Athena’s Baroque Opera

09/29/2026

Introducing our board of directors

09/23/2026

05/08/2026

Our presentation of John Blow's VENUS & ADONIS is coming TOMORROW (May 9th)!

Meet the Artists:

Loren Masánqué is a Portland-based countertenor known for a rare combination of dramatic weight, vocal agility, and striking theatrical presence. His work spans Baroque and early modern repertoire, with a repertoire that reflects an affinity for dramatically complex and stylistically diverse roles.

Praised by Oregon Arts Watch for “singing with ease and conviction” and by Northwest Reverb for his “agility… and near-perfect diction,” Masánqué has established himself as a compelling interpreter of both virtuosic and dramatically demanding repertoire. His roles include "Ottavia" in L’Incoronazione di Poppea, "Ruggiero" in Alcina, "Orpheus" in Orfeo ed Euridice, and "Composer" in Ariadne auf Naxos, alongside performances in contemporary works such as "Peter" in Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up.

In 2025, Masánqué founded Athena’s Baroque Opera & Ensemble, where he serves as Artistic Director. Through Athena, he has led and performed in productions including Alcina, Actéon, and Schubert’s The Lady of the Lake, while also appearing as a harpsichordist in chamber performances.

Additional engagements include performances with Opera Notre Dame and Divergent Opera Theatre, as well as international training and appearances in Italy and Germany, including study with June Anderson. He has also performed in rare repertoire such as Lully’s Le Carnaval, contributing to its modern revival.

Masánqué holds a M.M. of Sacred Music in Voice from the University of Notre Dame and a B.M. in Performance from Portland State University. In addition to his work as a singer, he is an accomplished harpsichordist, organist, and collaborative musician.

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05/07/2026

Our presentation of John Blow's VENUS & ADONIS is coming May 9th!

Meet the Artists:

Comfortable in repertoire ranging from medieval to modern, Thomas Albanese (Adonis) brings stylish authenticity and storytelling to works spanning a millennium of human history.

In 2017, he was selected to participate in the Grammy award-winning Boston Early Music Festival's Young Artist Training Program, performing in their production of André Campra’s Le Carnaval de Venise as a chorister and as cover for the prominent role of "Orfeo". Thomas worked with BEMF again the following year, singing the role of "Pastore" in their production of Francesca Caccini’s Alcina with “lighthearted assurance” (Boston Musical Intelligencer). Passionate about early opera, his roles include the title role in Charpentier’s Acteon, "Oronte" in Handel’s Alcina, "Aeneas" in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and "Pane" in Cavalli’s La Calisto.

Equally active in recital, concert, and chamber music, Thomas has performed with several notable groups, including Emmanuel Music and the Boston Camerata. He was also the tenor soloist in the world premiere of the ballet The Sun King with Chicago-based groups Baroque Band and Elements Contemporary Ballet. He is also a founding member of Portland-based ensemble Athena’s Baroque Opera.

Thomas was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and, after years of travel in the Northern U.S., has once again settled in his hometown. He holds a Master’s degree in Historical Performance from Longy School of Music, an Artist Diploma in Early Music from Cornish College of the Arts, and a Bachelor’s degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

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05/06/2026

Our presentation of John Blow's VENUS & ADONIS is coming May 9th!

Meet the Artists:

Praised for her “staggeringly brilliant...ethereal soprano” (The Source) Jocelyn Claire Thomas has engaged audiences with her haunting sound, musical intelligence, and unusual versatility. She has sung more than 40 operatic roles with Portland Opera, Tacoma Opera, Eugene Opera, Inland Northwest Opera, Opera Theater Oregon, OperaBend, Brava Opera Theater, Cascadia Chamber Opera, Opera in the Park Portland, and others.

Recent solo highlights include "Eliza" in Dark Sisters with Eugene Opera, "Frasquita" in Carmen with Opera in the Park Portland, and Soprano Soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 & Choral Fantasy with the Willamette Master Chorus. Originally from Columbia, MO, Jocelyn holds a B.M. from the Oberlin Conservatory, a M.M. and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory. Currently based in Portland, OR, Jocelyn maintains a private studio in voice, piano, and flute. She also serves as Artistic Director for Ping & Woof Opera, which is dedicated to bringing intimate and accessible opera experiences to the PNW, and making opera available to everyone through donation based admission.

Some upcoming engagements include "Monica" in The Medium with OperaBend, "Oscar" in Un Ballo in Maschera with Villa Catalana, "Rapunzel" in Into the Woods with Mt. Hood Repertory Theater, and Classical Broadway with the Northwest Piano Trio. www.jocelynclairethomas.com

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05/05/2026

Our presentation of John Blow's VENUS & ADONIS is coming May 9th!

Meet the Artists:

Mary Rowell (Violin) is a freelancer and teacher in the Portland area. She has been blessed that her violin (and viola) has been a ticket to many interesting gigs and fun experiences including festivals in Italy, Austria, Germany, the Aleutian Islands, Ashland, Astoria, and Eugene. In addition to teaching, Mary has played with Portland Baroque Orchestra, Eugene Symphony, and musicals at Portland Center Stage and other regional theaters. Mary’s violin and viola can be heard in the sound library MegaMagic by PlugInGuru.

She has served as the Concertmaster of the Bach Cantata Choir for over 15 years. Additionally, Mary plays house concerts and recitals with her duet partner, Tatiana Kolchanova (as MT Duo) and cellist Betsy Goy in a string trio. Her chamber groups have enjoyed performing new works by local composers at each recital. She lives in Southeast Portland with her piano-tuner husband, cats, and chickens.

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05/04/2026

Our presentation of John Blow's VENUS & ADONIS is coming May 9th!

Meet the Artists:

Leslie Hirsch (Violin) was a member of the Portland Baroque Orchestra from 1988-1999, as a performer of both Violin and Viola. Leslie studied with Jaap Schroeder and Monica Huggett while a musician in the PBO. Her initial training in Baroque music performance was from Linda Burman-Hall, harpsichordist and director of the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival. Leslie was a violinist in this Santa Cruz Baroque ensemble from 1979-1988 before moving to Portland.

Leslie played classical violin from 1973-1974 in the San Diego Symphony, and from 1968-1973 with the Atlanta Symphony, under the direction of Robert Shaw. Leslie holds a Masters of Music degree from Ball State University and a B.F.A. from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. In July, 2010 Leslie retired from 10 years of teaching strings to students of the Reynolds School District in Portland.

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05/03/2026

Our presentation of John Blow's VENUS & ADONIS is coming May 9th!

Meet the Artists:

Julie Asparro (Viola) is from Portland, OR. Julie performs with Portland Opera, Eugene Symphony, Newport Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, 45th Parallel, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Cascadia Chamber Opera, and Eugene Ballet, in addition to several other orchestras. Chamber groups include Stumptown Quartet, Candlelight Concerts by Fever, Vancouver String Quartet, and Asparro Duo in Copenhagen.

She enjoys taking part in festivals like Chamber Music Northwest and Oregon Coast Music Festival. She has performed on Baroque viola with period performance ensembles Milano Classica, in Milan, and Live Oak Baroque Orchestra, in California. Julie holds degrees in Music and in English from St. Olaf College, and a Master's in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College. Julie is a two-time OSAA state solo champion and is a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. When not performing viola, she is a novelist and teaches high school English.

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05/02/2026

Our presentation of John Blow's VENUS & ADONIS is coming May 9th!

Meet the Artists:

Elizabeth "Betsy" Goy (Cello), has practiced both Psychology and Cello in the Portland area for decades. She studied Cello with Roman Dukson (Portland/Oregon Symphony), Lowell Creitz (Pro Arte String Quartet), and Dimitri Markevitch (L’Institut des Hautes Etudes Musicales, Geneva, Switzerland). She has performed with symphony orchestras and chamber groups across the country and recorded with Cult of Orpheus, Donna Lynn, Patti Larkin, the New England Women’s Symphony, the original Bagels Forever radio jingle, and appeared on MTV’s Head Banger’s Ball as a dead ghost cellist!

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