At just 45 minutes in length, Amahl and the Night Visitors is the family holiday event you’ve been looking for. This tuneful, charming opera is sung in English and perfect for all ages. When The Three Kings pay a visit to a poor mother and her crippled son, a miracle occurs, but not before we learn that the kings’ larger-than-life personalities are outdone by that of the boy. Amahl and the Night Visitors warms the heart with its powerful message and serves as a reminder of the true meaning of the holiday, all while making you smile ear to ear.
Meet the artists
James Brown
General Director, Conductor
James Brown enjoys an eclectic career of conducting, concertizing as a singer, stage directing, and voice teaching. James joined Vashon Opera through stage directing and conducting The Barber of Seville in Vashon Opera's second season. Ever since he has become the musical and theatrical engine behind the company bringing his multiple talents to bear in many productions. In June of 2024, the board invited James to step into the role of General Director to lead the company through its 15th season and beyond. He is the Chair of Vocal Studies at Pacific Lutheran University where he directs the opera and oversees a large voice program. His voice students have gone on to study at graduate programs such as Indiana University, The Juilliard School, University of Michigan, Northwestern University, and Yale University. As a tenor, James sang in many professional opera productions under the batons of such conductors as James Conlon, John DeMain, Richard Hickox, Julius Rudel, and Robert Spano. As the regular conductor and stage director for Vashon Opera, James has led productions such as Albert Herring, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Carmen, Così fan tutte, Les Dialogues des Carmélites, Die Fledermaus, Don Giovanni, Eugene Onegin, Madama Butterfly, Pagliacci, Tosca, La traviata and Werther.
Soon Cho
The Mother
Praised for her “potent” and “intense and incisive” presence by Opera News and hailed as “regal in bearing, with vocal endowments to match” by the Cincinnati Post, mezzo-soprano Soon Cho is thrilled to return to Vashon Opera. Her performing career has taken her across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, with appearances at major festivals and concert venues including the Beaune International Baroque Festival in France, Forbidden City Concert Hall in China, Ghent New Music Festival in Belgium, Puccini Festival in Italy, and Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. Cho’s repertoire spans the Baroque through contemporary music. Concert highlights include Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder with the Breckenridge Music Festival and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She has presented American song recitals in Paris and Urbino and performed chamber music by living composers. Operatic roles include the Composer in the South Korean premiere of Ariadne auf Naxos, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, and Dorabella in Così fan tutte. Cho is especially drawn to characters and works that tell important stories, particularly those centering underrepresented voices. This commitment has led to world premieres including Greg Youtz’s Tacoma Method with Tacoma Opera and Jared Schwartz’s Schiele in Prison in New York City. As a mother of two boys, Cho finds special meaning in portraying the Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. Dr. Cho is Professor of Music at Pacific Lutheran University, where she is dedicated to mentoring young artists. She performs throughout the Pacific Northwest and serves on the faculty of the T-Town Chamber Music Festival & Institute. She especially values collaborating with colleagues on Vashon and being part of its warm, generous, and deeply supportive music community.
Barry Johnson
King Balthazar
Baritone Barry Johnson sings King Balthazar in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors for Vashon Opera, marking his 10th production with the company. He is enjoying a successful career as an opera singer, stage director, concert performer, and voice teacher. Having sung roles in more than 25 productions at Seattle Opera, Mr. Johnson has performed as a guest artist with companies throughout the west including Seattle Opera, Tacoma Opera, Opera Colorado, Anchorage Opera, Portland Opera, Vashon Opera, and Central City Opera. Notable roles in his repertoire include the title role in The Marriage of Figaro, Benoit/Alcindoro in La Boheme, Dancairo in Carmen, Sharpless in Madame Butterfly, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Prince Ottokar in Der Freischutz, Sacristan in Tosca, Speaker in The Magic Flute, Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Fleville in Andrea Chenier, and Frank in Die Fledermaus. On the concert stage, Mr. Johnson has been a soloist with orchestras throughout the Northwest including Seattle Symphony, American Sinfonietta, Symphony Tacoma, Yakima Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, and Orchestra Seattle. Mr. Johnson’s professional stage directing credits include Puccini’s La Boheme, Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Youtz’ Tacoma Method, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Lehar’s The Merry Widow, and Puccini’s Tosca, with Tacoma Opera, Bellevue City Opera Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Opera. As co-director of the opera program at Pacific Lutheran University, Mr. Johnson’s fully staged productions have included Lehar’s The Merry Widow, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Handel’s Giulio Cesare, and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel.
Darrell Jordan
King Melchior
Seattle-based lyric baritone Darrell J. Jordan has been praised for his “shining, beautiful voice” (Broadway World), his "large, velvety voice and slapstick mastery" (The Bulletin), and has been called “the star of the show” (Columbia Heart Beat). His recent solo concert engagements have been with Amherst Early Music Festival, Odyssey Chamber Music Series, Rolla Choral Arts Society, Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri, Missouri Symphony, Southside Philharmonic Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, Thalia Symphony, Olympia Chamber Orchestra, Salt Water Music Series, Seattle Art Song Society, Harmonia Orchestra, and Seattle Choral Company. Dr. Jordan has performed over 50 operatic roles, some favorites being: Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Dr. Falke/Frank (Die Fledermaus), Bunthorne (Patience), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), and Dr. Malatesta (Don Pasquale). Opera credits include Opera West, Tacoma Opera, Wilmington Concert Opera, St. Louis Opera Collective, Haymarket Opera Company, Gateway Opera, the Show-Me Opera, Lawrence Opera, the Puget Sound Concert Opera, Northwest Opera In Schools Touring Company, Operamuse, Seattle Modern Opera Company, Pacific Northwest Opera, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Seattle, Low Brow Opera, OperaBend, Engage Opera, Landlocked Opera, Barn Opera, Opera Vermont, Opera Idaho, Vashon Opera, and Seattle Opera. Dr. Jordan has also performed as the baritone soloist for over 30 oratorios and cantatas. He is a member and co-founder of Vox Nova. He can be heard as the baritone soloist on Vox Nova’s upcoming album released by Centaur Records. For more information, please visit: www.DarrellJJordan.com
Kingston Nahm-Korn
Amahl
Kingston Nahm-Korn has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus since 2023. During his time with the chorus, he has performed in productions of La Bohème, Carmen, Turandot, Tosca, and The Queen of Spades. Kingston has also performed the role of Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors, serving as the cover for Amahl in Lincoln Center’s 2025 production and starring as Amahl in Light Opera of New Jersey’s production earlier this year. In 2024, Kingston was selected as an SNY Kid-Caster, where he had the exciting opportunity to announce part of a New York Mets game live on television. In 2025, he made his acting debut as Dylan in Netflix’s The Beast in Me. He also made his musical theater debut as Flounder in The Calhoun School’s production of The Little Mermaid Jr. Kingston is grateful for the continued love and support of his mom, dad, and Kiara. He is very thankful for his wonderful management, Encompass Arts. Follow Kingston’s journey and see more of his performances on YouTube: @KingstontheKidcaster
Brendan Tuohy
King Kaspar
American Tenor Brendan Tuohy is so excited to be returning to Vashon Opera to perform the role of King Kasper in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Praised by the Cincinnati Post for his “big, bold tenor edged with silver,” Brendan continues to move audiences both in the United States and Europe. Some of Brendan’s most recent projects have included Loge in Das Rheingold with Tacoma Opera, Don José in Carmen with Union Avenue Opera in St Louis, Michael in Tres Minutos with the San Diego Symphony, the Tenor Soloist in Britten’s War Requiem performed with the US Naval Academy Band and Annapolis Symphony in Washington DC, the title role in Werther with Sky Opera, and the role of the Mayor in Portland Opera’s world premier of Beatrice. From 2014-2018 he spent the majority of his time singing in Europe appearing first in the Berlin Opera Academy and as a studio artist with the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. The latter led to many other opportunities with Opéra Lilles, Opéra Nantes/Angers, Opéra Royal de Versailles, and Opéra National de Montpellier among others. Brendan made his Vashon Opera Debut as Martin in The Tender Land in its first season. He has since performed many times with the company including Ferrando in Cosí fan tutte, Count Danilo in The Merry Widow, the title role in Albert Herring, and Fenton in Falstaff. Brendan is a former Young Artist with Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Portland Opera. Brendan will return this spring to Vashon to sing the role of Judge Danforth in The Crucible.
Allison Pohl
Director
Soprano Allison Pohl's vivacious stage presence and spirited singing have inspired enthusiastic responses across three continents. Her work has received positive reviews for her “sparkling voice” (outerstage.com) and “exuberant” performances (Opera News). Of her performance in L'elisir d'amore at Virginia Opera, The Washington Post wrote: “Allison Pohl stood out with a ripe, flavorful soprano and ample character.” Her recent engagements include Violetta in La traviata at Opera Bend, Social Worker/Reporter in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X at Seattle Opera, Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire at Tacoma Opera, and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro at Vashon Opera; multiple solo recitals, Handel’s Messiah with Symphony Tacoma, chamber concerts curated by Maestro Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops, performances with Seattle Chamber Music Society and Brevard Music Center Orchestra; return appearances at Bremerton Symphony, Second City Chamber Series and Listen Live at Lunch concert series; and her debut with Wenatchee Valley Symphony. In the 2025-2026 season, Allison performed in the United States, Spain, and Portugal, debuted as a stage director in Vashon Opera's production of Hänsel und Gretel. She will perform in Greece and Turkey this year and stage direct Amahl and the Night Visitors at Vashon Opera. As a member of Soprello, Allison has performed chamber music across North America with cellist Alistair MacRae. She is Artistic Director of Vashon Opera, a Seattle Opera Career Grant recipient, winner of the Seattle Philharmonic Concerto Competition, Artist Faculty at Brevard Music Center, and a graduate of SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music and Boston University.
Giacobbe Whitworth
The Page
Giacobbe Whitworth, baritone, is in his second year of a vocal performance degree at Pacific Lutheran University. He was recently seen at Vashon Opera in Un Ballo in Maschera, as Un servo di Amelia, and a member of the chorus alongside Choir of the West. Giacobbe’s most recent roles include Count Danilo Danilovitch in The Merry Widow and Giuseppe Naccarelli in The Light in the Piazza. In addition to Choir of the West, Giacobbe is also a member of PLU’s Knights Chorus and St. John’s Episcopal Church Choir in Gig Harbor. Giacobbe would like to thank his parents and grandparents for their never-ending support, and Vashon Opera for the opportunity to sing in this production.