Anne Schantz, soprano

Anne Beloncik Schantz holds music degrees from Southern Nazarene University, University of Oklahoma, and University of North Texas. She taught at Ouachita Baptist University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and South Dakota State University before joining the voice faculty at Reinhardt University. Ms. Schantz has sung as a member of Santa Fe Desert Chorale, The Johns Creek Chorale, The Choral Pickup, Canterbury Choral Society, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and Coro Vocati, and has performed as a soloist with Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Georgia Wind Symphony, Cross Timbers Orchestra, and Fort Worth Symphony. She has performed such roles as Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Despina in Così fan tutte and Yum-Yum in The Mikado with Oklahoma Opera Theater, University of North Texas Opera, Cimarron Opera, and Capitol City Opera.

Maria McDaniel, alto

Maria McDaniel is consistently acclaimed for her vibrant personality, versatile repertoire, expressive passion, flexible virtuosity, and rich vocal presence on concert, opera, and recital stages. She celebrates the 16th season of her professional vocal career based in Atlanta. 

As a house favorite principal and concert artist with The Atlanta Opera, Ms. McDaniel’s principal role appearances in recent seasons include Jade Boucher in Dead Man Walking, Myrtis in Cold Sassy Tree, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Flora in La Traviata, Zulma in L’Italiana in Algeri, and Giovanna in Rigoletto. She was also a member of the renowned Atlanta Opera Chorus for four seasons while appearing regularly in private concerts and donor events with the company. Ms. McDaniel was a Studio and Apprentice Artist during two summer seasons of the nationally recognized Chautauqua Opera and Orchestra in New York.

Her recent concert engagements include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Gloria, among many other sacred, holiday, and operatic concert appearances with local symphony orchestras and churches throughout the Southeast such as the Atlanta Symphony, Cobb Symphony, Gainesville Symphony, Georgia Piedmont Youth Symphony, Johns Creek Symphony, Gwinnett Symphony & Ballet, Ludwig Symphony, and Savannah Philharmonic. She has also traveled the country as an acclaimed recitalist performing opera arias, art songs, cabaret songs, and musical theater selections sponsored by the National Federation of Music Clubs and Opera North Carolina. International appearances include opera, theater, and concerts in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Beijing, China.

As a natural showstopper and singing actress, her vocal competition prizes include the Irene Dalis Voice Competition with Opera San Jose, Winner of Women’s Voice Young Artist Division National Federation of Music Clubs, Grand Prize Winner American Traditions Competition, and Southeastern Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. 

Maria founded her private studio, Atlanta Academy of Vocal Arts in 2012, with highly successful students at both semi and professional levels in multiple areas of the music industry including Broadway, opera, choral music, and vocal music education. She is also in demand as a frequent masterclass clinician and guest artist throughout the Atlanta area, recently returning to her alma mater, Georgia State University, as an Affiliate Artist in Voice. 

Michael Vavases, tenor

Michael Vavases is a native of North Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Reinhardt University in Waleska, GA. He performs regularly with churches around Atlanta and can be seen singing with Capitol City Opera a few months out of the year. All performances are dedicated to his wonderful fiancée/Physical Therapist.

Cory Schantz, bass

Atlanta based Bass-baritone, Cory Schantz is an active performer of opera, oratorio, and recital repertoire. Mr. Schantz has performed across the United States and Europe and has been praised for his engaging stage presence and beautifully sung performances. 

Mr. Schantz has performed with Opera Birmingham as Lord Capulet in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette and Amonasro in Spotlight on Opera’s concert version of Aida.  Mr. Schantz has performed the role of Giorgio Germont with Rimrock Opera and Winter Opera of St. Louis and has performed multiple principal roles with The Atlanta Opera, including Le Duc in Roméo et Juliette and Count Ceprano in Verdi’s Rigoletto.  In 2012, he appeared in Tulsa Opera’s stirring production of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, a performance hailed by critics as the finest production by the company in a decade. In addition, he has also performed principal roles with Wichita Grand Opera, Springfield Regional Opera, Union Avenue Opera, and First Coast Opera.

Mr. Schantz made his Georgia Symphony Orchestra premiere in 2022 singing the baritone solos in Orff’s Carmina Burana, a work he has also performed with the Atlanta Wind Symphony.  He made his Charleston Symphony debut in October 2021with Mendelssohn’s rarely performed Die Erste Walpurgisnacht. He also appeared in Kennesaw State University’s Kristallnacht observance, performing Laurence Sherr’s moving Fugitive Footsteps. Mr. Schantz made his Carnegie Hall debut in April 2018 as baritone soloist in Handel’s Messiah. He has performed the same work with the The Michael O’Neal Singers, Johns Creek Chorale, Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Enid Symphony Orchestra, Billings Messiah Festival, and Brazos Chamber Orchestra. Other works in his repertoire include Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart’s Requiem and Faure’s Requiem. 

An active recitalist, Mr. Schantz has presented recitals at Middle Tennessee State University, Austin Peay State University, University of New Hampshire, Elon University, and others. In March 2023, he presented the world premiere of Daron Hagen’s song cycle, Four Shakespeare Fragments.

Mr. Schantz serves on the faculty of Reinhardt University where he is the Coordinator of the Music Department, Director of Opera, and Associate Professor of Voice.