Emily's Goodbye Aria, performed by soprano Gwen Paker and pianist Érico Bezerra

Gwen Paker is an award-winning soprano equally at home on the operatic stage and in the concert hall as an active performer in the Rochester area and beyond. She is an alumna of the Eastman School of Music, where Gwen won first prize in the 2022 Friends of Eastman Opera Voice Competition and the 2019 Eastman Voice Department Concerto Competition.

Gwen’s passion for music extends beyond performance, and she flourishes as a voice teacher and arts administrator. In addition to her role as a voice faculty member at The Hochstein School, Gwen works on the administrative team as the Assistant Director of Development. Previously, Gwen was the Director of Communications and Community Engagement at Finger Lakes Opera. In all of her work as a performer, teacher, and arts administrator, Gwen supports diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and is a strong advocate for increased equity and justice in opera.

Brazilian pianist Érico Freire Bezerra is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music at the Eastman School of Music, under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Harley. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Rio Grande do Sul Federal University (UFRGS) in Brazil and his Master’s degree from Illinois State University. Érico has been a prizewinner in numerous piano competitions, including the Orquestra Sinfônica de Goiânia Young Soloist Competition, where he performed Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major. In 2023, he received 2nd place in the 41st Annual Jesse Kneisel Lieder Competition and The Barbara M. H. Koeng Award for collaborative pianists at Eastman.

Each year we invite our donors to an Opera Guild recital as a thank-you for making our work possible. We have chosen to rename this event in honor of a loyal donor, Warren C. Crandell, whose recent generous bequest in his will has enabled us to continue our grants to opera companies in the region, including Finger Lakes Opera, the Glimmerglass Festival, and opera at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.