Welcome to the Show!

Bethany Self currently serves as Principal Coach of Opera Studies at Rice University. Previously she was on music staff for ten years at Houston Grand Opera where she was the assistant conductor and principal coach for mainstage productions. During her tenure at HGO, Ms. Self played continuo fortepiano for operas including Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni and Il Barbiere di Siviglia and was involved in the preparation of several world premieres. Ms. Self performs frequently with soprano, Ana Maria Martinez and has also collaborated with Larry Brownlee, Patrick Carfizzi, Kelly Kaduce, Reginald Smith, Jr. and Heidi Stober.

James Chamberlain most recently performed as Siegfried in both Siegfried and Götterdämmerung in a complete cycle of Wagner’s Ring. Recent highlights include Il Divo in HOPERA’s The Producer, Siegmund in Die Walküre, and Ruggero in La Rondine. James made his mark on the role of Canio in Pagliacci in three different productions, including a double-bill with Cavalleria Rusticana when he sang Turiddu. Additional roles include Cavaradossi in Tosca, Don Jose in Carmen, Pollione in Norma, and Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos. James has sung principal roles across the country most notably with Houston Grand Opera, St Petersburg Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Wichita Grand Opera.

Jon Janacek recently sang the Tenor Solo/Tart Bully in HGO’s production Breaking the Waves last Spring. He previously performed with HGO as Registrar in Madame Butterfly (2024, 2015) and Giuseppe in La traviata (2017, 2022). Other past roles include Canio in Pagliacci, Rodolfo in La bohème, and Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos as a young artist with Kingwood Summer Opera; Jenik in concert for The Bartered Bride at Music Academy of the West in 2016; Bacchus with the Berlin Opera Academy in 2017; excerpts of the title role in Lohengrin in 2018, and the role of Erik in The Flying Dutchman in 2019, both for the Wagner Institute of the Miami Music Festival. He made his debut last May in a concert performance of Die Walküre Act 1 as Siegmund for the SAS Performing Arts Program New York. This last Summer he debuted with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston covering the role of Lord Chancellor for Iolanthe. Future engagements include the role of Second Scottish Soldier for HGO’s production of Silent Night in January 2026.

Raquel Bowman, mezzo-soprano, has brought her warm tone and vibrant stage presence to performances with Kentucky Opera, Opera Saratoga, San Francisco Opera Education, BASOTI, and I Sing Beijing. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at The Hartt School, studying with Joanna Levy, before completing her Master’s at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under César Ulloa. A District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and finalist in the Classical Singer Competition, she also competed as Miss Golden Gate at the Miss California pageant, where she was a finalist for the title and recipient of the Leni Arnhym Classical Performance Award. Bowman now studies with Robin Rice and makes her home in The Woodlands, Texas, where she is a proud mother of three.

Michigan-born baritone Austin Hoeltzel earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his Master’s in Voice Performance from the University of Houston. He has performed with Opera in the Heights and Houston Grand Opera, and serves regularly as a church musician, both in weekly positions and as a featured soloist in The Messiah and other oratorios. Favorite roles include Papageno (The Magic Flute), Clayton McAllister (Cold Sassy Tree), Harlekin (Ariadne auf Naxos), and the title role in Gianni Schicchi. Austin is praised for his vibrant, resonant tone, engaging stage presence, and versatility across opera, sacred, and concert repertoire.

Julie Cathryn Hoeltzel has been called a “a standout” with a “superbly nuanced voice” and tremendous “command of character”. Roles include Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Julie Jordan in Carousel, Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, Beth March in Little Women, and Monica in The Medium. She is also a coveted concert soloist, having performed in works such as the Mozart K140 Missa Brevis, Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and she was featured in the U.S. Premiere of Howard Goodall’s Every Purpose Under the Heaven. Her talents have taken her to work with companies such as Houston Grand Opera, The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Main Street Theater, Opera in the Heights, Lonestar Lyric Opera, Opera Vista, and the Houston Symphony Chorus. She is currently at University of Houston pursuing a DMA in Music Education, and serves as the Contemporary Worship Director at First United Methodist Church Missouri City.

Mezzo-soprano Megan Berti is a Houston-based performer originally from California (yup, one of those!) who has sung with opera companies and orchestras from coast to coast and overseas…what an over-achiever. She sings often with Houston Grand Opera and has appeared at Opera in the Heights, Miami Lyric Opera, Painted Sky Opera, MUSIQA…the list goes on. (If you want to check out all the awesome things she’s sung and all the cool places she’s been, she’s got a website for that: www.MeganBerti.com.)

The idea for HOPERA was born from Megan’s love of opera and a passion for craft beer and liquor – they seemed like a match made in Hea–, well…Houston! I mean really, what could be a better pairing with craft opera than craft drink? Okay, craft cheese would be pretty great…but let’s be honest, there’s plenty of cheese in opera! And Houston, with its thriving community of artists and small businesses, is the perfect home for fine (if often cheesy) opera served with delicious small-batch beverages. Megan believes that opera is for everyone, that there’s an opera for everyone out there, and that it should be enjoyed with good friends and a glass (or two) of the good stuff! Cheers to you, and cheers to us, and we look forward to making Hopera a part of Houston!

Rene Salazar is a violinist by trade, serving as principal violist of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet orchestras since 2004. He loves playing chamber music and long walks on the beach, but is also an avid mediocre online gamer who enjoys getting back to his Mexican roots by eating breakfast tacos for dinner. With all these high level credentials, many may forget that this is NOT his first go around in the non-profit world of small opera companies here in Houston.

After serving on the board of Opera Vista for 6 years, Rene went dormant from this life; but like Luke being approached by Rey about entering back into the life, he said, “Eh, do I have to?” and Megan sai “Yes! You HAVE to!” So now his limited expertise is finally being used for something! Good thing he LOVES opera and beer!

Mary Webber is a retired high school theatre teacher who has been costuming for more than fifty years. Over the years, she has become a master of costume and set design, crafting unique and memorable looks for the stage. Today, Mary owns her own costume and design business where she works with a select group of clients. Recent works by Mary include costume designs for the internationally acclaimed production of “La Boheme” at Opera in the Heights, “Lucia di Lammermoor”, “The Light in the Piazza” and “Rigoletto”, also with Opera in the Heights, “Cosi fan Tutte” at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music and “The Pirates of Penzance” for the Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Although she is now retired from her days in the high school classroom, Mary’s legacy of excellence in costume design will live on.