Megan Thompson (Executive Director/Artistic Director) holds a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and her Bachelor of Music degree from Stetson University, with an emphasis in Vocal Performance and Psychology. In addition to her musical background, Ms. Thompson works as one of the letter writers for hire special projects at the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning and holds an Associate of Arts degree in Dramatic/Technical Theatre, her forte being in lighting and set design. After holding many leadership positions throughout college and her early professional career, Ms. Thompson was hired to start a girls’ choir for Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood as well as a drama/musical theatre program for two of the Cleveland Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs. With her background in education, management and event coordination, Ms. Thompson was recently appointed Executive Director/Artistic Director of the Great Lakes Light Opera with the intent of developing a company focused on education and outreach in Northeast Ohio.
Charles Lemon (Technical Director)
Alejandra Martinez (Director of Community Outreach and Opera Avengers Host) holds a Professional Studies Certificate from the Cleveland Institute of Music, a Master of Music from the University of Miami, and a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University. While at Stanford she served as President and Fundraising Officer on the board of the Stanford Savoyards, a student-run light opera company dedicated to the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. Under the guidance of Michael Burden, Dean of New College, Oxford University, she authored a collection of musicological essays on Handel’s operas. Later, she would focus on performance and interpretation of German Lieder at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Ms. Martinez was recently honored with the Elly Ameling Award for Excellence in Recital Performance, for a program of music from Spain and Latin America.
Mark Swinerton (Director of Youth Education and In-School Learning) holds a degree in Musical Theatre from Bowling Green State University. He has traveled all over the country performing, producing, and writing arts-integrated programs for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade students. He is also a teaching artist for the Cleveland Play House and the Weathervane Playhouse in Akron.
Kelsey Tomlinson (Director of Marketing) holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication: Public Relations and Media from the University of Mount Union. Also passionate about the arts, she triple-minored in Music, Art and Theatre. She believes art is one of the most important forms of community, collaboration and the human experience, so she loves to advocate (market) for it. In addition to marketing for Great Lakes Light Opera, she also works full-time in the Marketing Department of Playhouse Square.
Rachael Cammarn (Education Associate) received her Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance from Concordia College. Cammarn was a semi-finalist in the 2013 Minnesota NATS auditions and the second place winner of the 2012 North Dakota NATS auditions. Additionally, she worked as a chorus member with the Fargo-Moorhead Opera Company for two years. In the summer of 2015, Cammarn was awarded a scholarship to the International Music Festival of the Adriatic in Duino, Italy. Cammarn performed in both Italy and Slovenia. In addition to performing her own repertoire, Cammarn collaborated with composers Jacinth Greywoode and Jeff Schaller. She premiered two art-songs at the Civico Museo Teatrale Fandazione Carlo Schmidl in Trieste, Italy. Cammarn is now a member of NATS and currently studies with Jim Mismas of Baldwin Wallace. She also sings with the Singers Companye under the direction of Dr. Samuel Gordon.
Meg Martinez (Opera Associate) is a singer, actor, and theatrical jack of all trades and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Brown University. While at Brown, she was a member of BUGS (Brown University Gilbert and Sullivan), Musical Forum, and Production Workshop, appearing in shows such as Princess Ida, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Into the Woods, andCamelot. As a choral singer, Meg studied with Grammy-winning conductor Dr. Robert Page and sang at venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Strathmore in Washington, D.C., and Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. She was also hand-picked by Dr. Page to be a member of the All-Star College Chorus with the PSO Pops in 2013, performing in a special tribute concert for Marvin Hamlisch as well as the PSO’s Valentine’s Day concert series. Besides being a performer, she has extensive experience and training in dramaturgy, costuming, and musicology, and also works as a fashion stylist for Stitch Fix.
Michael Sajewski (Opera Avengers Writer) is a freelance writer holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Film Production from Full Sail University. A lifelong storyteller, Michael has captured his ideas through short films and documentaries, stop motion animations, and feature length screenplays. In addition to writing the Opera Avengers Podcast, Michael also lends his talents to the Great Lakes Light Opera by writing original librettos, including Macabaret.