RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY CAST
Listed in alphabetical order
Patrick Bessenbacher
With “purity of tone and ardent, youthful stage presence” (Opera News), tenor Patrick Bessenbacher is excited to join the Opera Company of Middlebury again this fall. Most recently, Patrick performed the role of Roméo in Gounod’s classic Roméo et Juliette, with Park City Opera, as well as Camille de Rossillon in The Merry Widow with Sarasota Opera. Patrick has had the privilege of performing with other wonderful companies, including Florentine Opera, Opera San Jose, Pacific Opera Project, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Birmingham, Lincoln Center Theatre, West Bay Opera, and of course, the Opera Company of Middlebury. He received his Bachelor’s in Music at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his Master’s in Music from The Juilliard School. Patrick enjoys spending his free time with family and friends, in the mountains skiing, on the beach having a drink, or just on the couch, enjoying everyone’s company. patrickbessenbacher.com
Joshua Jeremiah
Hailed as “rich-voiced” (The New York Times) and praised for his “warmly appealing, burnished baritone” (Opera Today), Joshua Jeremiah continues to bring his celebrated performances to theaters throughout the United States. Last season, Mr. Jeremiah joined Heartbeat Opera as the Doctor in Vanessa, returned to Toledo Opera as Escamillo in Carmen, débuted with Piedmont Opera as Tonio in Pagliacci, returned to Hawaii Opera Theater for the world premiere of The Sheltering Tree, and most recently débuted with Opera North as Horace Tabor in Ballad of Baby Doe. In an exciting 2026-27 season, Mr. Jeremiah returns to Hawaii Opera Theater as Jack Torrance in The Shining, makes his house and role début with Opera Omaha as Thalasso in The Pigeon Keeper, returns to Opera Company of Middlebury for their production of Rappahannock County, and returns to South Dakota Symphony Orchestra as a soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. joshuajeremiahbaritone.com
Claire McCahan
Mezzo-soprano Claire McCahan is highly regarded for her work in Baroque, recital, opera, and contemporary repertoire. Recently: Yvonne/Betty in Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, Mama Cordero in The House on Mango Street with the Glimmerglass Festival, Arias Aloft with Boston Lyric Opera and Opera on Tap Boston, the American premiere of George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence at the Tanglewood Festival, Sibella in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder with Opera Saratoga, covering Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro with the Handel & Haydn Society, and Orfeo in an adaptation of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice with Renegade Opera. Her 2026 engagements include Dido in Dido & Aeneas with Excelsior Vocal Ensemble and Rappahannock County with Opera Company of Middlebury. A recent winner of the 2025 National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist Competition and the 2025/26 Federation of Art Song Fellowship she appears in recital at the Kaufmann Center and the Zimmerli Museum. clairemccahan.com
Adam Richardson
Baritone Adam Richardson is a versatile performer acclaimed for his work across opera, concert, and theatre stages. Praised by Opera News for his “gorgeous textured baritone,” he has appeared with leading companies including the Metropolitan Opera, Virginia Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Opera Omaha. Highlights include X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, We Shall Not Be Moved (a role he originated), and the world premiere of Loving v. Virginia. He has also performed internationally with Dutch National Opera, Staatsoper Hamburg, and at major venues across Europe. In the 2025-26 season, Richardson joined the Broadway National Tour of Les Misérables. Additional credits include Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater and his film debut in Blue’s Clues Big City Adventure. A recipient of numerous awards, including recognition from the Metropolitan Opera National Council, he holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and The Juilliard School. adamrichardsonbaritone.com
Renée Richardson
Haitian-American soprano Renée Richardson hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is currently residing in West Palm Beach, Florida. Richardson is a graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Butler Studio, studying with Stephen King. Her most recent roles include Cassandra in Stella Sung’s The Secret River with Opera Orlando, La Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro with The Muses Project and Pensacola Opera, and Mimì in La Bohème with Madison Opera. Previous roles include Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with Wolf Trap, Flower Maiden in Wagner’s Parsifal, Annina in Verdi’s La Traviata and covering Mary Jane in Jake Heggie’s Intelligence, all with Houston Grand Opera. This will be Richardson’s debut with Opera Company of Middlebury. renee-richardson.com
Orchestra list coming soon!