Matt Gillespie is a composer and keyboardist originally from Asheville, NC, and moved to Pittsburgh in 2005. He studied at UNC-Greensboro, East Carolina University, and University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his PhD in composition and theory in 2014. He plays piano with Aria412 and Alia Musica-Pittsburgh, and writes primarily vocal and chamber music, in a variety of styles. Thomas the Rhymer is his first opera.

Kip Soteres has a Bachelor’s in English and Creative Writing and an MFA in poetry from Washington University in St. Louis. He has studied, sometimes briefly, with the likes of Tom Sleigh, Derek Walcott, Seamus Heaney, and Kimon Friar. His poetry thesis was approved by Howard Nemerov and Donald Finkel. He is ABD towards a PHD in English Literature and Literary Theory with focus on the long poem in English, literary hermeneutic theory and German Idealist philosophy. He has published in literary journals such as Shenandoah, The Literary Journal, The Southern Poetry Review and many others. He had a chapbook, As Close to Innocence, illustrated by dear friend Moira Redcorn, and has just been incredibly fortunate in his life and adventures in the US and in Athens, Greece, where he lived and wrote textbooks teaching English for about 7 years. Kip has also published a novel, Confusing Words. Thomas the Rhymer is his second opera, done in collaboration with our own Matt Gillespie. The first was titled “Eve Apart,” set to music by Tim Hinck. More are in the works, so please stay tuned for more new operas on themes from Pittsburgh Working Class history, Cthulhu Horror, Folk Tale Heroes like Joe Magarac, a collaboration on “Pinocchio Grows Old,” and a meditation on the line between creativity and madness.

Soprano Kelly Fiona Lynch has sung with the Erie Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh Philharmonic, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Philharmonic Orchestra and the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, where she sang Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder and the title role in Bizet’s Carmen. Oratorio repertoire she has performed includes the soprano solos in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Verdi’s Requiem and Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder. She was also featured as Chrysosthemis in Elektra and Amelia in Simon Boccanegra with Chatham Concert Opera. At Pittsburgh Opera Theater, she has also performed Waltraute in their recent production of The Valkyrie, as well as the role of Miss Darlington in Night Caps. For Undercroft Opera, Kelly has been heard as Larina in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, and in the title roles in Verdi’s Aida, Bellini’s Norma, and Puccini’s Suor Angelica, as well as Giorgetta in Il tabarro. She has also sung the title roles in Lucia di Lammermoor and La Traviata for Erie Opera Theater. Kelly has also performed in Italy and Central America, and has conducted masterclasses in San Jose, Costa Rica. Based in Pittsburgh, Kelly is on the faculty at both Chatham and Seton Hill Universities.

Lisa Leibering is a freelance theatrical designer/builder, an active member of IATSE Local 787 Wardrobe Union, and an Assistant Professor of Costume Design and Technology at Seton Hill University. She holds a BFA in Puppetry/Children’s Theatre from West Virginia University, an MA in Theatre for Youth from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an MFA in Costume Design from the University of Idaho. In addition to designing shows at Seton Hill University, lisa also works locally and nationally focusing on puppetry. Some of her recent credits include designing/building puppets for Pittsburgh CLO’s productions of Seussical and Into the Woods, puppet designer/builder for Ohio Northern University’s production of 9 to 5, serving as production designer/builder for Weber State University’s touring production of Peter Rabbit, and designing/building puppets and costume craft items for Tuacahn Center for Arts.

Madeline Elaine Miller is a lighting designer and theater maker from Denver, CO now based in Pittsburgh. Recent design credits include Transformations (Carnegie Mellon University), My First Play (New Product Company), Tova: A Mass Extinction Play (Irma Freeman Center for Imagination), and Macbeth (Carnegie Mellon University). Madeline is currently in their last year at Carnegie Mellon University studying Lighting Design and Environmental and Sustainability Studies.

Tucker Topel he/him (Scenic Designer) is a scenic designer, director, and teaching artist based in Pittsburgh. Originally from Southern Wisconsin, he attended Point Park University in Pittsburgh and graduated with a BFA in Scenic Design. Tucker has worked with many companies around the city including Little Lake Theatre, Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, Point Park University, The Collective, Mercyhurst University and others. His selected design credits include: Million Dollar Quartet(Pittsburgh Musical Theatre), The Height of the Storm (FUSION Theatre Company), Jesus Christ Superstar(The Collective), Crave(ELSEWHERE Theatre Company), Newsies (Point Park University), The Seagull (Mercyhurst University) and What Kind of Woman (off the WALL). Tucker is also a founding member and the Artistic Director of ELSEWHERE Theatre Company where he made this directing debut with Angels In America Part One: Millennium Approaches. Check out more of his work on instagram & website- @tucker_topel www.tuckertopel.com

Emily Niedbala (stage manager) is very excited to be stage managing another show with Aria412 after getting to work with them on the musical/film I Hear America Singing. Her other past work includes several productions with Pitt Stages as a student and a professional, and she spends her summers as a counselor and stage manager at Stagedoor Manor. Outside of the performing arts, Emily works at Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf.

Zoé Soteres is a Chicago-based multi-hyphenate artist with expertise in acting, playwriting, directing, cabaret, and costuming/WHAMing. A recent graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University's BFA Acting program, she has since led a rebranding of her theatre company, Sub Rosa, held a reading of her play In Pursuit Of (set for another reading in late October and a 2025 stage debut), started writing a one-woman show, and performed in numerous cabarets and singing competitions. Zoé is currently costuming and WHAMing for How to Make Friends and Then Kill Them at Sub Rosa. She is proud of her parents for creating Thomas the Rhymer, grateful to witness and be a part its success, and thanks both them and her partner Spencer for their constant support in her artistic journey. www.zoe-soteres.com

Spencer Swenson is a versatile filmmaker, photographer, and videographer with extensive experience across various film set roles, including director, DP, cam-op, gaffer, grip, AD, and more. His filmography includes Black Candles, Stash, Pounds of Matter, his upcoming short Drainer, and his documentary about the Port Huron Statement (currently in production). All of these films, and more, are produced by 640 Film Collective, a film production company dedicated to independent cinema, which Spencer co-founded as a student at Michigan State University. Since graduating and moving to Chicago, Spencer has directed music videos for artists like Jay.Wes (GOYARD), the St. (Emotional), and Casket Cassette (Crying in the Club). He has also worked on a range of projects as a photographer, cinematographer, and videographer, including fashion shoots, headshots, BTS for film and stage, performances, and commercials. Spencer thanks Kip and Desirée for the opportunity to shoot this unique project and his partner Zoé for her love and support. www.spencerswenson.com