Tess Ottinger, soprano, is a versatile performer based in the Northern Virginia area and is passionate about performing all aspects of the classical art form. Most recently, Ms. Ottinger has performed with the Young Victorian Theatre Company, making her debut as Mabel in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Ottinger won 1st place in the 2021 and 2022 Mid-Atlantic Regional NATS competition, and placed 2nd in the 2021 NATS Artist Award.

While pursuing her Master of Music at the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, Ms. Ottinger performed the roles of Lisette in Puccini’s La Rondine and Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. She also had the opportunity to perform in several recitals, including Lori Laitman’s I Never Saw Another Butterfly. Pre-pandemic, Ms. Ottinger was the chosen vocalist for the INTERPLAY: A Peabody-UMBC Partnership project.

Additionally, Ms. Ottinger has performed as a soloist with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Williamsburg Choral Guild, Oratorio Society of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University Symphony, VCU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and VCU Commonwealth Singers, performing works such as Poulenc’s Gloria. In 2020 Ms. Ottinger was scheduled to perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, but this event was canceled due to the pandemic. She currently resides in Fairfax, Virginia.

Ms. Ottinger is currently on the voice faculty at the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, and is a soprano section leader at The National Presbyterian Church. She holds two Bachelor of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance/Vocal Pedagogy from The Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute.

Luke Schmidt, tenor, is a performer and arts administrator. Luke holds a master’s degree from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University where he received the George Castelle Prize in Voice. Most recently, Luke performed the role of Frederic with The Young Victorian Theater Company in their production of The Pirates of Penzance. Highlights of his other roles include Dr. Osborn in Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt, Prunier in La rondine, Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw, The Prince in Rusalka, Jupiter in Semele, Herman in The Most Happy Fella, Tenor in The Four Note Opera, and Babolet in The Lantern Wedding. Luke also worked with Peabody Opera Theatre on the world-staged premiere of Kirke Mechem’s Pride & Prejudice, where he interpreted the role of Charles Bingley in their 2019-2020 season. Luke is excited to be performing with Bach in Baltimore for the first time.

Known for his full and lyric baritone, William Marshall is passionate about the study and vocal performance of Renaissance and Baroque repertoires. In addition to acting as a specialist in the field of early music, he also performs traditional operatic and art song repertoire. His recent career highlights include the Bach Vocal Competition for American Singers as part of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem Bach Festival, Early Music America’s Young Performers Festival with The Baltimore Bach Ensemble, and the American Bach Soloists Academy in San Francisco. William has portrayed opera roles such as Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas, Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Papageno in The Magic Flute. On the concert stage, he has been a featured soloist for Bach’s B Minor Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Orff’s Carmina Burana among others. William Marshall holds a Master of Music degree in Historical Performance from the Peabody Conservatory and Bachelors degree in Music Education from Rowan University. www.williammarshallbaritone.com

Astonishing in her musical versatility, violinist Qing Li brings great warmth, poise, and insight to her music making. Li is the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Second Violin, appointed by Yuri Temirkanov in 2000 upon winning the audition, and is frequently featured as a soloist with the BSO. Other solo engagements have included the Butterfly Lovers Concerto at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Haydn violin concerto with the Richmond Symphony and the Bach Double Concerto with Hilary Hahn to name a few. Li is a Piatigorsky Foundation Artist, a much sought-after recitalist, chamber musician, and guest concertmaster and principal appearances both locally and internationally. Noted performances in that capacity with orchestras like the Iceland Symphony in Reykjavik and the Singapore Symphony to name a few. Her last featured solo performance with the BSO was Vivaldi’s Winter in 2018 fall under the direction of Maestro Nicholas McGegan. Throughout the great cities of America, South America, Europe and Asia, her broadcast appearances include television stations in the US, Germany and China and a biography on Voice Of America. Notable reviews for Qing Li include the Baltimore Sun, ‘the highest level musically’. . . ‘unsurpassed technical brilliance,’ The German Hohenlohe News, ‘excelled with ethereal play,’ and the Richmond Times, ‘her style was impeccable.’ She is also a member of the three-time Emmy Award winner, The All-Star Orchestra on PBS. Li is also currently a violin faculty artist at her alma mater, the Peabody Institute of Music at the Johns Hopkins University. She has been the violin faculty artist of the NYO-China, since their 2017 inaugural season’s debut concert at the Carnegie Hall. She gives masterclasses and is active in International Festivals throughout the US, Asia, Europe, South America, and Russia. She now performs on her 1736 Neapolitan instrument made by Nicolo Gagliano.

Dr. Sarah Eckman McIver performs and teaches in the Baltimore/Washington region on flute, piccolo and baroque flute. She has appeared as a substitute with Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, Washington National Cathedral Choral Society and the Concert Artists of Baltimore. Regular engagements include third flute/piccolo with the Apollo Orchestra, second flute/piccolo with American Pops Orchestra, principal flute with Opera Camerata of Washington, and principal flute of Maryland Winds. As a chamber musician, Dr. McIver can be heard on flute and piccolo with Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra and on traverso with Washington’s Camerata Early Music Ensemble. For twelve years, Dr. McIver toured nationally with The U.S. Army Field Band giving over 100 concerts per year. She was featured as a concerto soloist on five concert tours. In addition, she was a frequent clinician and performer with the Woodwind Ambassadors Quintet, performing in over a dozen states and territories ranging from Alaska to Puerto Rico. She left active duty in 2015 to diversify her performing and teaching career, and continues to serve in the Maryland National Guard as First Sergeant of 229th Army Band. Dr. McIver can be heard on a wide variety of recordings, including recent releases featuring music of Libby Larsen (Confessions, Yarlung Records, 2020) and Lawrence Moss (New Dawn, Innova, 2019), and recordings with the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra (including Jazzin’ the Blues Away, Rivermont Records, 2019). Dr. McIver began her studies at Interlochen Arts Academy, and later received her Bachelor of Music Performance from McGill University in Montreal, Canada; Master of Music degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England; and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a member of the American Federation of Musicians; Baltimore Local and Washington DC Local.

Sara Nichols enjoys a diverse career as an educator, soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral flutist. She performed as Principal Flute of the Baltimore Opera for twenty two seasons. She has also appeared as a soloist and orchestra musician for numerous ensembles including the National Gallery Orchestra, Wolf Trap Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Bach Society of Baltimore, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Pro Musica Rara, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and the New York Opera Society. She has performed with national touring shows and productions at the Hippodrome, Lyric, and Morris Mechanic Theaters in Baltimore, Merriweather Post Pavilion, and the National Theater in Washington, D.C. She is on the faculties of Towson University and the Baltimore School for the Arts. Many of Ms. Nichols’ high school students were awarded music scholarships at prestigious universities and conservatories, and are now prominent music educators–including public and private schools, private studios, and universities— arts administrators, and professional musicians across the country. Numerous additional students also excelled in subjects outside of the music industry, and now hold a multitude of highly successful careers while continuing to play their flutes in a wide array of settings. Every single student has been a source of immense pride on this journey! Ms. Nichols has been published in Flute Talk Magazine; hosted Flute Spa master classes for esteemed flute pedagogue and award winning author, Patricia George; and is Director of the Baltimore Flute Choir, a dedicated group of avid adult enthusiasts who enjoy an active performance schedule in the Baltimore-Washington region.