Department of Music

• Friday, February 13th, 2009
• Old Cabell Hall, room B12
• 3:30pm
• Open only to Faculty and Students

VOICE STUDENTS from the studios of
Amanda Balestrieri, Pamela Beasley, Chris Owens, and James Taylor
will perform repertoire by Mozart, Bellini, Bizet, Puccini, Verdi, and Copland

Mezzo-soprano, Layna Chianakas, is known for "vocal talents which are
matched by her poignancy as an actress" (Des Moines Register). She has
portrayed many leading opera roles including Carmen in Carmen,
Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni,
Amneris in Aida, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Sesto in Giulio Cesare,
Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, The Woman in Poulenc's La Voix Humaine,
and the title role in La Perichole. She has performed with such opera
companies as Cleveland Opera, Nashville Opera, Sarasota Opera, Des
Moines Metro Opera, Virginia Opera, Dayton Opera, Festival Opera,
Nevada Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Madison Opera, Sacramento Opera,
Intermountain Opera and Opera San Jose. Future engagements include the
cover of Adriano in Wagner's Rienzi with the Opera Orchestra of New
York, and Amneris in Aida with Opera Santa Barbara.

Ms. Chianakas is equally comfortable in the concert forum, in which her
experience is extensive. A frequent performer with the San José Chamber
Orchestra, Ms. Chianakas recently sang Saints and Sinners by Craig
Bohmler, with baritone, Robert Orth. Future concert work includes the
Opera San José 25th Anniversary Gala, a recital and master class at
Consumnes River College, an appearance with the Charlottesville
Symphony, and the premiere of Artifacts, a piece written for her by Craig
Bohmler, with Duo West in Phoenix, AZ.

Ms. Chianakas is an Associate Professor of Voice at San José State
University.