BSO debut*

Praised for his “rich and nuanced” sound and “riveting” acting, tenor Nathan Snyder has built a reputation for excellence across genres. His energy and impressive versatility make him an outstanding presence on any stage. This season, Mr. Snyder has brought that energy to the operatic stage, performing Roméo in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette along with many of opera’s legendary “bad guys,” including Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Il Duca in Rigoletto, and Don José in Carmen.

After premiering the role of Dewey Noyes in Staggerwing by Rachel Peters and Lisa DeSpain with Opera Kansas in 2021, Mr. Snyder has become advocate for contemporary opera and embraces new works alongside traditional repertoire. He continues to seek out contemporary works, including leading roles in Blind Injustice with Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Proving Up with Opera Steamboat, and Glory Denied at the United States Air Force Academy.

Mr. Snyder is also known for bringing the same energy and drama from the opera stage to the concert hall and has appeared as the tenor soloist in Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem, Bruckner’s Te Deum, and Haydn’s The Creation. Recently Snyder made his Carnegie Hall Debut singing the Tenor Solo in the World Premier of Mark Hayes’ Psalmos in April 2026. This summer Mr. Snyder will be joining the Bravo Vail Festival Chorus in their collaboration with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s production of Madama Butterfly in Vail Colorado.

nathansnydertenor.com/ | @nathansnydertenor

Previous BSO appearances: Gilda cover in Rigoletto

Abigail Orr is a soprano from Montgomery, Texas. Her most recent performances include singing The Controller in Jonathan Dove’s Flight, Juliette in Romeo et Juliette, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi at Boston University’s Opera Institute. This past fall Abigail has recently made her Symphony Hall debut, singing Cunegonde (Candide) in Music’s Next Generation concert. Abigail has also recently performed Fiordiligi in Utah Vocal Arts Academy’s production of Così fan tutte and was a recent alumna of Songfest as a Colburn Fellow recipient.

Abigail is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music and received her Certificate in Opera Performance from Texas Tech University. During her time at TTU, Abigail performed as a Young Artist at Amarillo Opera where she covered the role of Gilda in Rigoletto and performed in outreach performances of Davies’ The Three Little Pigs under the guidance of Dr. Rebecca Hays and Mary Jane Johnson. Abigail has recently received her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at Boston University.

Abigail is currently enrolled in the Boston University’s Opera Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Lynn Eustis.

abigailorrsoprano.com | @absabmeister

Previous BSO appearances: Major-General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance, Marullo in Rigoletto, Masetto in Don Giovanni

Dalton Rowe, baritone, is a 2025 graduate of the Boston University School of Music, where he earned his MM degree in Vocal Performance with Dr. Lynn Eustis. Dalton is from Oxford, Alabama, and received a degree in Music Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022. In 2024, Dalton made his operatic debut as Le Premiere Ministre in BU Opera Institute’s productions of Massenet’s Cendrillon. At BU, he would go on to perform the roles of Bartley (Riders to the Sea), The Captain (Siren Song), and Marco (Gianni Schicchi).

Beyond the world of opera, Dalton is an avid choral singer and soloist in the Boston area, having been a full-time member of the all-professional choir at Church of the Advent since 2023. At the Advent, Dalton has been the bass soloist in Vaughan Williams’s Mass in G Minor, Schubert’s Mass in C Major, and Mozart’s Vesperae and Mass in F Major. He has also been a soloist with Choral Arts Society of the South Shore, Cape Cod Chorale, and the BU Graduate Vocal Ensemble.  

@dalty.d

BSO debut*

Baritone Scott Ballantine has maintained a busy performing schedule in New England and across the United States. He has worked with companies such as Dayton Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Connecticut Lyric Opera, Opera Wilmington, Opera Steamboat, and the Janiec Opera Company. ​​Some of his more familiar roles / operas include Marcello & Schaunard in La bohème, the title role in Don Giovanni, and Silvio in Pagliacci. In addition to many full productions and roles, Ballantine has an abundance of experience with opera outreach, having spent three seasons touring the Midwest with Opera for the Young. ​​​​Ballantine has an affinity for contemporary opera as well - some of his favorite roles performed include Hannah Before in As One, Father in Scarlet Ibis and the title role in Fantastic Mr. Fox.​ Equally at home in musical theatre, Ballantine was a recent guest artist at the College Light Opera Company (CLOC), singing Mr. Lindquist in A Little Night Music. He was also a festival artist with the Natchez Festival of Music in 2019 and with Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre in 2017. During these engagements, he sang the role of Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Oliver Hix in The Music Man and Captain Phoebus (cover) in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ​A native of Colorado, he left the mountain west in pursuit of his Master's of Music in Voice Performance at The Boston Conservatory in 2015. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Voice Performance from Northern Arizona University in 2013. Ballantine is currently based in Boston, MA.

scottballantine.com | @sbbaritone

Previous BSO appearances: Mabel cover in The Pirates of Penzance

Soprano Sophie Urquhart is happy to be joining Boston Summer Opera for L’elisir d’amore! Hailed for her “exquisite technical proficiency,” Sophie’s recently performed roles include Violetta in La Traviata, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance. Sophie Urquhart is a graduate of Boston Conservatory and a student of Kathleen Wilson.