La Boheme - Opera Guild of Rochester

Grady S. Bailey III, Parpignol
Grady Bailey makes his Mercury Opera debut in the role of Parpignol.
He has performed on concert stages and in churches and cathedrals
throughout the United States and Europe, and his extensive repertoire
includes opera, oratorio, and an extensive art song repertoire that has been
lauded for the clear, supple and agile quality of his voice and his musical
interpretation of repertoire. A native of Mississippi, Mr. Bailey is a graduate
of Millsaps College, attended Indiana University School of Music and is
currently a candidate for a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at Nazareth College of Rochester. He
has had the privilege of studying with McCarrell Ayers, Donald Kilmer, Virginia Zeani and Nicolo
Rossi-Lemini. Mr. Bailey has appeared with Mississippi Opera, Millsaps Singers, Jackson Symphony
Orchestra, Delta State University Alumni Chorale, Indiana University Philharmonic, Indiana
University Opera Theatre, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Christ Church Cathedral Choir of
Men & Boys, Vermont Symphony, Piedmont Chamber Singers, First Unitarian Church of Rochester,
RIT Singers RIT Philharmonic, Rochester Chamber Orchestra and the Finger Lakes Chorale. Mr.
Bailey resides in Rochester, is Organist/Music Director for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Honeoye
Falls and Adjunct Instructor in Voice at Rochester Institute of Technology.
John Buffett, Schaunard
Baritone John Buffett, a native of Ohio, is thrilled to be making his Mercury
Opera debut as Schaunard. Currently a candidate for the Masters Degree
at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Robert Swensen,
Mr. Buffett also received his undergraduate education at Eastman.
His favorite roles at Eastman include Count Carl Magnus in A Little
Night Music, Le Roi in Cendrillon, Liberto in L’incoronazione di
Poppea, Carnival in Le Carnival and as a member of the ensembles in
Sweeney Todd, Susannah, and La Rondine. Recently, Mr. Buffett
won Eastman’s concerto competition and will perform Ravel’s Don Quichotte á Dulcinée
with the orchestra next year. He also recently placed 2nd in the 2008 Jessie Kneisel Lieder
competition. Mr. Buffett has sung in Masterclasses with Håkan Hagegård, Mira Zakai, Thomas
Muraco, and Darren Woods. Other professional engagements include performances with Ohio
Light Opera, Apollo’s Fire, and various Cleveland and Rochester area groups. Before entering
Eastman in 2003, John spent a year as an English Speaking Union scholar at the prestigious
Wells Cathedral School, where he won numerous awards and honors for both his singing and
trumpet playing.
Won Cho, Colline
Making his third appearance with Mercury Opera Rochester, Korean-
Canadian Bass baritone Won Cho is known for the unique range and
beauty of his voice as well as his outstanding acting ability. Thanks to
his energetic voice and stage presence, he is in demand in both concert
and operatic repertoire, appearing with many of the opera houses and
orchestras in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Mid East, and his native
Korea. Mr, Co has been described as possessing “the voice and presence
to make himself instantly known on stage.” With Mercury Opera, he has
performed the role of the Commendatore in Don Giovanni and Osmin in Die Entführung
aus dem Serail. Mr. Cho’s 2007-2008 season included his Mexican debut as Sprecher in
Die Zauberflöte with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven’s Mass in C with the
Palm Beach Symphony, and Messiah with The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Tampa Oratorio
Society, Sarasota Chorale Society, and the Florida orchestra. Future engagements include
The Creation in Toronto, Don Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Theatre of
Lakeland and Anchorage Opera, and Missa Solemnis & Lord Nelson Mass at Esterházy
Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria. Mr. Cho received degrees from Manhattan School of Music, Boston