MEET THE 2023-24

IDEA FELLOW!

Momoko Tanno

Soprano

Momoko Tanno is a singer/actor/educator, who has been actively performing in the Twin Cities, nationally, and abroad. As an opera singer, she has performed in The Song Poet and MNiature Opera “YR GOD MY GOD” with Minnesota Opera, The Pick Up Truck Opera Volume 1: Tale of the Odyssey by Mixed Precipitation starring as Penelope and Minerva singing Monteverdi and Dolly Parton songs, Opera Hebionna (The Snake Woman) and Yukionna (The Snow Witch) as title roles written by Asako Hirabayashi.

Her credits include Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Donna Anna in Don Juan Giovanni, Frasquita in Carmen in the Tony Award-Winning Theater de la Jeune Lune, American Repertory Theater, and Berkeley Repertory Theater, Singer and Kurogo in M. Butterfly at the Guthrie, and Ensemble in Camelot at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. She has performed opera, musical theater, oratorio, recitals, and spoken word in the Twin Cities, Japan, and Germany. Momoko is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and teaches voice at University of Wisconsin River Falls and K&S Conservatory in Woodbury.

Momoko has had the privilege of receiving the gifts of our siblings and friends from all over the world and locally, served in a leadership role as Global Musician Educator for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America lifting up global and local worship style of various cultures since 2011, and continues to do the work in diverse contexts. This work has brought her to Tanzania, Germany, and India, but most importantly the relationships with the people through this work taught her what it means to be in “accompaniment” with one another and aims to practice it on a daily basis.

Momoko has a Bachelor of Arts from Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan with the Dean’s Award and Master of Music from the University of Minnesota, privately studied with Camille Maurane, a legendary Baryton Martin in Paris for 3 years to master French and Mélodies Françaises, and Elizabeth Mannion, a legendary teacher of Jessye Norman for 15 years, and currently with George Smith.

She has worked closely with her community such as Japan American Society of Minnesota, and also served as a member of the Community Advisory Board for Park Square Theater, a grant review panelist for Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the DEI Committee at MacPhail Center for Music, Anti-Racism work group with Mixed Precipitation, and continues to work alongside with others to cultivate an antiracist environment and culture where everyone can fully express oneself.

Momoko is a recipient of the Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant FY2013, FY2019, Community Cultural Partnership Grant FY2015 in which she co-created The Story of Crow Boy with In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, McKnight Artist Grant at MacPhail Center for Music in FY2013 and FY2019. She has completed the Certification of Embodied Social Justice through EmbodyLab and was a Coalition for Asian American Leaders Making Our Voices Effective for Equity in 2021.

Learn more about Momoko’s work on her website.

Read about Momoko’s creative journey.

Learn about ORP’s IDEA Fellowship. Video features performances by former IDEA Fellows Mark Billy and Corissa Bussian.

IDEA Fellowship

JOIN US IN FOSTERING CHANGE IN OPERA WITH ORP'S IDEA SINGER FELLOWSHIP!

Since 2018 Opera Reading Project has been committed to helping Minnesota's classical singers prepare, polish and perform opera roles. In 2020 we expanded our mission to foster change in the art form and bring more Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Artistry to opera. Now in its 3rd year, the IDEA Singer Fellowship is a one-year program intended to strengthen opportunities for Minnesota-based singers of color underrepresented in the professional opera world including but not limited to Black, Latinx, Native American, Asian and/or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander communities. In 2023-24 IDEA is additionally open to applicants from these priority populations: Minnesota-based singers who identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or Minnesota-based singers with a disability. Applicants may belong to one or multiple groups listed above. 

IDEA is a career development program intended to build upon and supplement a singer’s resume and training. Singer applicants are typically training and working towards an active performing career in opera. ORP’s IDEA Fellowship is designed as a safe environment that encourages the uniqueness of underrepresented voices and supports these artists in their pursuit to learn and create freely. 

The IDEA fellow will be selected through a two-part process: In the first round, a panel of artists from underrepresented groups will select the finalists and in the second round, a culminating decision will be made in consultation between ORP administration and the panel. 

PREVIOUS IDEA FELLOWS

MARK BILLY, BARITONE, 2022-23

CORISSA BUSSIAN, SOPRANO, 2021-22

What does the IDEA Singer Fellowship consist of?

  • All role coaching and role tuition covered for the performance of one leading or featured role in a full reading on the upcoming season.

    • ORP coachings and rehearsals are held in an environment of open dialogue and collaborative conversation. Casting assignments are made through a thoughtful process in communication with the singer fellow and are designed to facilitate and sustain their unique artistic voice and experience.

  • Additional Tuition-free cover or supporting role opportunities in other readings on the upcoming season.

  • A professionally-produced audition video recording of two pieces, with piano accompaniment included.

    • The audition video will be made using personal repertoire that the singer fellow feels best serves their career and artistic needs.

  • Named position on ORP’s fellowship committee to selected the fellow for the subsequent season.

  • A spot as one of the three singer participants wo work directly with the guest clinician at one Opening the Door guest artist masterclass event.

  • Free attendance for the fellow and one guest at all ORP fee-based events.

  • Two private coachings with ORP’s music director on personal aria or art song repertoire.

  • A social media and/or marketing consultation.

  • Reserved participation at every Aria Vita evening.

  • A featured article in the ORP Park & Bark newsletter.

  • Invitation to audit all other ORP reading rehearsals.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Opera Reading Project is dedicated to creating equitable and inclusive opportunities in our company that reflect the diversity of Minnesota. We affirm applicants from all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Opera Reading Project stands strong in its commitment to equity for all applicants, regardless of race, gender, religion, age, marital or veteran’s status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.

The IDEA Fellowship is made possible with the generous support of Sara and Jock Donaldson and the following campaign donors. Thank you!