January 16, 2026
A Co-Production with La Jolla Music Society
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, La Jolla
Friday
January 16
7:30pm
A Song Cycle by Damien Geter
Inspired by John E. Dowell’s haunting photography of South Carolina cotton fields, Cotton explores an African American narrative of past and present, from rural Southern fields where enslaved people labored, to the concrete canyons of New York City. Dowell’s journey deep into the world of cotton resulted in a body of provocative, exhilarating work, exploring African American survival strategies as well as the implications of the cotton industry underpinning the American economy.
In Damien Geter’s intensely moving song cycle, outstanding artists unite to explore African American stories touched by the “soft, dangerous beauty” of cotton. J’Nai Bridges and Justin Austin perform songs adapted from eight nationally renowned 21st century poets responding to Dowell’s photos: Nikki Giovanni, Charlotte Blake Alston, Afaa Michael Weaver, Trapeta Mayson, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Lauren K. Alleyne, Alora Young, and Glenis Redmond. Throughout the performance, enormous screens of constantly changing images accompany songs and poetry. Each poet is presented in video, reading their own poem in the context of the performance.
Cotton takes the audience on a journey of the mind and heart, exploring how the wealth of our nation was built, and the continued struggle that has resulted from of slavery. Through breathtaking high art, the work awakens a sense of shared humanity, and illuminates a path toward better understanding.
To purchase tickets visit the La Jolla Music Society’s website here or call (858) 459-3728 (Monday – Friday 10 AM – 6 PM).
Cotton was conceived and the poetry and music were commissioned by Lyric Fest (Philadelphia).
A co-production of La Jolla Music Society and San Diego Opera, Cotton is part of La Jolla Music Society’s ProtoStar Innovative series.
Image above: “They Took My Sister,” 2020, photograph by John E. Dowell.
J’Nai Bridges
Soprano
“An opera singer to watch!”
~Classical Singer Magazine
J’Nai Bridges
(Soprano)
San Diego Opera highlights: Soloist in GRAMMY® Greats Unite: Latonia Moore & J’Nai Bridges in Concert with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra; Suzuki in Madama Butterfly.
Recent and Upcoming: Title role in Carmen (Seattle Opera, Teatro Real de Madrid, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro Lirico di Calgiari, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera Company, Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Fondazione Arena di Verona, Palm Beach Opera, Cincinnati Opera); Erika in Vanessa (The National Symphony); Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible (Washington National Opera); Maddalena in Rigoletto (San Francisco Opera, The Metropolitan Opera); Didon in Les Troyens (Seattle Opera); Lucinda in Intelligence (Houston Grand Opera); Dalila in Samson et Dalila (Seattle Opera); Jocaste in Oedipus rex (San Francisco Symphony); Laurel in The Rift (Washington National Opera).
Justin Austin
Baritone
“Paz presents a sound beautiful but with depth.”
~San Diego Reader
Justin Austin
(Baritone)
San Diego Opera debut.
Recent and Upcoming: Figaro in The Barber of Seville (San Francisco Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis); Remus in Treemonisha (Washington National Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis); Soloist in Porgy and Bess (Houston Grand Opera); Lindon in This House (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis); Guglielmo in Così fan tutte (San Francisco Opera); Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette (LA Opera, Washington National Opera); Thomas McKeller in American Apollo (Des Moines Metro Opera); Young Emile Griffith in Champion (Lyric Opera of Chicago); A Motor Cop in Dead Man Walking (The Metropolitan Opera); Ned Keene in Peter Grimes (The Metropolitan Opera); Marcellus in Hamlet (The Metropolitan Opera); Charles Blow in Fire Shut Up In My Bones (Lyric Opera of Chicago).
Laura Ward
Pianist
“Fully in command of his music with energy throughout.”
~Parterre Box
Laura Ward
(Pianist)
San Diego Opera debut.
Laura Ward is pianist and Co-Artistic Director of Lyric Fest. As a distinguished collaborative pianist, she is known for both her technical ability and vast knowledge of repertoire and styles. Concert engagements have taken her to Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Spoleto Festival (Italy) and the Colmar International Music Festival and Saint Denis Festival in France. She has served on the faculty of The CoOPERAtive Program at Westminster Choir College, The Academy of Vocal Arts, Temple University, Ravinia Festival Stean’s Institute, Washington Opera, University of Maryland and The Music Academy of the West. Ward’s discography includes Lineage with GRAMMY-nominated Baritone, Randall Scarlata, In This Blue Room, Lyric Fest performs Songs of Kile Smith, Daron Hagen 21st Century Song Cycles, and most recently, Hat er mir Rosen Gebracht: Songs of Joseph Marx, with Kendra Colton (Soprano).
Ward is also a recording artist and editor of song accompaniments for publisher Hal Leonard, having co-edited Richard Strauss: 40 Songs, Gabriel Fauré: 50 Songs, and Johannes Brahms: 75 Songs, and recorded over 2000 song accompaniments for Hal Leonard Publishing. These volumes help countless singers and pianists experience, learn, and enjoy the art song repertoire and also help introduce a world of art song to many who have had little exposure to classical songs. A native of Texas, Ward received her Bachelor in Music degree from Baylor University, holds a Masters in Collaborative Piano at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and a Doctorate In Collaborative Piano from the University of Michigan where she was a student of Martin Katz.
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Felipe Prado
Gastone
Felipe Prado
Gastone
Tenor Felipe Prado made his Company debut as Remendado in 2019’s Carmen¸ and returned to sing the Second Villager in the world premiere of El último sueño de Frida y Diegoand Padre Matias in El milagro del recuerdo. Notable appearances include Spoletta in Tosca with Guild Opera, Borsa in Rigoletto and Gastone and Giuseppe in La traviata with Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale, Tamino in The Magic Flute with Ridgecrest Opera Guild, and Alfredo in La traviata with Pacific Lyric Association. He has been a featured soloist for the concert Opera Highlights with the California Philharmonic Orchestra. As an active member of multiple professional ensembles such as the California Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale he has had the great honor to perform in great venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Warner Grand Theater, The Santa Anita Race Track, and the UCLA’s Royce Hall. In 2010 he joined the AVC Concert Choir and Master Chorale and took part in many concerts in a wide range of repertoire. In 2013 he started collaborating with several groups in Los Angeles area, such as the Pacific Palisades Symphony, Los Angeles Lawyers Philharmonic and Legal Voices among others. He also became part of the California Philharmonic Chorale as a chorister under the baton of Victor Vener and vocal direction of Marya Basaraba, and the Golden State Pops Orchestra.
Travis Sherwood
Baron Douphol
Travis Sherwood
Baron Douphol
San Diego Opera debut.
American Baritone, Travis Sherwood, has received praise for his powerful voice and emotionally poignant performances around the world as an opera singer, concert artist, and recitalist, performing a wide range of musical genres and styles.
On the operatic stage, Sherwood has sung for Amarillo Opera, Mississippi Opera, Aspen Opera Theater, Opera a la Carte, Princeton Festival, Bohème Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, and Opera New Jersey. On the concert stage, Sherwood has performed with the La Jolla Symphony, Southwest Symphony, Chatter Orchestra, Hunterdon Symphony, Symphony of the Vines, Canto Bello Chamber Orchestra, Monroe Symphony Orchestra, and La Sierra Symphony Orchestra. Sherwood has also enjoyed many collaborative recitals with distinguished pianists throughout the world.
Beyond performing, Sherwood enjoys teaching the next generation of singers. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Voice, Voice Area Coordinator, and Director of SDSU Opera Theatre on the faculty of San Diego State University.
DeAndre Simmons
Marchese D'Obigny
DeAndre Simmons
Marchese D’Obigny
Company appearances: Sciarrone in Tosca (2023), The Bonze in Madama Butterfly (2024)
American bass, DeAndre Simmons. Notable appearances: Amonasro, Aida (Portland Opera in the Park); Oroveso, Norma (NJ Verismo Opera); Padre Guardiano, La Forza del Destino (Atlantic Opera Festival); Alidoro, Cenerentola (Opera Philadelphia); Carbon, Cyrano (Opera Philadelphia); Soloist, Mozart Requiem (Santa Barbara Symphony); soloist, Beethoven Ninth (Santa Barbara Symphony); Boatman, Sunday in the park with George (CCAE Theatricals); soloist, Verdi Requiem (London Symphony); Caiaphas, Jesus Christ Superstar (Moonlight Theatre); soloist, World Childhood Fdn for HM Queens Silvia of Sweden; Recital, Die Winterreise (Chicago, NYC, LA, Berlin, Paris, London); soloist, Handel’s Messiah (Grand Junction Symphony); Ferrando, Il Trovatore (Astoria Music Festival); soloist, Haydn’s The Creation (Bar Choral Society & London Symphony); Grand Inquisitor, Candide (LA Philharmonic); Cal, Regina (Pacific Opera Victoria); Sarastro, Die Zauberflöte (Opera Panama); Recital, (Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris)
IG: @DeAndresVoice
Michael Sokol
Doctor Grenville
Michael Sokol
Doctor Grenville
Company appearances: Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance (2017), Ensemble, All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (2018); soloist, When I See Your Face Again (2021); Maestro Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi (2023), A Sacristan in Tosca (2023), Mr. Costello in Ghosts (2023).
Notable appearances: Metropolitan Opera; Philadelphia Orchestra; Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago; Frank Lloyd Wright, Shining Brow (Madison Opera); director, San Diego Summer Gilbert and Sullivan Workshop.
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