February 11, 2005

Kaul, Jepsky performing in Opera San Jose’s ‘Carmen’

Evergreen residents Stephanie Kaul and Alyssa Jepsky are currently appearing in Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” their second Opera San Jose production in the 2004-05 season. The girls had one week to memorize the entire score for their first rehearsal, which was quite a feat since the entire opera is performed in French.

Budding musical talents (from left) Stephanie Kaul and Alyssa Jepsky.

Stephanie and Alyssa both debuted with Opera San Jose in its production of “Tosca” last November.

Stephanie Kaul
Thirteen-year-old Stephanie Kaul started voice lessons at the age of 6 because her parents thought it would help her overcome her shyness.

“Singing did help! I performed at the California State Competition and the Children’s Musical Theater [San Jose]. I knew then, at the age of 6, I loved to sing!” said Stephanie.

“At age 9, I started my classical training with Natalie Wilson, a voice coach and opera singer. Natalie introduced me to classical piano and opera, and this is when I discovered my voice—a soprano,” explained Stephanie.

“I auditioned for a soprano solo in a major choral work for San Jose State University Annual Spring Concert,” she continued, noting that the solo was in Russian. “This song was very difficult, and I dedicated many hours and efforts to do my best.”

After this performance, Stephanie was asked to join the Cantabile Youth Singers of Los Altos. Cantabile is now the resident children’s choral at Opera San Jose, and in June, she will perform with Cantabile Children’s choral at Carnegie Hall under the artistic direction of Elena Sharkova.

In Opera San Jose’s production of “Tosca,” Stephanie performed a solo as the shepherd boy passing with his flock. Since the shepherd boy’s voice was heard from the distance, she sang from the orchestra pit.

“My experience as a child soloist for Opera San Jose was completely incredible,” said Stephanie. “My most rewarding experience as a performer was when I was requested to take a bow with all the resident principals at Opera San Jose. This opportunity I will never forget.”

Currently in “Carmen,” Stephanie has been cast as one of the street urchin children, who sing about the changing of the guard in a happy piece. In Act III, she plays a gypsy girl who is traveling with her parents to the camp of the gypsies and smugglers set in a wild place in the mountains. Finally, in Act IV, the children sing about the “torero Escamillo.”

“I have had fun performing in ‘Tosca’ and ‘Carmen,’ and hope to continue to participate in Opera San Jose,” said Stephanie, the second of four children. “In the future, I want to share my love of singing. My life has forever been changed, and I will always enjoy the opera.”

Stephanie’s mom Maria Chavez-Kaul said, “I think she’s really fallen in love with classical music, and she’s putting a lot more effort into her piano [training]. Opera is a very precise kind of music, not like jazz, where you can improvise more.

“Frank [Stephanie’s dad] and I were not exposed to classical music growing up, so it’s opened up a whole new world that we’re now appreciating,” added Maria.

Alyssa Jepsky
Alyssa Jepsky, an 11-year-old who attends Silver Oak Elementary School, recently moved to California with her family from Boston, Mass., where she began her singing and stage experience at the age of 6.

The oldest of three children—and the only girl—Alyssa’s musical talents first emerged at age 5. Her swimming instructor discovered that Alyssa often avoided going into the water because of the temperature and would instead walk around the pool entertaining the other students.

Alyssa Jepsky (center stage, stick in hand) and Stephanie Kaul (next to Alyssa) were among 12 children cast as urchins in Opera San Jose’s production of America’s favorite opera, “Carmen.”

Alyssa has been featured or has been the lead in more than 16 main stage musicals in the Boston area. She has played the narrator in “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Molly in the production of “Annie,” Audrey in the production of “Little Shop of Horrors” and Princess Ying Yaowalak in the “King and I.”

In 2003, Alyssa was chosen from among 300 children for the “Friends of Broadway New England Tour” where she performed for six weeks throughout New England in a two-hour Broadway review as a soloist. In 2001, Alyssa recorded two solo songs on the Youthful Voices CD.

Like Stephanie, Alyssa studies under Artistic Director Elena Sharkova of the Cantabile Youth Singers in Los Altos and will be performing with the group at Carnegie Hall in June. In addition, Alyssa trains privately with Kerri Elser for both classical and musical theatre training and looks to her long-time instructor, Sandy Evans in Boston, for guidance before all of her auditions.

“My experience with Opera San Jose has been incredible,” says Alyssa, who enjoys sharing her music with everyone. “I’ve learned so much working with the professionals. There is nothing like performing at the California Theatre with over 1,000 people watching us at every show.”

In the current production of “Carmen,” Alyssa plays a street urchin in the first act set in the public square. She also plays “the general” of all the children during this number, which is amusing, given her stature.

Alyssa was recently cast as one of the leads in Silver Oak’s rendition of “Bye Bye Birdie,” where she will play Kim Macafee for the upcoming show in March.

Opera San Jose’s production of “Carmen” runs through Feb. 20 at the historic California Theatre in downtown San Jose. For tickets, call (408) 437-4450.