princess Eboli in Don Carlo, Dalila in Samson et Dalila, and Azucena in Il Trovatore.

Ms. Myrick performs throughout the United States and Europe with such companies as Théâtre de l’Opera de Nice, Teatro Bellini in Italy, Spoleto Festival USA and Italy, Washington National Opera, Cambridge Festival in England, Tulsa Opera, Opera Carolina, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Connecticut Opera Theatre, as well as performing over forty roles with Arizona Opera Company.

American baritone Stephen Kechulius "sings as commandingly as he looks," exclaims the Financial Times. Mr. Kechulius made his New York City Opera debut singing Baron Scarpia in Tosca, a role that he has also performed with Arizona Opera, Utah Opera, and Nashville Opera. He later returned to New York City Opera to sing many roles. Other career highlights include his tenth production in the title role of Rigoletto in his Seattle Opera debut and Miller in Luisa Miller with Palm Beach Opera.

Stephen Kechulius has given over 350 solo recitals across the United States, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand and is also a gifted improvisational pianist and composer of piano music.