Meet the Soloists
Molly Netter, Soprano I
Entrenched in a multitude of styles from an early age, Canadian-American soprano Molly Netter enlivens complex and beautiful music, both old and new. Noted for her “natural warmth” (LA Times) and “clear, beautiful tone” (NY Times), Molly’s voice can be heard on five GRAMMY-nominated albums since 2017.
Consistently engaged in early and new music, Molly was a featured curator/performer on Trinity Wall Street’s 2019 “Time’s Arrow Festival,” leading an eclectic evening of Barbara Strozzi paired with newly commissioned works. In 2020 she began commissioning an entirely new repertoire for self-accompanied singer and clavicytherium, working with composers to emphasize the florid voice, early music vocal techniques and improvisation.
Sheila Dietrich, Soprano II
Canadian soprano Sheila Dietrich is a versatile and in-demand performer whose style and vocal technique shine in both concert and operatic roles. Sheila has appeared as a concert soloist with ensembles across Canada including Les Violons du Roy, the Calgary Philharmonic, The Menno Singers, Nota Bene Baroque Players, The Elora Singers, The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, The Guelph Chamber Choir, and The Bach Elgar Choir. In the United States, she has appeared with The Thirteen, Three Notch’d Road, and The Staunton Summer Music Festival. She is thrilled to be returning to the stage with The Oratorio Society of Virginia.
Teresa Buchholz, Alto
Versatile mezzo-soprano Teresa Buchholz enjoys success in the realms of opera, art song and oratorio, ranging from the baroque to romantic operas to contemporary works. This Fall she completed a successful run of Handel’s opera “Rodelinda” in the role of Eduige at Hudson Hall (Hudson NY), her second collaboration with director R.B. Schlather, following her performances as Ann in the critically acclaimed production of “The Mother of Us All” at Hudson Hall in 2017. Verdi’s Requiem is quickly becoming a staple of her repertoire, and she has recently performed the work with True Concord Chorus and Orchestra (Tucson, AZ), the Helena Symphony (Helena, MT), the New Jersey Choral Society, and the Lake Como Music Festival (Italy).
David Newman, Bass
Baritone David Newman enjoys an active and varied concert career throughout North America. Hailed as “electrifying” by the Washington Post and noted by The Philadelphia Inquirer for his “eloquent, emotional singing,” he is best known as a Baroque specialist. He has performed Messiah with Tafelmusik, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, and with Masterwork Chorus in Carnegie Hall; St. John Passion with the American Bach Soloists, Carmel Bach Festival, and the Bach Chamber Orchestra of Honolulu; and St. Matthew Passion with the Bach Society of St. Louis, San Francisco Bach Choir, and on tour with the combined forces of Santa Fe Pro Musica and the Smithsonian Chamber Players.
Gene Stenger, Tenor
Hailed as an “impressive tenor” (The New York Times) who sings with “sweet vibrancy” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer) and creates “the most lasting moments” (The Virginia Gazette) of the performance, Gene Stenger is rapidly making his mark as specialist in the oratorio repertoire. Equally at home in chamber music, he has performed with numerous professional ensembles, including the GRAMMY® award-winning Apollo’s Fire: the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, the Handel and Haydn Society, the GRAMMY® nominated True Concord Voices and Orchestra, the GRAMMY® nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street, the Clarion Music Society, and the Yale Choral Artists.