Joshua Blue, tenor

In the 2023-24 season, British-American tenor Joshua Blue makes his Houston Grand Opera stage debut creating the role of Wilson in the world premiere of Jake Heggie's new work Intelligence. He also performs Moravec's Sanctuary Road with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park and joins the Royal Opera House on tour to Japan covering the Duke in Rigoletto with Antonio Pappano on the podium. Mr. Blue makes returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Tamino in Julie Taymor's production of The Magic Flute. Mr. Blue reunites with the American Symphony Orchestra and conductor Leon Botstein to sing Dvořák's Requiem at Carnegie Hall and Brahms' Rinaldo at the Fisher Center at Bard. He has been engaged by the LA Phil, Washington National Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke's, and Wolf Trap Opera, collaborating with conductors James Conlon, Gianandrea Noseda, Eun Sun Kim, Fabio Luisi, James Gaffigan, Carlo Rizzi, Bertrand de Billy, Bernard Labadie, and Leonard Slatkin, at venues as far-ranging as the Hollywood Bowl. He is the recipient of The Mabel Dorn Reeder Foundation Prize and James McCracken and Sandra Warfield Opera Prize. Mr. Blue holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and The Juilliard School. 

Cookie Diorio, vocalist & host

Cookie Diorio (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based drag performer, a classically trained vocalist, a songwriter, an activist, a husband, music teacher, and lover of all things sparkly. She mastered walking in 5 inch stilettos in the night clubs of Boston, achieved her hair fantasy by studying vintage videos of Grace Bumbry and founded the giving project Art of the Heel.

Cookie grew up in historic Auburn, NY with gospel in her ears, civil rights in her blood and many songs in her heart. She trained at Ithaca College in the voice studio of Angus Godwin and learned the many different skills of western classical music from master teachers such as Carol McAmis in vocal pedagogy, Lawrence Doebler in choral arts, Dana Wilson in composition and Patrick Hansen in opera coaching. 
 

While Cookie has been in and out of the drag scene since 2002, she began performing regularly in the Philadelphia area as host of the Art Song Repertory Theater Company’s salon series “Saturday Afternoon Drinking Songs” in 2013. Since, she has produced and performed in the off-broadway one woman show "Fire In My Bones: A Gospel Jubilee'' (Kraine Theater), several Philly Fringe shows including Beauty From Our Sorrows, Telling Herstories, Forces of Nature, and I, Too, Sing America. In 2022 she premiered the role of Oracle in the world premiere performance of Andrea Clearfield's Beyond the Binary. She performs regularly with the Bearded Ladies Cabaret and Opera Philadelphia, and is a soloist and host for events, galas, concerts and on the cabaret stage.

K.C. Grummun, visual artist

K.C. Grummun captures the street art aesthetic with his hand cut stencils of Philadelphia icons and other well-known celebrities. Influenced by artists like Shepard Fairey, Blek le Rat, and Banksy, K.C. first took to the streets in 2012 with his alter ego, “Franksy”.  His current work is focused on celebrating women in the restaurant industry through portraiture.  This series was most recently featured last fall at Love City Brewing and a small selection was shown at Khyber Pass Pub for the "Pink Boots" Women in Brewing fundraiser. Follow K.C. on Instagram.

Ashley Marie Robillard, soprano

Acclaimed for her "fresh-brook lyric soprano" (Parterre Box) and "robust sounds and emotions" (Broadway World), Ashley Marie Robillard emerges as a compelling narrator, enchanting audiences in opera houses, recital venues, and cabaret halls. She has graced esteemed stages such as the War Memorial Opera House, Academy of Music, Jordan Hall, National Portrait Gallery, and Trocadero Theater, and has collaborated with renowned institutions including Washington Concert Opera, Opera Philadelphia, the Amarillo Symphony, Opera Grand Rapids, and Opera Lafayette.

Ashley's love for chamber music is marked by collaborations with the Dolce Suono Ensemble and a professional chamber debut with Music From Angel Fire. A fervent champion of contemporary works, she has performed pieces by George Benjamin, David Hertzberg, Rene Orth, Shulamit Ran, and participated in world premieres, including compositions by Dai Wei and Alistair Coleman.
 

In the realm of recitals, Ashley shines, co-curating performances with Opera Philadelphia and Classical Movements, and earning acclaim as a Gerda Lissner Lieder/Art Song competition grant award winner. Beyond the concert hall, Ashley graces cabaret stages, lending her voice to the Bearded Ladies' Late Nite Snacks series, Stephanie Blythe's Queens of the Night cabaret series, and the Love Notes series by East Passyunk Opera Project. She spent three years doing a nationwide tour of the Italienisches Liederbuch by Hugo Wolf alongside renowned educator and pianist, Mikael Eliasen. Ashley is an alumna of the Curtis Institute of Music, the Merola Opera Program, the Wolf Trap Opera studio artist program, and the Opera Philadelphia Emerging Artist Program.

Omar Saleem, DJ & Beatmaker

Omar Saleem, a seasoned beat maker and drummer, graduated from Gamp High School with a passion for music that has defined his life. With over 25 years of experience, Omar has become a luminary in the music scene, specializing in hip-hop, boom-bap, R&B, and house genres. At 47 years old, his musical journey has taken him to stages around the world, including captivating performances in Puerto Rico, Berlin, Cologne, and numerous venues across the United States.

A maestro in crafting beats, Omar's skillful production has left an indelible mark on the industry. From the rhythmic beats that echo his drumming expertise to the seamless fusion of genres in his compositions, his music resonates with a diverse audience. Beyond the spotlight, Omar's dedication to his craft has been the driving force behind his enduring success.

Whether in the studio or on stage, Omar Saleem continues to be a dynamic force in the world of music, blending tradition with innovation to create a sonic landscape that captivates the hearts of music enthusiasts globally. His journey is a testament to the timeless power of rhythm and melody, leaving an everlasting imprint on the ever-evolving tapestry of musical expression.

Katrina Thurman, soprano

Soprano and ePOP General and Artistic Director Katrina Thurman has been praised for her “remarkably vibrant and flexible voice” (Gramophone) and her “wonderfully clear sound and natural warmth of character” (Opera News). She is a versatile artist who has built a solid reputation performing traditional operatic repertoire while also specializing in contemporary opera and American musical theatre. Her repertoire encompasses over 45 roles in six languages and has taken her to theaters including The Metropolitan Opera where she made her stage debut in Akhnaten, as well as Opéra de Lyon and Festival Lyrique de Belle-Ile en Mer (France), Oper Bonn (Germany), Opera Philadelphia, The Dallas Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Florentine Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, New York City Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Omaha, Utah Opera, Tulsa Opera, American Opera Projects, Syracuse Opera, Sacramento Opera, Anchorage Opera, Shreveport Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Center for Contemporary Opera, and the Aspen Music Festival. Katrina was recently appointed Director of Artistic Administration at Opera Omaha. Follow her on Instagram @katrinasoprano.