Leadership and Team
Founding Leadership
Stefano Baldasseroni
Founder and Executive Director
A native of Rome, Stefano began his musical journey as a touring and recording drummer and later became a renowned session drummer in New York. Since 2010, he’s built a distinguished reputation as a coach of Italian diction at leading institutions—Juilliard, Curtis, the Metropolitan Opera—and around the world. His passion for rhythm, language, and voice drives our mission to nurture the next generation of opera singers.
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Artistic Team / Faculty
Marcello Cormio
Conductor & Artistic Director
Italian conductor Marcello Cormio brings vivacity and finesse to opera and symphonic repertoire alike. His recent engagements include guest performances with Santa Fe Pro Musica and Sarasota Opera, and he serves as Music Director of the Lexington Chamber Orchestra. Praised for his “spirited playing” and thoughtful balance, Cormio continually champions young artists from the podium.
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Alessandra Volpi
Principal Coach
Trained in Italy and the U.S., Alessandra Volpi is a celebrated pianist and coach, laureate of competitions and a graduate of Utah State University and the Milan Conservatory. She’s an in-demand collaborator—recently featured in film adaptations of Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins, NPR recordings, and commissions by contemporary composers. Alessandra teaches at Belmont University, collaborates frequently with the Nashville Symphony and Ballet, and shapes our singers through masterful musical partnership.
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Savanna Sokolnicki
Stage Director & Voice Teacher
Dr. Savanna Sokolnicki is a singer, director, and educator with a performance footprint across Asia, Europe, and North America. Currently Assistant Professor at Belmont University, she stages operas and performs in productions like Il Pagliacci and The Wide Waters, and holds a DMA from the University of Kentucky and degrees from Eastman School of Music. Savanna’s artistic and academic expertise richly informs our training and stagecraft.
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Board of Directors
Esther Swink
Board Member
Trevecca Nazarene University, House2Home, Friends of Nashville Opera.
Dennis Di Traglia
Chair
Retired Vice President, Facilities Management & Support Services, BMI.
Jeffrey W. Swink
Board Member
Trevecca Nazarene University, House2Home.
Scott Massey
Board Member
Global Action Platform, Nashville Ballet Society, Leonard Bernstein Center.
Stefano Baldasseroni
Board Member
The Juilliard School, The Curtis Institute of Music, and The Metropolitan Opera.
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