Adjudicator Biographies & Application

Phil Cheasbro

Phil was born and raised in Aztec, NM and moved to Alaska in 2009. Phil has been a member
of many ensembles (classical, contemporary, rock/country, acapella, and barbershop)
throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Alaska and New York. Phil received his Bachelor of Music
degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage and has sung for numerous seasons with the
Anchorage Opera, including roles of Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, the Marchese in La
Traviata, and Morales in Carmen. Roles with the University of Alaska Opera Ensemble include
the role of Father in Hansel and Gretel and Richard Dauntless in Ruddigore. Phil has also
performed with the New York Lyric Opera, and is a member of the Alaska Chamber Singers.
Phil is an avid fan of barbershop harmony has directed multiple ensembles, including the
Manhattan based Big Apple Chorus, and Voices of Gotham (associates director). Phil currently
directs the Anchorage Midnight Sons Chorus and the Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus.

Kyle Gantz

Kyle a lifelong Alaskan, first performed with Anchorage Concert Chorus as part of the bass section
in 1996 while in college. He has also performed with ACC as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, as Pontious
Pilate in Bach’s St. John’s Passion, and in the title role of Mendelsohn’s Elijah. Recent engagements include
concert of Shakespeare scenes and the role of Marco in Gianni Schicchi, both with Anchorage Opera. Kyle
has performed in over sixty operas and oratorios, with notable roles including: Schaunard, Benoit and
Alcindoro in La Boheme, Dottore Grenvil in La Traviata, Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore, Angelotti in Tosca,
Guglielmo in Cosi fan Tutte, Escamillo and Zuniga in Carmen, Tobias Mill in La Cambiale di Matrimonio,
Sam in Trouble in Tahiti, Haly in L’Italiana in Algieri, the Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance, the
Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Don Basilio The Barber of Seville, the Doctor and Servant in Macbeth,
Count Monterone in Rigoletto, among others. He has performed with the Alaska Chamber Singers,
Anchorage Cabarets, Anchorage Festival of Music, Arctic Sirens Cabaret, Opera Fairbanks, Eugene Opera,
and the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. Other solo concert works include Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis
Pacem, Thomas Anderton’s Wreck of the Hesperus, Beethoven’s Scottish Songs, The Reluctant Dragon,
Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Michael Haydn and Mozart Requiems, and Schubert’s Mass in G. He is also
a percussionist, licensed handyman contractor, mountain tamer, and the proud father of two boys.

Maura Wharton

Maura graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University
of Alaska Anchorage. After graduating, she spent time in Paris and Périgueux, France singing
roles in La belle Hélène and La Périchole by Jacques Offenbach. Maura has sung in the
Anchorage Opera Chorus for many past productions and she sang the role of Papagena with
Anchorage Opera in Mozart's The Magic Flute. Maura has competed in the NATS Artist Awards
Competition in Portland and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Chicago.
He has won first place prizes in the Anchorage Concert Chorus Scholarship Competition,
NATS Musical Theatre Competition, NATS Classical Competition, and the NATS Northwest
Region Musical Theatre Competition.

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