Our Faculty and Staff
Michael Kiesling
Executive/Artistic Director & Instructor
Voice, Beginner Piano, Music History, Opera Studies
Michael is a Master of Music degree candidate in Vocal Performance and Opera Studies at the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) in Boston Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Vocal Performance.
Michael has been working in the performing arts industry, on stage and off, for over 17 years. Most recently, he performed in New England Conservatory’s Handel Night and Opera Scenes where he studied the roles of Don Jose in Bizet’s Carmen and Ruggero in Puccini’s La Rondine. Michael also performed in an opera summer program where he worked on the role of Idomeneo in Mozart’s Idomeneo and was a chorus member for Tancredi (Rossini) and Medea in Corinto (Mayr). While at Westminster Choir College, he performed as Azor in Gretry’s Zemire et Azor (Beauty and the Beast). Prior to that, Michael performed as La Rainette in Ravel’s L’enfant et les Sortileges, and Yakuside in Pucccini’s Madama Butterfly. Michael has performed as a soloist in numerous concerts, including the tenor role in Handel’s Messiah on several occasions. He also has performed in many musical theater roles, including Turkey in Stiles & Drewe’s Honk!, Mullins in the U.S. Premiere of Stiles and Drewe’s Peter Pan, The Butcher in the U.S. Premiere of Stimson’s The Frog Prince, Mr. Fezziwig in Menken’s A Christmas Carol and understudy for Tateh in Ragtime.
Michael has studied under the teachings of such Professors as Marvin Keenze, Thomas Faracco, Rachelle Jonck, Susan Shiplett Ashbaker, and Michael Meraw.
He has taught privately, at various music conservators including NEC, and via online platforms.
For more information about Michael, please visit: michaelkiesling.com.
Matt Kiesling
Associate Artistic Director & Instructor
Acting, Monologues & Audition Prep, Scene Study, Scene into Song, Intro to Shakespeare
Matt Kiesling is an actor, singer, director, writer, and improviser. He is a BFA graduate of NYU Tisch Drama, New Studio on Broadway, where he studied acting, voice, and dance under theatre professionals such as Michael McElroy, Kent Gash, Orlando Pabotoy, Eden Espinosa, and Byron Easley. He has also studied improvisation technique at the Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC.
Recent performances include John Adams in 1776 (New Studio), Macbeth in said Scottish play (The Brick), Pippin in Pippin (Steel River Playhouse), and Ken in Fifth of July (T. Schreiber Studios). Matt also created, collaborated, and performed in the 20-episode adult occult improv comedy podcast Matt and Tariq's Terrible Book Club. Matt has directed new musical works such as Christina's World and Annabelle Lee, and also directed, produced, and wrote the one-act thrillers Highway 76 and The Man In Black Play. Other writing includes published theatre reviews for the online magazine, Theasy (Theatre Is Easy), where he is a semi-frequent contributor. Recent film work includes the roles of Peterson in the web series, Acting Out, and Goon 2 in I Killed Batman. Matt is a member of the improv team, Skyrats, and helped develop a Twilight Zone-themed improv form with them called Another Dimension which had a consistent run at the People's Improv Theatre until coronavirus. He also has contributed as a performer and sketch writer for the variety show, Broadway's Night Off, also at the People's Improv Theatre.
When not creating art with his friends, he enjoys listening to punk rock and playing a good session of Dungeons and Dragon.
Lizzy Stant
Instructor
Voice, Guitar, Music Theory, Music History (opera, 19th century music, pop music development, LGBTQ+ music history)
Lizzy is a soprano from Dover, Delaware. She received her bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College in Neuroscience and Music and is currently perusing her Master of Music degree at New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy. Recently at NEC, Lizzy was seen on stage playing Dalinda from Handel’s Ariodante and Fury #2 from Cavalli’s La Calisto. In the greater Boston area, Lizzy recently performed as the Soprano 2 Soloist in Schumann’s Requiem fur Mignon and as Madame Thenardier in a performance of “One Day More” from Les Miserable. In 2019, Lizzy premiered roles in two new shows at Swarthmore College: as Anna in Collin’s The Audition, and as The Shadow in Tobias’ The Yellow Wallpaper. Lizzy is looking forward to being able to perform again soon for the Gena Brandscombe project in Boston and to play the role of Dorine in Mechem’s Tartuffe for Graduate Opera Scenes at NEC. Lizzy teaches voice in the Boston area, has taught guitar in the Dover, DE area, and has tutored college-level music theory. In her free time, she loves to play field hockey and garden.
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Theodora Ivanova Nestorova
Instructor
Voice, Language & Diction (Italian, French, German, Slavic), Music History, Performing Arts Career Consulting
Theodora’s operatic credits include Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Noémie in Cendrillon, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel as well as Oberto in Alcina, and Amore in L’incoronazione di Poppea. An avid early and contemporary musician, she has recorded world premiere compositions at the Bulgarian National Radio in Sofia and was a featured soloist in Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Haydn’s The Creation. Theodora has published voice science research in reputable vocology journals as well as presented her voice science research at the National Opera Association and the Pan American Vocology Association. She has a passion for teaching voice in multiple singing styles, musical genres, voice types, and age groups. Theodora has taught privately, at community music schools, and online, including Virtu.Academy, New England Conservatory, Oberlin College, and Avon School & Strongsville Academy of Music.
The 2018-2019 first-place winner of the American Prize in Vocal Performance (Art Song College/University Division), Theodora is currently pursuing her Masters of Music in Vocal Pedagogy at the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC). Awarded the Ruth Cogan Memorial Scholarship and the Oberlin Alumni Fellowship Grant, she is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance & Musicology.
Theodora has been playing piano for 18 years, was a competitive figure skater, and is a linguaphile with a passion for traveling. An international musician, she also offers language and pronunciation/diction lessons in German, French, Italian, and Slavic languages.
Learn more at theodoranestorova.com.
Matthew O’Donnell
Instructor
Melodic Ear Training and Solfege, Audition Prep for Classical Singers
Matthew O’Donnell is an American Baritone based in Boston, MA. Matt discovered his passion for opera performance as a student at the prestigious Juilliard pre-college program. He received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) and is currently a 2020 Graduate Diploma candidate there. His most recently appeared at NEC in the role of Baritone in Postcard from Morocco, and has been cast in the role of Giove in NEC’s production of La Calisto in April 2020.
Matthew is joining the Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist for the 2020 summer, covering the role of Fiorello in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He has previously completed Artist residencies at Opera North and Institut Canadien d’Art Vocal (ICAV), and performed the role of Schaunard in Opera Theater of Cape Cod’s production of La Bohème . Matt also has performed as a soloist with the Boston Microtonal Society, Alea III, and Boston area choirs. In addition, Matt has been a teaching assistant and tutor in Solfeggio at NEC.
Learn more about Matt at: matthewodonnellbaritone.com