Orvis Guest Artists-in-Residence and Orvis Scholars Concert

The Department of Music is thrilled to welcome Orvis Guest Artists-in-Residence Andrew Garland and José Meléndez. Garland, an internationally acclaimed baritone, and Meléndez, a renowned pianist, vocal coach, and conductor, will be in residence at the UH Mānoa Department of Music for two weeks to work with this year’s Orvis Vocal Scholars. Nicole Ikeda Cossi, Audrey Walters, Sydney Branch, Noah Alcantara, Amy Taba, Dennis Dilwith III, and Kaelyn Howard will work intensely with Garland and Meléndez and appear on stage in recital with these outstanding artists in a concert of arias, art songs, and ensembles. This is the inaugural residency of its kind, and it is funded generously by the Arthur and Mae Zenke Orvis Foundation.

Free Admission

Andrew Garland has performed recitals at Carnegie Hall, the New York Festival of Song, the Ravinia festival, The Cleveland Art Song Festival, Camerata Pacifica, Andre-Turp Society Montreal, Voce at Pace, Cincinnati Song Initiative, Tuesday Morning Music Club, The Phillips Collection, Vocal Arts DC, college campuses around North America, and venues in Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey.
He has premiered works by Jake Heggie, William Bolcom, Stephen Paulus, Steven Mark Kohn, and had works written for him by Lee Hoiby, Tom Cipullo, Thomas Pasatieri, and Gabriela Frank.
He has performed in concert with the Boston POPS, Atlanta Symphony, Boston Baroque, Handel and Haydn, Washington Master Chorale at the Kennedy Center, and National Chorale at Lincoln Center and leading opera roles at Seattle Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Cincinnati Opera, Minnesota Opera, Hawai’i Opera Theatre, and many others.

Garland is a member of the voice faculty at the University of Colorado and is a mentor with tonebase.com and Bel Canto Boot Camp.

An avid cyclist, Andy has raised money for the Pan Mass Challenge for 33 years.

Pianist José Meléndez is widely in demand as a vocal coach, conductor, and collaborative artist. His professional engagements have taken him to Europe, South and Central America, Asia, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and throughout the mainland United States. He is committed to the artistic development of young and emerging singers and has been associated with numerous young artist programs, competitions, and training centers.
Mr. Meléndez holds a full-time position at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia, where he is Assistant to the Music Director, Orchestra Librarian, and part of the music staff. He serves as Assistant Conductor, Collaborative Pianist, and Vocal Coach for various AVA productions and events, and he is also the Music Director of Concert Operetta Philadelphia, an organization dedicated to the performance of operetta in concert. In fall 2024, he joined soprano Othalie Graham as co-chair for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Philadelphia District, and also served as the pianist for the Mid-Atlantic District and Region.

Throughout his prolific career, Mr. Meléndez has held professional positions with Glimmerglass Opera (Principal Coach), Opera Company of Philadelphia, Hawaii Opera Theatre (Chorus Master, Repetiteur, Studio Artist Coach), Ocean City (NJ) Pops Orchestra (Conductor), Connecticut Grand Opera, Bay Area Summer Opera Theater (Conductor), Westminster Opera Theater (Music Director), Indianapolis Opera, and Opera de Puerto Rico. For over a decade, he worked with Opera New Jersey as Assistant Conductor and Principal Coach and as Music Director of the Young Artist Program.

Mr. Meléndez made his Carnegie Hall debut as a solo pianist in a recital with pianist José Ramos Santana in May 2011. He continues his role as Principal Coach and Pianist for the Puerto Rico Metropolitan Council District and Regional Auditions, a position he has held for over 25 years. Over the years, he has worked with the Castleton Music Festival (C.A.T.S. Principal Coach), Curtis Institute of Music (Music Staff), L’Académie Internationale d’Été de Nice (France), Casals Festival (Puerto Rico), Culturarte (Puerto Rico), Francisco Viñas International Voice Competition (Barcelona), and Operalia, Plácido Domingo’s World Opera Competition.