NORTHWEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Susan Nelson

Equally at home on the operatic stage or in concert repertoire, soprano Susan Nelson has been praised by critics for her “full, powerful voice – agile and pliant” as well as her interpretations, called both “sensitive and moving” and “full of life and vigor”, showcasing her versatility in repertoire from Bach and Mozart to verismo and contemporary opera, as well as light opera and popular music.

Some of Susan's recent and upcoming solo appearances include Britten’s Spring Symphony with Grant Park Music Festival, Vivaldi’s Gloria with Music of the Baroque, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem wirh Elmhurst Choral Union, Rosalia in West Side Story with the New Philharmonic Orchestra and Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah with the Rockford Choral Union, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with with the Elgin Master Chorale, numerous cantatas with Bach Cantata Vespers, and Mozart’s Requiem with the Chicago Bar Association Orchestra.

Among Susan’s other Chicago area solo appearances are Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and Midwest Mozart Festival. Susan teaches privately through Music of the Baroque’s Strong Voices program and at Concordia University Chicago, where she has also conducted the Laudate ensemble, is the High Holiday choir conductor at Beth Emet in Evanston, and serves as music director at Grace Lutheran Church in Mt. Prospect. 

Bradley Morrison

Brad Noffsinger-Morrison, is gaining recognition as an emerging dramatic baritone. His "commanding presence" and powerful singing was showcased in his August 2024 debut as Wotan in Das Rheingold at the Wagner in Vermont festival, a role he’ll reprise in 2025 as a part of their complete Ring Cycle. Previously, his international debut in 2023 as Marcello in La Bohéme with North Wales Opera earned him praise for the beauty and clarity of his sotto voce. The rest of the 2024-2025 season will feature international performances as Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana and Tonio in I Pagliacci for North Wales Opera’s double-bill, and a new company debut with Opera Vermont as Tonio in their creative adaptation of I Pagliacci.

Mr. Noffsinger-Morrison’s range has been on display in his many past roles, notably in contrasting portrayals of the treacherous Tonio and the passionate Silvio in I Pagliacci. Brad also adeptly embodies cunning wit in characters like Gianni Schicchi, Figaro in both Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Le Nozze di Figaro, and Malatesta in Don Pasquale, while also excelling in portrayals of nobility such as Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro and Escamillo in Carmen, and even drunkards as the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance and Father in Hänsel und Gretel.

An accomplished concert soloist, Brad continues to expand his repertoire, which encompasses numerous Mozart masses, Brahms’ Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, and more. In addition to his performing career, Brad maintains an active teaching schedule and is the Founding Artistic Director of Fox Valley Opera. FVO's mission is to bring world-class operatic performances to the Fox Valley area in suburban Chicago. By the grace of God, Brad proudly resides in his hometown of St. Charles in the Chicago suburbs with his high school sweetheart, their young son, and cat.