About The State Opera of New Jersey
The seed of The State Opera of New Jersey formerly Boheme Opera New Jersey, took root in 1981 in the form of a musicians’ guild called The Boheme Club, founded by Trenton, New Jersey Educator and Conductor Joseph Pucciatti and his wife, Concert Pianist and Music Instructor Sandra Milstein-Pucciatti. The name was based upon a club of the same name formed by opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
After Trenton’s Boheme Club presented eight years of concerts, outdoor festivals, and dinner opera, Boheme evolved into a
professional Opera Company in 1989. For over three decades, Boheme Opera New Jersey gained worthy recognition,
including three Citations of Excellence from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as more than 25 endorsements proclamations and organization endorsements of significant impact.
It has consistently featured unprecedented diversity in its casting, as well as offering Main Stage opportunities to emerging youth choruses and performers, along diverse artists including those with disabilities while hiring talent from diverse backgrounds.
For the past fourteen seasons, the company has brought its thematic lecture performance series to Monroe Township Center for Performing Arts, The College of New Jersey, and other well known local venues while collaborating performances for fundraising initiatives at The Present Day Club of Princeton and The Porch Club of Riverton.
In addition to this outreach the organization has consistently used the Arts based programming to help economically challenged communities with their Inside Opera New Jersey curriculum. As a result over 7,000 middle and high school students in Mercer County were given a chance to further their artistic dreams. Adding new genres to our outreach events, such as Zarzuela and Broadway.
In 2025, with a visionary plan to broaden programming, grow audiences, and bridge extraordinary careers, the company was renamed The State Opera of New Jersey, after the region we serve and have impacted so many lives in.
Event Sponsors
Mercer County Culture and Heritage Commission
Through funding from the Mercer County Board of Commissioners,
And the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency
of the National Endowment for the Arts
The Presser Foundation
Carol A. King Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation
Matching Gift Contributors from Bank of America
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Diane and Thomas Bradshaw
George and Diane Goeke
Jerrold and Joyce Kalstein
Dominick and Marianne Mazzagetti
Helen and David Steinberg
Susan Tepping
"It Ain’t Necessarily So"
The State Opera of New Jersey
Board of Directors
Michael G. Donahue III, Esq., Chairman
Jerrold C. Kalstein, President
Sid Morginstin, Recording Secretary
Michael Camp, Director
Farrah Chu, Esq., Director
Stuart B. Dember, Esq., Director
Elisabeta Dinca, Director
Norman Goldschmidt, Director
Fredrick Redd, Director
Event Staff
Joseph R. Pucciatti, Producer & Artistic Director
Sandra M. Pucciatti, Managing Director
DANNI Marketing Studio & Public Relations
Carol Bucca, Box Office Manager
Delia Vayansky, Stage Manager
Patricia DelSordo, Makeup-Hair Designer
Christopher Gilman, Brande Media
Tim Sexton, Photographer
Herb Rodas, Videographer
Roham Shirazizadeh, Partnership Liaison
Special Thanks
Tomie Beatrice
Carol Bucca
Michael Camp
Jeff Cantor
Farrah Chu, Esq.
Carlotta Crosby
Clare Fannon
Christopher Gilman
Jim Harwood
Jerrold Kalstein
Susan Langkafel
Elizabeth Proctor
Jorge Garcia Salas
Roham Shirazizadeh
The State Opera of New Jersey
It Ain’t Necessarily So
Program Starring
Soprano Lynnesha Crump
Soprano Makeda Hampton
Tenor David Morgans
Baritone Fredrick Redd
With
Pianist Sandra Pucciatti
Host:
TSONJ Producer and Artistic Director, Joseph Pucciatti
Act One:
Highlights From Porgy And Bess
Composer: George Gershwin
Librettist: DuBose Heyward
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin
Program
Oh, I Can’t Sit Down………………………………….....Ensemble
I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’………………………………Mr.Redd
It Ain’t Necessarily So……………………………..…Mr. Morgans
Summertime…………………………...Ms. Hampton
My Man’s Gone Now………………………..……….Ms. Crump
A Woman is a Sometime Thing……………………………..Mr. Redd
There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York……………………..Mr. Morgans
Bess, You Is My Woman Now……………………………….Ms. Crump & Mr. Redd
I’m On My Way………………………...........Ensemble
Act Two
Gems From:
WILLIAM GRANT STILL
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
STEPHEN FLAHERTY
From Costaso, Composer: William Grant Still
Librettist: Verna Arvey (his wife)
Golden Days………………………………...……Ms. Crump
From A Bayou Legend, Composer: William Grant Still
Librettist: Verna Arvey (his wife)
Calm as the Waters of the Bayou……….....................Ms. Crump & Mr. Morgans
From Candide, Composer: Leonard Bernstein
Librettists: Wilbur, LaTouche, Sondheim, Parker,
Hellman and Bernstein
Glitter and Be Gay…………….………………...Ms. Hampton
From West Side Story, Composer: Leonard Bernstein
Lyricist: Stephen Sondheim
Maria……………………………...…………..Mr. Morgans
From Ragtime, Composer: Stephen Flaherty
Librettist: Terrence McNally Lyricist: Lynn Ahrens
Your Daddy’s Son……………….……………………………….Ms. Hampton
Wheels of A Dream…...……………………….……Ms. Crump & Mr. Redd
Sarah Brown Eyes………………………..….Ms. Hampton & Mr. Morgans
Make Them Hear You…………………………………….……….Mr. Morgans
New Music………………………………..………….Ensemble
Fredrick Redd is a seasoned singer, actor and industry professional whose talents have
illuminated stages across the United States. With a repertoire boasting over 300 shows in the vibrant
landscape of New York City, Fredrick has graced Carnegie Hall and iconic main stage on 8 triumphant occasions captivating audiences since his debut there as the baritone soloist in Orff’s (Carmina
Burana) and most recently in 2024 as the baritone soloist in Bond's (Ballad of the Brown King). He was a distinguished nominee for the Richard Tucker Award (2003), one of America's highest honors.
Early in his career, Fredrick made his Lincoln Center debut with New York City Opera as the
Undertaker in that Emmy-nominated (Porgy and Bess), including the Live from Lincoln Center telecast.
His notable Verdi roles include Amonasro (Aida), Giacomo (Giovanna D’Arco), Renato (Un Ballo in
Maschera) Count di Luna (Il Trovatore) and the title roles in (Macbeth), (Nabucco) and (Rigoletto). As a
recognized Verdi baritone, in 2022 he performed excerpts as Rigoletto in Lincoln Center for the
Metropolitan Opera Guild's Series on the Verdi Baritone. His versatility extends beyond Verdi,
performing iconic roles such as Scarpia in Puccini's (Tosca), Escamillo in Bizet's (Carmen) and most
recently seen as Wotan in Wagner's (Das Rheingold).
Fredrick made his highly anticipated national and international solo recital debut in 2003 as
part of the esteemed Dame Myra Hess Concert Series at the Chicago Cultural Center hosted by the
International Music Foundation. The concert was broadcast live over WFMT-FM 98.7, 1,200 affiliate
stations nationally, locally televised on Channel 25 in Chicago and live streamed internationally,
allowing audiences around the world to experience his artistry in real time.
Fredrick's influence extends beyond the stage enriching the next generation of artists, through
vocal master classes, and serving as a board member several arts organizations. He is currently
serving as the Artistic Director, William Warfield High School Vocal Competition, Board Member,
William Warfield Scholarship Fund, Advisory Board Member at RIT School of Performing Arts, and
Board Member at The State Opera of New Jersey.
Three time Grammy-Award winning Tenor David Morgans has appeared several seasons on the
Metropolitan Opera stage, performing Ally in the critically acclaimed (X: The Life and Times of
Malcolm X), Pledge in (Fire Shut Up In My Bones) and Prayer in (Porgy and Bess). He made his New
York City Opera debut as Rodolfo in (La Boheme), debuted the role of Aret in (Jupiter's Journey to Earth) with Little Opera Theater of New York, and sang the role of Nate in (Highway 1, USA) with St.
Stephen's Music Festival.
David has also sung major roles throughout the US, including Lensky (Eugene Onegin) with
Opera Baltimore, James Keller (Touch) with Opera Birmingham and Mingo (Porgy and Bess) with
Des Moines Metro Opera. Mr. Morgans stars as Julio (a tenor) in the feature film, (She Came to Me)
Directed by Rebecca Miller, alongside Anne Hathaway, Peter Dinklage, and Marissa Tomei.
The movie's worldwide cinema release was October 2023 and is currently available to stream on most
platforms. This past season, David was seen as Narraboth in (Salome) with Heartbeat Opera, covering Kevin Richardson in (The Central Park Five) with Detroit Opera, and was highlighted in a semi-staged
concert with Metro Opera Tech at the Kaufmann Center.
Between 2018 and 2021, David made his New York City debut as Rodolfo (La Boheme) with
City Lyric Opera with performances that were critically acclaimed by Voce di Meche. As an Apprentice
Artist with Sarasota Opera under the baton of Maestro Victor DeRenzi, he sang several concerts as
Verdian heroes, as well as concert work as Gerald (Lakme). Soon after, he was a finalist in the
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Competition hosted by the Chicago Lyric Opera,
followed by his Metropolitan Opera debut as Prayer in their new production of (Porgy and Bess) and
appeared as chorus in their new production of (Der fliegende Hollander).
Makeda Hampton captivates audiences with her warm, shimmering soprano voice, gracing
stages across the U.S. and Europe for the last 15 years. Makeda’s exceptional talent has led her to
perform with some of the most esteemed institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of
Chicago, and Des Moines Metro Opera. Her recent solo debuts with the Philharmonic of Southern
New Jersey, University of Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Opera Baltimore, Opera Delaware, and the
Long Island Concert Orchestra have only solidified her status as a premier soprano.
Alongside her stage performances, Makeda co-produced and performed a multi-genre cabaret
show at New York City's renowned Feinstein’s 54 Below, demonstrating her versatility and
commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. As a soprano in the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers, she
performed alongside pop stars Coldplay and Jacob Collier on NBC's Saturday Night Live. She is also a vocalist in the Mushadirapamwe Singers, a group of classically trained singers from the Pan-African Diaspora that celebrates Southern African musical traditions. Makeda is the featured vocalist on the world-premiere recording, United Sounds of America – a symphonic work that blends the urban
poetry of the Twin Poets with the music of Mark Hagerty.
Her artistry has earned a Grammy Award win and nomination with the Metropolitan Opera
Chorus, first prizes from the MIOpera Vocal Competition, The American Prize, Montpelier Arts Center
Classical Recital Competition, and the Austrian-American Society of Wilmington Competition. She
was recently named one of Delaware’s Most Influential and Inspiring Artists by The News Journal and
received a 2025 Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship.
Currently an assistant professor of music at Lincoln University (PA), Makeda earned her Doctor
of Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, focusing on early-20 th century African American
poetry in Art Song literature. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Oakwood University and a Master
of Music from Westminster Choir College, both in vocal performance and pedagogy.
Pianist Sandra Milstein-Pucciatti began her lifelong musical pursuits as a young piano student
of Curtis Institute teachers, later enjoying a 10 year cooperative with Master teacher Karl Ulrich
Schnabel. A concert performer, orchestra soloist, chamber musician, and professional accompanist,
her career featured a National Tour by the East West Piano Duo, founded with her Temple University
colleague Sylvia Ho and coached by Vladimir Horowitz-trained pianist Alexander Fiorillo.
As a student of world-renowned accompanist Lambert Orkis, Sandra has collaborated over the
past 50 years with many instrumental and vocal artists in recital, most notably with the late legendary
Metropolitan Opera bass Jerome Hines. In 1989, together with her husband Joseph, she Co-Founded
Boheme Opera New Jersey, now The State Opera of New Jersey, for which she has been
Managing Director since 1997.
From 1993-2000, Sandra served on the faculty of the NJ Governor’s School of the Arts Music
Division. From 2000-2008, Sandra created and facilitated the company’s on-site NJ
curriculum based educational program Inside Opera for over 7,000 public, parochial and private
middle and high school students in the Mercer County Region. A sought after accompanist
throughout the Tri-State Region, Sandra is the principal pianist for
TSONJ's active outreach programming.
Two-time Grammy Award winning Soprano Lynnesha Crump is recognized for her powerful
dramatic voice and commanding stage presence. A native of Washington, DC, she has appeared at
the Metropolitan Opera in multiple productions, including the award-winning (Porgy and Bess), and has
performed with leading companies including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Des Moines Metro Opera,
and Portland Opera, as well as the Aspen Music Festival.
Career highlights include her debut as
Ortlinde in (Die Walküre) and a performance at the inauguration of Barack Obama alongside Beyoncé
Knowles. A prizewinner in several international competitions, Ms. Crump received First Prize in the
London Classical Music Competition, Third Prize and the Audience Choice Award at the Annapolis
Opera Vocal Competition, and Third Prize in Opera Ebony’s Benjamin Matthews Vocal Competition.
She is also the recipient of the Luana DeVol Award for dramatic voices.
Additional honors include semifinalist recognition in the Paris Opera Competition, finalist and grant recipient with the Wagner Society, and nominations for the prestigious award of the Richard Tucker Foundation for the past two consecutive years Ms. Crump holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory and the Mannes School of Music.
She further developed her artistry through
advanced training in the United States and Italy, where she performed and studied alongside
legendary soprano Aprile Millo, maestro Richard Bonynge, and Marco Gandini, Opera Director of
Teatro alla Scala. Her artistic profile reflects a commitment to dramatic repertoire, vocal excellence,
and international performance experience. Up next, Ms. Crump will make another role debut as Léontine in Joseph Bologna’s (L’amant Anonyme) with New Camerata Opera this summer.