2009 Competitors and Results

FIRST PLACE: Matthew Lulofs

Tenor, Matthew Lulofs, is a junior attending the opera conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts. He studies voice privately with Alvin Brightbill and piano with Katie Franklin. In the past, he appeared in Opera Pacific’s production of Carmen as a dancer and he has sung principal roles at their camp for the operas: The Emperor's New Clothes, Christopher Columbus, The Star Child, and The Tinker of Tivoli. Matthew has performed in OCHSA’s season finale as Prunier in La Rondine with soprano Robin Follman at OCPAC, as well as Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, and other recitals and opera scenes throughout the conservatory. His accolades also include many academic and athletic awards, a 4.20 GPA and he is active in service to the various communities of Orange County. He placed first in the Laila S. Conlin Vocal Competition (2007), won the Rotary Singer of the Year Competition (2008), Tomorrow’s Stars at the Center (2008), was an L.A. Music Center Spotlight Awards semi-finalist (2008, 2009), and a South Coast Symphony finalist (2008). Furthermore, he has received two directors awards while in the Pacific Chorale Boys Chorus and the Middle School Opera Conservatory at OCHSA.
View Matthew's performance on YouTube.

SECOND PLACE: Hannah Schwartz

Hannah Schwartz is 17 and a junior at the Orange County High School of the Arts. She was recently seen in The Pajama Game as Babe Williams. She has been in numerous other productions such as The Music Man (Alma Hix), High School Musical (Taylor McKessie), Nunsense (Sister Robert Anne), Godspell (Joanne), Little Women, Grease and Once on This Island. She was a semi-finalist in the 2009 LA Music Center’s Spotlight Awards Competition. She’s performed in shows with Danny Gurwin, Cathy Rigby, David Burnham, Terri Bibb, and Karen Culliver. She was Gabriella Montez in the production of High School Musical at the Embassy Suites in LA for the Sara Lee Corporation. She has sung the National Anthem multiple times for the OC Gladiators and the American Cancer Society. She was also a member of OCHSA’s acapella group, Unplugged.
View Hannah's performance on YouTube.

THIRD PLACE: Rachel Rothman

Rachel Rothman is ecstatic and humbled to be participating in the Stars of Tomorrow competition for the third year in a row. Rachel is a senior at Dana Hills High School and has been a member of SOCSA (South Orange County School of the Arts) throughout the past four years, majoring in voice. Rachel has not only been in the main stage musicals in the Porthole Theatre, but she has also made appearances in many other shows, including various performances with different genres of music. Although Rachel always thought of musical theatre as her passion, she has recently become interested in the study and performance of classical voice/ opera. Rachel would in no way be where she is today without the help and love of her family, close friends, teachers, and mentors from synagogue. A huge thanks goes out to her parents and brother, as well as her closest friends whether they’re near or far apart!
View Rachel's performance on YouTube.

Molly Boggess

A Junior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Molly Boggess has been performing on stage since she was five years old. Molly has won numerous first place awards for her singing earning the title of state honors classical vocalist multiple times. She has been studying for 8 years with Kathleen Martin. Molly has appeared in La Boheme at the OC Performing Arts Center and has proudly been a cast member in 6 Opera Pacific children’s productions at the Barclay and Claire Trevor Theaters. Molly has enjoyed lead roles in: Into the Woods, The Wizard of Oz, Seussical the Musical and Enchanted Sleeping Beauty. She has performed with Junior Chamber Music trios and quintets and has performed at Carnegie Hall with her High School Honor Choir. Molly was selected to attend the prestigious Northwestern University School of Music intensive summer program. She would like to thank everyone who has helped her on this journey.

Jeremy Costello

Jeremy Costello is extremely honored to be a finalist in the Stars of Tomorrow competition. In sixth grade choir, he had the only male solo performance and figured it to be his calling. Deciding to pursue singing, he performed in The King And I while in middle school. In high school, he performed in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as a character with a solo performance. He has been in choir all four years at Irvine High School. During his freshman year he was part of the Bass Choir led by Mr. Richard Messenger who taught him sight singing and other useful techniques. As a sophomore, he was accepted in Irvine Singers and Chorale (the two top choirs), as well as Jazz Choir. He’s had the honor of performing in many festivals at wondrous venues such as OCPAC, Hawaii, Santa Barbara, Concordia University and Cal State Fullerton. Jeremy is excited for future career opportunities in performing arts and would like to thank his parents, Mr. Messenger, Krysta Rahmatula, and his girlfriend, Katherine Tung, for their continued support.
View Jeremy's performance on YouTube.

Dana DeBano

Dana DeBano is thrilled to be a finalist of the South Coast Singers Stars of Tomorrow Vocal Scholarship Competition. This will be her first year as a participant in the competition, and she would like to thank everyone who made it possible. Dana is currently a senior at Dana Hills High School, and a four year vocal major of South Orange County School of the Arts. Past credits include Glinda the Good Witch in The Wiz, Alice in Bye Bye Birdie, Annie in Annie, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Hot Mikado, ensemble, and Fiddler on the Roof, ensemble. She has also been a soloist in SOCSA’s Showcases, as well as Broadway Nights, and Oldies Nights. She plans to pursue musical theater next year in college and hopes to make a career out of her love for performing. She would like to thank God for the many blessings; Mr. Woods for his encouragement; her family for their support and love and the South Coast Singers for the amazing opportunity.
View Dana performance on YouTube.

Michael Groover

Michael Groover is a proud member of the senior class at Dana Hills High School. He is currently majoring in Theater Arts at DHHS through the unique and diverse SOCSA program. SOCSA has changed Michael’s life in more ways than one, and for that he is eternally grateful! Michael has been featured in such great musicals and plays as Fiddler on the Roof (Lazar Wolf ), The Wiz (The Cowardly Lion), Noises Off ! (Selsdon), Bye Bye Birdie (Mr. MacAfee), and The Crucible (Reverend Hale). He has also been featured in SOCSA’s Broadway Nights, Oldies Night, Opera Night 2008, and Showcase. Michael has been coached by Mrs. Pattie Sexton, taught by Mr. Raymond Woods, and studied under the direction of Brittany and Nathan Longdon and would like to thank them for their support these past four years. He’d also like to thank his Mom and family for supporting him in everything he does and letting him sing his heart out... even when it gets annoying! He is grateful to the SOT competition for allowing him here, and he wishes his fellow competitors good luck as they sing it out this afternoon! Thank you, and enjoy today’s amazing musical performances!
View Michael's performance on YouTube.

Liz Kunce

Liz Kunce is a 17 year old junior at El Toro High School. Since she was 3 years old, she has been singing for the captive audience of her family. She has been performing at Musical Theatre Village since the age of 9 and has performed in such well known shows as The Sound of Music, Little Shop of Horrors, and The King and I. She participates in the all girls audition choir, Choralistics, at ETHS and was awarded Outstanding Sophomore Choir member last year by her peers. She performed in the Musical Theatre Competitions of America (MTCA) in February of 2008 and was honored to receive a first place award for a solo piece. In her spare time she sings with the worship band at her church, TerraNova. Liz would like to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York, and eventually perform on Broadway.

James Nathan Luby

James Nathan Luby is a senior at Laguna Beach High School where he has been involved in music, drama and dance. He started his singing career as a member of The Southern California Children’s Chorus, where he performed for eight years. Currently, he is a member of his school choir. His favorite performances are singing and playing the guitar at the annual Laguna Beach High School’s No Suits Allowed Concerts, a fundraiser for a safe and sober grad night. James plans on continuing his studies of the performing arts in college. In short, music is a huge part of his life and he is very grateful for the opportunity to perform in the Stars of Tomorrow vocal competition.

Trisha Mitra

Trisha Mitra is 16 years old and music has been her constant companion from as long as she can remember. She is considered a musician’s musician due to her extensive training, both vocal and instrumental, and by virtue of her expertise in music theory and sight reading. Trisha is an accomplished pianist and is on track to obtain the MTAC Level 10 Certificate of Merit by March 2009. She has participated in several piano competitions sponsored by the Irvine Chapter of the MTAC and has placed in the top three spots several times. Trisha as a vocalist spans several genres such as Classical, Opera, Jazz, Choral, Musical Theater, contemporary, and Indian Classical music. At age 9 she was the youngest inductee into Pacific Chorale Children’s Chorus. Later she was also a member of the Southern California Children’s Chorus. As a junior at Irvine High School, Trisha is a member of The IHS Chorale, and the Irvine Singers. She was also a member of the IHS Jazz Choir. She has rendered several solo performances in High School. Trisha is taught vocal technique by her teacher, Jessica Caravella, whom she would like to thank for all her hard work and encouragement. Trisha would like to thank her friends and family for being extremely supportive.

Ryan Morris

Ryan Morris is a sophomore at Sage Hill School where he is a member of Concert Choir and Sage Hill Singers. He has been singing and performing since he was eight. Past performances include Peter Pan at Saddleback College (Michael), Honk at Laguna Playhouse (Billy), Amahl and The Night Visitors at Dana Hills High School (Amahl), Tinker of Tivoli with Opera Pacific Opera Camp (Luigi) and Tosca with the L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl (Shepherd Boy). He would like to thank his family for their love and support and his vocal coach, Kathleen Martin, for eight years of wonderful instruction. He is grateful for the opportunity to participate in Stars of Tomorrow.

Micah Nameroff

Micah Nameroff discovered her love for the stage at the age of 3. She has spent most of her after-school and weekend hours at dance lessons, acting training, voice lessons, rehearsals and performances. Micah currently takes ballet, pointe, jazz and lyrical at the Pacific School of Ballet in Laguna Hills. She polishes her musical theatre skills at the California Conservatory of the Arts where she is in her fifth year. Most of her summer weeks are spent in training and she has attended intensives at Broadway Theatre Project (Tampa), Debbie Allen Dance Academy (Los Angeles), the Rockette Intensive (Long Beach), and the American Theatre Dance workshop (Long Island , NY). She has worked with and performed with many Broadway stars such as Oscar and Grammy recipient Stephen Schwartz, Tony nominated Jonelle Allen, Andrew Lippa (composer of The Wild Party and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown), Stephanie J. Block (9 to 5, Pirate Queen, Wicked, and The Boy from Oz) and Lindsey Mendez (Jan in the revival of Grease.) Micah is currently auditioning for universities across the country in hopes of pursuing a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre.

Katie Perkins

Katie Perkins is a junior at Dana Hills High School and an extremely active member of the Southern California School of the Arts (SOCSA) program. Katie has been in many SOCSA performances, including productions of The Wiz, Hot Mikado, and Fiddler on the Roof (the Fiddler.) She was also in the pit orchestra for SOCSA’s last production of Bye Bye Birdie. Katie hopes to go on to double major in classical voice and violin performance. She would like to thank Stars of Tomorrow for this wonderful opportunity, Ray Woods for his constant guidance, Linda Linnebach for her amazing teaching, and her family and friends for their constant love and support.
View Katie's performance on YouTube.

Stephanie Shimer

Stephanie Shimer is a senior at Tesoro High School. She began her vocal training four years ago and performs in her high school choir and musical theater productions. In college she plans to double major in Music Education and Performance with a Choral Conducting Emphasis, and minor in German. Stephanie has performed in Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Disney Concert Hall and at Carnegie Hall with various choirs. While in the Tesoro High School Choir she participated in the ACDA Golden State South Choral Competition at which they won first place.

Taylor Wahl

Taylor Wahl is a senior at Dana Hills High School and a vocal major in the South Orange County School of the Arts (SOCSA) program. She has participated in several showcases and competitions, and received an award of special recognition from Southern California Vocal Association’s (SCVA) classical competition. Taylor has participated in several out of school productions, including the Wizard of Oz, Annie, Big River, Oliver, Bye Bye Birdie, and The Music Man. She was last seen as Abigail Williams in the SOSCA Actor’s Repertory production of The Crucible. You may have also seen her this year as Margie in SOSCA’s fall production of Bye Bye Birdie, or last year as Addaperle in The Wiz or Chava in Fiddler on the Roof. Taylor hopes to major in theatre or musical theatre at a 4-year university and pursue a career in the performing arts. She would like to thank her family and friends for all of the rides, love and support, and Joan Simonek, Mr. Woods, Pattie Sexton, and Brittany Longdon for helping her to become the best performer possible.
View Taylor's performance on YouTube.

Julie Wickstrom

Julie Wickstrom is a Sophomore in the SOCSA at Dana Hills High School. This is Julie’s first year performing in Stars of Tomorrow and she couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of this exciting event. You may have seen Julie performing in SOCSA’s productions of The Wiz, The Crucible, and Bye Bye Birdie, as well as many Broadway Nights, Jazz Nights, Opera Nights, Oldies Nights, and Showcases. In her first two years of high school at Dana Hills she has learned so much about her voice thanks to the glorious help of Mr. Woods and Linda Rose Linnebach, whom she currently studies voice with. Julie has a love of many different genres of music, however, her vocal background consists of Jazz, Blues, and Musical Theater. Julie has also learned about the importance and technique of acting from the brilliant acting coaches at SOCSA, Patricia Sexton, Brittany Longdon, Erin Williams, and Chelsea Newman. Julie would also like to thank her amazing parents for constantly supporting and encouraging her love for the arts, without them she would surely be nowhere. Thank you and enjoy the show!
View Julie's performance on YouTube.

Emma K. Werderman

Raised in Laguna Niguel, California, Emma K. Werderman is a classical and jazz singer still exploring the unknowns of her talents through her high school experience. After learning to sing along and play piano at the age of seven, she started focusing more on her vocal talents. She claims, “I learned to sing more by imitation, and then I began to develop my own style.” Emma has been taking voice lessons since entering middle school in 2005. Now in the tenth grade, attending Dana Hills High School, her current goals include continuing to study voice, improving her guitar skills, and gaining more experience on stage.
View Emma's performance on YouTube.

2008 – Erika Peterson
Erika is ecstatic to be a participant in the 2008 Stars of Tomorrow competition. She is a junior at Dana Hills High School and is involved in choir, dance, and drama. She loves to perform, and hopes to pursue it as a career in the future. Erika thanks her Mom, Dad, Hunter, and Hilary for being the best family ever!

2007 – Michael Casabianca
Michael, who won Stars of Tomorrow as a senior at Tesoro High School, was a 2006 semi-finalist in the L.A. Music Center Spotlight Awards, received the 2006 MACY trophy for Highest Achievement, and CAPPIE nominations as Best Featured Actor in a Musical 2006 and Best Male Vocalist 2005. He was also a 2006 semi-finalist in Tomorrow’s Stars at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

2006 & 2005 – John Myers
John Matthew Myers, tenor, is equally comfortable with the classical and contemporary operatic repertoire as well as the genre of musical theatre. John has received such acclaim for his "outstanding vocal performances...with apparent sensitivity" by the Orange County Register and others. Currently he is studying at the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Maitland Peters. John has worked in numerous musicals, opera, concerts, demos/workshops of new works, and film. Recently he was seen in the workshop/reading of the new musical, Belles of the Mill, and can also be seen in the upcoming films, Hey Diddle Diddle and True Story. He also appeared in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of War and Peace, under the direction of Irkin Gabitov and the baton of Valery Gergiev, and at Carnegie Hall singing Mozart’s Coronation Mass. At the Manhattan School of Music, he has been seen in Dido and Aeneas as the cover of the Sailor and ensemble as well as the role of Sam Kaplan in the Manhattan School of Music Outreach Opera’s production of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene. He has premiered new compositions as a featured performer in the Manhattan School of Music’s Composer Concert, and most recently "Love Sonnets" by Fernando Arroyo García-Lascurain. John has won numerous vocal competitions including the Rotary International Young Singer of the Year Award in California, the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Tomorrow’s Stars at the Center, South Coast Singers’ Stars of Tomorrow, Semi-finalist in the Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Awards in both Classical and Non-Classical Voice, South Coast Symphony’s Young Stars of the Future, and Opera Pacific’s Laila Conclin Vocal Competition.