MEET THE 2024-25
IDEA FELLOW!
Felix Aguilar Tomlinson
Tenor
Felix Aguilar Tomlinson is a Mexican-American lyric tenor from Minneapolis, MN. He has performed extensively in Boston, New York, and Minnesota, tackling dramatically-demanding roles with a signature sweetness, authenticity, and charisma. He completed his BM in Voice Performance and GPD in Opera Performance at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He has lived the past two years in central New York, spending two summers as an Apprentice Artist with Chautauqua Opera, and two seasons as a Resident Artist with Tri-Cities Opera. Felix recently moved back home to the Twin Cities, kicking this next chapter off premiering the role of Ricky in Johnny Skeeky; or, the Remedy for Everything with Theater Latté Da.
Recent opera engagements for Felix include performing Tobias Raggs (Sweeney Todd), Shakur (Thumbprint), and Thaddeus Stevens (The Mother of Us All) for Chautauqua Opera, performing Lewis (The Fantasticks), Toby (The Medium), King Kaspar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), and Don Basilio/Curzio (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Tri-Cities Opera and Syracuse Opera, covering the role of Luis (Champion) with Boston Lyric Opera, performing Albert (Albert Herring), Tito (La Clemenza di Tito), Peter Quint (The Turn of the Screw), and Younger Thompson (Glory Denied) with Boston Conservatory Opera, and singing the role of Ralph Rackstraw (HMS Pinafore) with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra.
As a native of Minneapolis, Felix was raised in the Twin Cities arts scene. Prior to leaving for school, he had performed extensively with the Youth Performance Company with roles including Pecos Bill and Charlie Brown, the Giblert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company as the Defendant in the MN Fringe Festival, Theatre in the Round Players in their production of Godspell, and Gadfly Theater in Dragula. He was educated in music by the incredible teachers and theater faculty at DeLaSalle High School, and by his teachers at the MacPhail Center for Music and the Prelude Program.
Dedicated to the performance and production of new works, Felix is a founding member of Strange Trace — a fledgling opera company that commissions new digital works of opera from around the world. In addition to his duties as a performer, Felix has been able to explore his passion for directing, filming, and producing opera in the dozen new works he has created with them since autumn 2020.
In concert, Felix has sung as the tenor soloist in Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb with the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra and as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Part I with the Boston Conservatory Conductor’s Orchestra, and sang as the tenor soloist in Eureka Ensemble’s Spanish-language production of Handel’s Messiah: El Mesías, and sang as the tenor soloist in The Horizon Ensemble’s performance of Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings.
Upcoming engagements for Felix include a new production of Mozart’s Impresario paired with the newly-commissioned Circe on Superior with Lyric Opera of the North. Felix will also be returning to The Celtic Junction for their second production of the English music hall hit, Ghosts in the Greasepaint, around New Years this winter.
Learn more about Felix’s work on his website.
“Dein ist mein ganzes Herz”
"Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" by Franz Lehár
Tenor: Felix Aguilar Tomlinson
Piano: Thomas Cockerill
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, Indigenous, 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
MOMOKO TANNO, SOPRANO, 20233-24
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 who 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.
NEW! In 2024-25, in order to better support the multifaceted nature of a singing career and the specific interests and goals of our fellows, and to facilitate our fellows in taking on a leadership aspect to their career, the IDEA Fellowship will additionally include $750 of reimbursement funds to be used by the fellow in support of a project or career activity of their choice over the course of the season. These funds must be used between 9/1/2024 and 7/31/2025 and are not available before or after those dates. Expenses will be paid directly by ORP or reimbursed with receipt. Examples of how this money could be used include but are not limited to: audition fees or coaching expenses; producing a recital program, paying collaborators or accompanists, or booking a venue; and research support.
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!