Accompanists
José Meléndez
Librarian and Accompanist
José Meléndez has been an active pianist, coach, accompanist, and conductor in opera, recitals, and concert work in the United States, South America, Central America, Asia, and Puerto Rico. As recitalist, José Meléndez has worked as part of a double piano team with Akiko Hosaki in a series in Japan, New Jersey, and Minnesota, under the tutelage of Margo Garret. Mr. Meléndez also continues an eight-year collaboration with soprano Maya Hoover in recitals of all Latin American music throughout the United States and abroad.
José Meléndez is currently staff accompanist/pianist for the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, The Curtis Institute, as well as rehearsal pianist for the Opera Festival of New Jersey. He has worked with Opera de Puerto Rico, Teatro de la Opera in Puerto Rico, and Indianapolis Opera. As conductor, Mr. Meléndez has worked in the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute (BASOTI) conducting Menotti's The Medium and The Telephone, and conducted Luisa Fernanda with Orlando Opera in 2004.
In Puerto Rico, Mr. Meléndez had the honor to be one of the pianists for the Plácido Domingo International Voice Competition (Operalia 99). He has participated in numerous master classes given by distinguished artists such as Alfredo Kraus, Pablo Elvira, Mignon Dunn, Eugene Kohn, Licia Albanese, Sharon Sweet, Robert White, Justino Diaz, Christofer Macatsoris, Regina Resnik, Renata Scotto, and Dalton Baldwin. Mr. Meléndez has collaborated with the Casals Festival as pianist and rehearsal accompanist, and has continued his collaboration with the Puerto Rico Metropolitan Opera Council Regional Auditions.
In 1992, Mr. Meléndez won the first prize in the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico's Piano Competition and made his debut with the Puerto Rico Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Roselin Pabón, in Haydn's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D Major. With this orchestra, he has also performed Copland's Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, Manuel de Falla's Las noches en los jardines de Espa˜a and El sombrero de tres picos, Holst's The Planets and Mahler's Symphony No. 8. In 2007 he joined the administrative staff of The Academy of Vocal Arts as librarian.
Michele Marie Scanlon
Accompanist
Ms. Scanlon received her bachelor of music degree from University of Delaware and did graduate work at Catholic University. As a former resident of Washington, D.C., she worked with Northern Virginia Opera Theatre, Potomac Valley Opera, Source Theater Company, and was on the faculty of Actors Stage Studio. In addition to being a faculty member of The Academy of Vocal Arts, Ms. Scanlon serves on the faculties of The University of the Arts, Bryn Mawr Conservatory, and the Overbrook School for the Blind. She has been a pianist of Savoy Opera Company and The Jefferson University Choir, and has also performed frequently with Pennsylvania Opera Theater Concerts Program and Philadelphia Chamber Chorus. Each year, Ms. Scanlon directs the chorus and several productions for the Delaware Valley Opera.
