Cherisse Williams is a soprano from Brooklyn, New York who has been a frequent performer with Opera Arlington since its inception, singing the title role in Viardot’s Cinderella earlier this season. A rising presence in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, Cherisse is known for her silky, versatile sound and heartfelt interpretations of a wide variety of roles.

Last season, Cherisse sang the role of Manuelita (Pépito) in the Winspear Opera House with The Dallas Opera’s Educational Outreach. Past roles include Micaëla (Carmen) and Adina (L’elisir d’amore) with UNT Opera, Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute) and Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) with Once Upon an Opera, Nannetta (Falstaff) with the Midwest Institute of Opera, as well as the Princess (L’enfant et les Sortilèges) and Susanna in (Le nozze di Figaro scene) with The Manhattan School of Music. Cherisse also sang the role of Sally Hemings in the world premiere of Dana Wilson’s The Wolf by the Ears. Her other credits include Beth (cover) in Little Women, and Mademoiselle Silberklang in The Impresario.

Cherisse is a member of the New York Philharmonic Chorus and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College, a Master of Music from Ithaca College, and a Professional Studies Certificate in Opera from The Manhattan School of Music. She recently earned her Doctor of Musical Arts and M.B.A. in Music Business degrees from the University of North Texas.

Megan Koch, soprano, is a dynamic performer based in DFW who has frequently appeared in concert with Opera Arlington since its founding. In the 2024–25 season, she returned to Fort Worth Opera as Amy in Mark Adamo’s Little Women, awaiting her debut as Kjersti in the revival of Douglas Moore’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, Giants in the Earth, and covering Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Opera Arlington. Megan was the winner of the Classical Singer Vocal Competition (Emerging Artist Division) in 2022. As a Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artist at Fort Worth Opera from 2020–2022, she was a featured soloist with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, prepared to cover Musetta (La Bohème), performed excerpts from Massenet's Manon, was responsible for the role of Ana Maria in the world premier of Armienta’s Zorro, and made her mainstage debut as Annina and covered Violetta in La traviata.

In the 2023–2024 season, Megan made her Shreveport Opera debut as Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia) and returned as a Resident Artist to make her role debut as Violetta (La traviata); she also portrayed Nala in Opera Arlington’s world premiere recording of Jodi Goble’s one-act opera, Meow and Forever, in the 2022–2023 season. Her previous operatic credits include Lucia di Lammermoor, Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Vixen (Cunning Little Vixen), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Alexandra (Regina), Rose (Street Scene), and La princesse (L’enfant et les sortilèges).  Megan was invited to the Czech Republic in 2019 for the premiere of two lost operas by Johann Heinrich Schmelzer for the Olomouc Baroque Festival. A finalist in the Lewisville Lake Symphony International Voice Competition (2019 and 2022) and the University of North Texas Concerto Competition, she holds a Master of Music and Graduate Artist Certificate from UNT as well as a Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Mezzo-soprano, Kaswanna Kanyinda, has been praised for her dramatic presence, vocal warmth, and as a “talent to keep a sharp lookout for.” This past season, she worked as a young artist at Fort Worth Opera, Opera Theatre Saint Louis, Finger Lakes Opera, and was a Semi-Finalist for The James Toland Vocal Competition. Prior to that, Kaswanna’s season was filled with modern opera where she performed in productions such as Blue, Omar, and Stinney with Opera Toledo, Spoleto Opera Festival, and Opera Grand Rapids, respectively.

She received her education from University of Michigan and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the tutelage of Professor George Shirley and Dr. Louise Toppin, experiencing unforgettable moments in her career. A North Carolina native, she currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, reprising her position as the mezzo-soprano Resident Artist with Fort Worth Opera for the 2023–24 season.

Tenor Lwazi Hlati hails from Johannesburg, South Africa. He earned a Master’s degree and a Performer’s Diploma from Southern Methodist University, a Graduate Artistic Certificate in Opera Performance from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. His accolades include winning first place, along with the award for the best art song presentation, in the inaugural Duncan Williams Voice Competition held by the New York City Opera and Manhattan School of Music, and being named the 2024 Opera Idol by Connecticut Opera.

Lwazi has garnered acclaim for his roles in Così fan tutte, Falstaff, Carmen, and A Streetcar Named Desire, and performed with Fort Worth Opera in La traviata, Hansel and Gretel, and Amahl and the Night Visitors, among others.

Adeniyi Samuel is a versatile bass-baritone who recently debuted with Opera Arlington as the Baron de Pictordu in Viardot’s Cinderella. His  musical interest covers a range of genres, including gospel and jazz. Some of  his most recent roles include Bartolo in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Baron Campo-Tasso in Offenbach’s The Brigands, Arkel in Debussy’s Impression de  Pelléas, Blitch in Floyd’s Susannah (scenes), and Frank (cover) in Strauss’ Die  Fledermaus. Adeniyi was featured as the Psalmist in the 30th anniversary  of Cry Innocent, a theatrical adaptation of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, produced by History Alive. He co-directed and performed as Alabi in The  Journey to Africa by Lydia Adesina with African Broadway in New York. His honors and  awards include first place in the Adult Classical TBB Voice category at the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of  Singing (NATS) in October 2021. 

Adeniyi utilizes his expertise in various genres fusing Western and African  music. He authored the Spirit and Truth Worship Series, comprising hymns,  psalms, and his worship compositions. He is the writer, composer, producer,  and performer of a two-man musical, Renewal, and a one-man Christmas musical, We Need  a Savior. Adeniyi obtained his M.M. from Temple University, a B.M. from Gordon  College, and an A.M. from the Musical Society of Nigeria, among  other music certifications. He is pursuing a D.M.A. at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, where he serves as a voice instructor.

Pianist Tao Jiang is rapidly gaining recognition in the Dallas–Fort Worth area as a musician of sensitivity, power, and virtuosity. He made his debut with Opera Arlington this season performing Viardot’s Cinderella and will return for Don Giovanni this June. A former faculty member of the China Conservatory of Music, Tao is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of North Texas under Steinway Artist Adam Wodnicki. He earned his undergraduate degree from the China Conservatory and a Master’s from the Manhattan School of Music, studying with Kenneth Merrill. In New York, he was a staff pianist and participated in masterclasses with renowned artists.

 From 2016, Tao taught at the China Conservatory of Music, coaching and contributing to opera productions, including Don Giovanni, La bohème, Le nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte and contemporary Chinese works. Now at UNT, he continues to refine his artistry as a collaborative and solo pianist on the international stage.