MELISSA SHORT ZAPIN

The press has hailed her as “…a star of tomorrow, today.” They’ve written “…when she sings, all she has to do is open her mouth and the notes spill out sweetly and effortlessly.” Regis Philbin called her “…a beautiful operatic singer. Boy oh boy, is she great! She’s really amazing!”

Melissa Short Zapin started as a Soprano in Honolulu, Hawaii with little more than a big voice and an even bigger dream. Raised by a single mother in Oregon, then Hawaii, Melissa’s sheer determination and love of music kept her focused on her ultimate goal: to sing on the greatest stages in the world.

Determined to back up her talent with education, but with more drive than money, Melissa entered a pageant on a whim in order to finance her college education. An unforgettable aria won her the title of Miss Hawaii and a trip to the famed Miss America stage, where she secured a talent and swimsuit win, a top 10 finish and a tuition paid in full. This was followed by a first place win in the NSAL Opera Competition and accolades for her award-winning performances in the lead role of Christine in Yeston’s Phantom and the title role in Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Next stop: the Big Apple.

After arriving in New York City, Melissa was taken under the wing of some of the industry’s most respected voice teachers, including Bill Schuman. Her voice and presence captured the attention of opera-lover Donald Trump, and she was invited to the famous Mar-A-Lago resort to perform a private operatic concert for his high profile guests.

Since then, her extraordinary gifts, showcased in concerts on international stages, have won her honors around the globe. In the last two years alone, Melissa was a finalist at the 2009 Hungarian Musical Arts Festival; has been hand-picked by famed tenor Marcello Giordani to accompany him in her solo soprano debut at the Fresno Grande Opera House; sung throughout Europe and the US in roles as legendary and demanding as The Countess in Mozart’s Figaro, Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello, and Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen; and in the realization of one of her greatest dreams, made her solo Carnegie Hall debut in Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Consessore. Melissa starred on the stage of the Vero Beach Opera House as the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, supported by a European cast. Two weeks later, she performed as a solo soprano in John Rutter’a Mass of the Children at Carnegie Hall. Her next concert she will be performing in “Boheme to Broadway” two nights where she brings Opera to Feinstein’s at Loews Regency on June 21st and 22nd.

In addition to a blooming opera career, Zapin has enjoyed an active and diverse career as an in-demand voiceover artist and actress, appearing in and originating roles Off-Broadway and on television in hit shows such as Sex in the City.

WILLY FALK

Willy Falk received a Tony© Award nomination for his portrayal of “Chris” in the original Broadway production of MISS SAIGON. Other Broadway credits include MARILYN: AN AMERICAN FABLE, LES MISERABLES, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICHOLOR DREAMCOAT, and THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. He has appeared across the U.S. in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, A CHORUS LINE, CHESS, PACIFIC OVERTURES, MY FAIR LADY, MAN OF LA MANCHA, and EVITA among others. In the world of operas and concerts, he has sung with The Colorado Symphony, The Hawaii Opera Theatre, The Di Capo Opera, The Shreveport Opera, The Augusta Opera, Opera New Hampshire, The Acadiana Symphony, The National Orchestra of Lyon and the Lyrique-en-Mer Festival in France.