LA Opera has announced the members of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program for the 2026-27 season, with four new arrivals joining five returning members.

New singer members include soprano Alexis Seminario, tenor Samuel Wallace, and baritone Mario Manzo, chosen through preliminary auditions in New York, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles, with finals held before a panel that included Music Director James Conlon. Pianist Muse Ye joins via a separate audition process.

Returning for the coming season are sopranos Emily Damasco and Gabrielle Turgeon, mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg, bass Vinícius Costa, and pianist Gabrielė Žemaitytė.

The nine artists will appear across LA Opera’s mainstage productions throughout the season, with roles in “Carmen,” “Candide,” “Nabucco,” “Turandot,” and “The Marriage of Figaro,” among others.

“The Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program continues to stand as one of the most esteemed incubators of operatic talent in the country, and this season’s cohort is a remarkable reflection of that legacy,” said Christopher Koelsch, CEO of Los Angeles Opera, per an official press release. “Selected from an extraordinarily competitive pool of applicants, our four new members will join five returning artists whose artistry and dedication continue to deepen in compelling ways. Together, they form a vibrant and richly promising ensemble. Within the program’s uniquely supportive and creatively charged environment, these artists are given the opportunity not only to refine their craft, but to be truly galvanized by the collaborative spirit that defines LA Opera. We are proud to champion their development and eagerly anticipate the singular contributions they will bring to the season ahead.”

Inaugurated in the 2006-07 season, the two-year paid residency program supports singers and pianists transitioning from academic training to professional careers, offering mainstage roles, cover assignments, and dedicated young artist performances.