Portland Opera’s Resident Artist Program has announced this year’s artists including the program’s first collaborative pianist, Edward Forstman. Joining Forstman are soprano Judy Yannini, tenor Antonio Domino, tenor Roland Hawkins II, and baritone Sankara Harouna.

During their eight-month residency, artists will engage in master classes that emphasize vocal technique, music training, language instruction, theater, dance, and movement. They will receive guidance and mentorship from esteemed professionals such as Paul Floyd, Jason Ferrante, Angela Zagarella, Alison Wesley, Karen Slack, and Damien Geter.

They will also get opportunities to perform in productions of “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Enchanted Woods: Shakespeare & Song,” “The Snowy Day,” and “Puccini: In Concert.” They will also participate in a workshop of “The Factotum” as well as other community engagement activities and season preview events.

The program will also feature two community performances on Nov. 9 and April 10 at the Hampton Opera Center where resident artists will perform solos, duets, and ensemble pieces.

“We are so excited to welcome this incredible cohort of artists to Portland Opera,” said Portland Opera’s General Director Sue Dixon in an official press statement issued by the company. “This program is at the heart of what we do here at the company, and we are over the moon to ramp it back up to a full season.”

“They say music is the food of the soul, life is a never-ending journey, and home is where the heart is,” added Harouna, who has performed with such companies as Kentucky Opera, Atlanta Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Dayton Opera, among others. “Being a Resident Artist with Portland Opera is super exciting because it is the embodiment of these things. Not just being able to do what I love professionally but having the ability to continue to advance mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I feel so blessed and honored this life journey has brought me to Portland Opera where I can continue to grow into the person I am called to be!”

The Portland Opera Resident Artist program is supported by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, James Cox and Brenda Nuckton, Eleanor Lieber Auditions Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation, Drs. Fernando and Dolores Leon, George Rowbottom, Drew and Sue Snyder, The Monday Musical Club of Portland, and Carol Turtle.