Maria Cristina Keightley, soprano, was born in England and graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia. After winning a number of awards at local competitions Ms. Keightley continued her career in the United States where she was a finalist in the Palm Beach Opera and New York Vocal Artists Competitions. Operatic roles include Mimi (La Boheme), Fiordiligi (Cosi Fan Tutte), Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare), Despina (Cosi Fan Tutte), Ilia (Idomeneo), Adina (L'Elisir D'Amore), Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), and Lady Maude (Eileen) among others. Ms. Keightley was a two-time recipient of scholarships enabling her to perform with the acclaimed Aspen Opera Theatre Center, Colorado where she appeared in Suor Angelica and Dialogues of the Carmelites under the respective batons of Julius Rudel and James Conlon, and performed the world premiere of "Still Song" by Joshua Kleinfeld. A fine interpreter of the classical song literature, Ms. Keightley is also in great demand for concert appearances and has concertized throughout the world, appearing in recital with Eril Bassed in Melbourne (Australia), with Janet De Chambrier in Houston, with Inessa Beylin, and with John Moyer as a guest artist at the Frick Vocal Series in Pittsburgh, with various collaborative artists in Aspen, in concert with the National Episcopalian Bishops Conference in Denver, and with Enza Ferrari and colleagues in Oderzo (Italy). In addition to making her successful New York debuts at both Carnegie (Weill) and CAMI halls, she recently performed in Carlos Castañeda, Jr.'s world premiere "I Should Be Speechless" and as the soprano soloist in Saul with One World Symphony.  Most recently, Ms. Keightley sang the role of Maddalena in Andrea Chenier.

Melissa Manning, Founder and Director of The Manning School of Music, is a Juilliard trained concert pianist. She attended the Manhattan School of Music and Montclair University as a piano performance major.  She won the piano concerto competition at Montclair and performed the Rhapsody In Blue with the Montclair Concert Jazz Band. At the age of 17, she was accepted to a college level summer program in Switzerland in conjunction with Syracuse University and Ecole de Hindemith.  She performed in weekly soirees at the Chalet de la Gloriette and in concert with the Suisse Romande Orchestre. Melissa was the recipient of numerous scholarships including those from The Miss America Scholarship Foundation.  She was chosen first runner up to Vanessa Williams, Miss America, and was crowned Miss New York State.  She toured with the USO Metropolitan for 3 weeks and performed in every VA Hospital in NY State.  She has music directed, “Kiss Me Kate”, “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying”, “My Favorite Year”, and will be directing 3 children’s musicals this summer.    She has worked as a church organist and choir director since 1986 and is currently Music Director at the Ho-ho-kus Community Church   in NJ.  Melissa has produced the Opera Night Concerts at L’Artista Italian Restaurant and other venues in Rockland County since April 2006, accompanying a variety of operatic singers including sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, tenors, and baritones.