Joyce DiDonato

Joyce DiDonato is an American lyric-coloratura mezzo-soprano. She is notable for her interpretations of operas and concert works in the 19th-century romantic era in addition to works by Handel and Mozart. She has performed with many of the world's leading opera companies and orchestras, and won multiple awards including the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo. She is a Francisco Opera Adler Fellow and a colleague and friend to Flicka.

David Gockley

David Gockley is an American opera company administrator. He served as general director of Houston Grand Opera from 1972 to 2005 and San Francisco Opera from 2006 to 2016. He is a colleague and friend to Flicka and the late Miss Daisy Newman.

Jake Heggie

San Francisco Native Jake Heggie is a world famous American composer of opera, vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. He is best known for his operas and art songs as well as for his collaborations with internationally renowned performers and writers. Flicka has done several world premieres of his works. Additionally, he is an active YMCO Donor who has done free master classes for YMCO singers.

Martin Katz

Martin Katz is an American pianist, educator and conductor, primarily known for his work as a collaborative pianist. His 45-year career has taken him to 5 continents, collaborating with the world’s most celebrated singers in recital and recording. He has led opera productions for San Francisco’s Merola program, the BBC, Tokyo’s NHK, as well as innumerable performances in Ann Arbor. His editions of baroque and bel canto operas have been performed in Houston, Ottawa, and at the Metropolitan Opera. At U-M for more than 3 decades, he has chaired the program in collaborative piano and coached vocal repertoire for singers and pianists alike. His students are working all over the world. Now an author too, Mr. Katz’s first opus, The Complete Collaborator, has been published by Oxford University Press.

David Stull

David Stull has served as President of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) since 2013. Before leading SFCM, Mr. Stull served for nine years as Dean and Professor of Brass Studies with continuous tenure at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Prior to Oberlin, Mr. Stull worked for the Aspen Music Festival, held dean and teaching positions at Lawrence University, and served as the associate director of admissions for the Juilliard School.

Daniel Washington

Daniel A. Washington is a bass-baritone and tenured Professor of Music (Voice) at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, & Dance, and an Honorary Professor (Humanities) at the University of Cape Town, South African College of Music. An award winning artist, teacher, mentor, scholar, and administrator, Washington is an expert on African American classical music and spirituals, Porgy and Bess, and diversity in the arts. An active performer, Washington's career has taken him to the world's major opera houses and concert stages. Washington currently serves as a board member for the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc (NANM) and as president of the Detroit Musicians Association, a branch of NANM.