Artists of the Rogler Collection

The Rogler Collection would not be possible without an incredibly talented and hardworking team of musicians, technicians, artists, and performers. Robert Rogler is honored to work with each and every member of this group. It has been an absolute pleasure.

MUSICIANS | AUDIO & PRODUCTION | VIDEOGRAPHY | PERFORMERS

Meet the Musicians

These musicians were hired by Robert Rogler and he worked with them personally, and, therefore, their performances should be considered the authorized and official versions of his music.

Lauren Florek – Soprano

Filipino-American soprano, Lauren Florek, is originally from Munster, Indiana. She received her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois and her master's degree from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts..

Lauren has also studied Italian opera and language in Urbino, Italy, spending two summers with Musica nelle Marche where she learned the iconic soprano arias of Puccini's Giannia Schicchi and La Bohème. One of Lauren’s most notable roles to date was the “Queen of the Night,” covered in Mass Opera's 2023 production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

Lauren is the sole vocalist on Robert Rogler’s album Sing a Song of Seasons where she has beautifully interpreted and performed 24 technical and varied songs, six for each of the four seasons of the year.

Learn more about Lauren: laurenflorek.com

Matt Savage – Pianist

New Hampshire native Matt Savage has a 20+ year professional career as a jazz pianist though he is barely 30 years old. He has released 13 jazz albums which contain many of his original compositions, and he has written and recorded the music for a full-length documentary film, Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story.

Matt has toured worldwide and appeared on such television shows as The Late Show with David Letterman and the Today Show to name only a few. His education includes two of the most famous jazz schools in the world, the Berklee College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. Matt is currently an adjunct professor of music at several colleges around Boston, Massachusetts. His latest album, The Whole Package! with the Matt Savage Quartet, was released in June of 2023.

Matt is the sole accompanist on Robert Rogler’s album, Sing a Song of Seasons and he appears on Where the River Falls as the piano soloist on “Les Cascades” and as accompanist on the “Violoncello Sonata in Eb Major.” His ability to switch so proficiently between jazz and classical music demonstrates his great talent as a musician.

Learn more about Matt: savagerecords.com

John Rogler – Cellist

Cellist and Massachusetts native John Rogler received his Bachelor of Music in cello performance from the Schwob School of Music in Columbus, Georgia and his master’s in the same from Depaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Aside from playing in several orchestras, John has a decorated career as a soloist and chamber performer, winning the Ruth Kern Concerto Competition in Georgia, and claiming runner-up in the MTNA national championship to name just a few.

John Rogler currently performs with the Du Bois Orchestra in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is the principal cellist with the Thompson Street Opera Company in Chicago, Illinois.

John performs the unaccompanied and very challenging “Five Poems for Solo Violoncello” on Robert Rogler’s album Where the River Falls, and is featured in the piece “Violoncello Sonata in Eb Major.”

To contact John: Email johnrogler96@gmail.com

Carlo Miguel C. Bunyi – Baritone

Filipino baritone Carlo Miguel C. Bunyi received his Bachelor of Music in Voice from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines and his Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A versatile artist, Carlo has essayed the roles of Cesare Angelotti in Puccini's Tosca, Count Almaviva in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Timur in Puccini's Turandot, Baron de Pictordu in Viardot’s Cendrillon, and Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.

Carlo currently teaches music at the South Boston Catholic Academy and is cantor at the Divine Mercy Parish in Quincy, Massachusetts. Despite working as a soloist and educator in the United States, he has never lost touch with his homeland. He is a founding member of the Filipino vocal ensemble Pasipo and is a member-artist of the Lyric Opera of the Philippines.

On Robert Rogler’s album, Where the River Falls, Carlo performs “Songs for Bass,” bringing these challenging and diverse compositions to life and imbuing them with his unique energy.

Follow Carlo online: on Facebook @carlobunyibaritone and Instagram @bassobaritono

Adam Merrill – Pianist

Idaho native Adam Merrill found solace in the piano when his health began to fail at nine years of age. After many heart surgeries, he recovered enough to become one of the top young pianists in the United States, holding over 30 awards and distinctions in both local and international piano competitions. He graduated magna cum laude from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. He received his master’s degree from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Today, Adam teaches both privately and at several music schools throughout Massachusetts while continuing to perform and enter competitions. In July 2023, he made it to the finals of the Chicago International Music Competition, an event that celebrates decorated musicians from around the world.

Adam’s willingness to take on the concerto-like accompaniments in Robert Rogler’s “Songs for Bass” on the album Where the River Falls is a testament to his skill as a pianist and his enthusiasm for piano performance.

Learn more about Adam: adamjmerrill.com

Eder Rivera Acosta – Oboist

Honduran born oboist Eder Rivera began his musical studies with the Victoriano Lopez School of Music in his native Honduras. He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from the Schwob School of Music in Columbus, Georgia and his master’s degree from the Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles, California.

Eder has won numerous awards in oboe performance including first place in the prestigious Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition in 2018.

Not only has Eder played Robert Rogler’s music, he commissioned two works from him—a set of pieces for solo oboe and an oboe concerto. You can hear an excerpt of Eder performing the oboe concerto on the Future Projects page.

Connect with Eder on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eder-rivera-b1b12620b

"THE FALCON" PERFORMERS

Below are the musicians who premiered Robert Rogler’s opera "The Falcon" on 22 September 2024 at a private residence in Cambridge, Massachusetts. You may view an excerpt of this performance on our Video page.

Lance Bernard Bryant (Count Federigo)

Lance Bernard Bryant is a native of Rochester, New York and is a senior member and vocal captain of the Rock n' Roll, Vocal, and GRAMMY® Hall of Fame group, The Platters®. Before joining the iconic group, Lance was a lead vocalist with Cirque du Soleil. Additionally, he was an award-winning opera singer at the University of New York College at Freedonia.

He is acclaimed for his smooth, rich baritone voice, which has won him roles in opera and popular music. Lance appears courtesy of Herb Reed Enterprises LLC. We are delighted to have Lance continue his operatic singing in “The Falcon.”

Yunona Tabala (Lady Giovanna)

Yunona Tabala is a Russian-American soprano based in Boston, Massachusetts. In May 2023, she completed her Master's studies at the Longy School of Music of Bard College as a Natasha Jakoff Scholar. A strong believer in the healing powers of music and storytelling, Yunona is dedicated to sharing these gifts with audiences through opera and recital performances.

She has appeared with such organizations as MassOpera (Die Zauberflöte),and Music On Site, Inc. (Amahl and the Night Visitors). In June 2023, she made her Carnegie Weill Recital Hall debut as an Honorable Mention recipient of the 2022 American Virtuoso International Music Competition. She was thrilled to join The Rogler Collection for the premiere of “The Falcon” in the role of Lady Giovanna.

Eliza Howells (Elizabetta)

Eliza Howells is a Boston-based mezzo-soprano and composer. Recent performances include Speed Dating Tonight! (Dater) with Dee Opera, The Suppliant Woman (Women's Chorus) with Apollinaire Theatre Company, The Medium (Baba) with Tufts Opera, and Princess Ida (Sacharissa) with the Sudbury Savoyards. She was recently commissioned to write works for the 2024 Rivers School Conservatory Seminar on Contemporary Music for the Young, and the Voices Unheard Ensemble's inaugural summer concert in 2023. In August 2024, Eliza participated in the Etchings Festival in New York City as a Composition Fellow.

As a singer/songwriter, she released her debut single “Night Life” in May 2024, which was described as a “testament to her ability to fuse disparate musical influences into a cohesive whole” (KIMU). Eliza holds a BM in Voice Performance and Composition from UMass Amherst, and an MA in Composition from Tufts University. She currently works on the staff in the Composition Department at Berklee College of Music.

Thai Johnson (Filippo)

Thai Johnson is a native of Marietta, Georgia who received his bachelor's degree in voice from the Schwob School of Music and his master's in voice from New England Conservatory.

He has performed many roles in operas as well as musical theater, and his list of awards includes first place in Georgia NATS from 2018-2020, first place in GA MTNA from 2019-2020, and semi-finals of The Orpheus Vocal Gregory Competition in 2019. We were happy to have his skill and versatility in both singing and acting as part of “The Falcon.”

Audio & Production

Dr. Richard Romiti – Artistic Director

Dr. Richard Romiti is a native of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Boston University and his PhD in Musicology from the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Romiti’s compositions have won the most prestigious composing awards in the United States, including first place in the Eastman School of Music Composing Prize and runner-up for the Rudolf Nissim Prize. He has also won international awards for his accordion performances and compositions.

Now semi-retired, he works as the director of music for St. John the Evangelist Parish in Hopkinton, Massachusetts and continues to write music. Richard’s expertise has been invaluable to the recordings of Robert Rogler’s music.

Connect with Dr. Romiti on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richard-romiti-8469294b

Antonio Oliart – Recording Engineer

Antonio Oliart graduated from the Mannes College of Music in New York City with a master’s degree in Flute Performance. He then went on to receive a master’s degree in Sound Engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Since then, Antonio has designed the WGBH Fraser Performance Studio, won two Grammy Awards for his work in classical chamber music and opera, won four New England Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Audio, and has recorded almost all the premiere classical artists in the world.

Learn more about Antonio: recording.wgbh.org/Staff.cfm.html

Téa Mottolese – Recording Engineer

Téa Mollotese holds a bachelor’s degree in Classical Saxophone Performance, but her true love is recording. She attended the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland receiving both a bachelor’s degree in Recording Arts and Sciences and a master’s degree in Acoustics.

Téa won the Audio Engineering Society’s Mary Lea Simpson Scholarship for her outstanding academic and recording achievements, and now works at the WGBH Fraser Performance Studio in Boston, Massachusetts.

Learn more about Téa: tea-mottolese-audio.com

Videography

Matthew Rogler – Director of Videography

Matthew Rogler studied film at Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts. After meeting and working as a videographer with several local bands, he quickly found that he had a proficiency for creating music videos.

As Director of Videography for the Rogler Collection, Matthew has taken the lead role on all videos. By taking on the unique challenges of creating multiple classical music videos for this website, he has added a new facet to his growing repertoire of work.

Matthew’s videos can be viewed on both the Rogler Collection Video page and on the Future Projects section of this site.

Julia Rogler – Photographer, Assistant Videographer & Artist

Julia received degrees in painting and art history from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, Massachusetts. Enjoying the techniques and subjects of the old Masters, she also took several courses at the Boston Academy of Realist Art.

Julia won several scholarships because of her painting prowess and was a finalist for the commission to paint the official portrait of former Rhode Island Governor Gina Ramundo for display in the Rhode Island State House.

Julia has been the photographer for the Rogler Collection; she has worked as the cameraperson on all or part of six videos; and she painted the cover artwork for the albums Where the River Falls and Sing a Song of Seasons.

Learn more about Julia: juliaroglerfinearts.com

Performers

Nicole Sarmiento – Actress

Of Colombian heritage, Nicole Sarmiento currently resides in Worcester, Massachusetts and attends the College of the Holy Cross in her hometown. She has been acting since she was a child and has extensive experience in theater, film, and commercials.

Nicole portrays Beauty in the music video for Robert Rogler’s piece, “She Walks in Beauty Like the Night,” a role that moves her into new acting territory where she must tell a story and express the meaning of a song without speaking a word. You can view her beautiful performance on the Video page.

Follow Nicole online: on Facebook @nickygemsarmiento

Maria Rogler – Choreographer, Ballet Dancer, Style Consultant

Maria Rogler began dancing with Dance Explosion in Dedham, Massachusetts, studying many forms of dance before falling in love with ballet. After winning several awards for ballet, she moved on to study with the International Ballet Academy in Norwell, Massachusetts; Festival Ballet Providence (now Ballet Rhode Island) in Providence, Rhode Island; and The Boston Ballet School in Boston, Massachusetts.

At the age of eleven, Maria began teaching at Dance Explosion and Festival Ballet Providence where she worked extensively on both group and solo choreography. Maria dances professionally with Festival Ballet Providence. She currently teaches ballet at the José Matteo Academy of Dance in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

It was Maria’s idea for Robert Rogler to write a full-length, classical ballet score for the Grimm fairytale “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” She choreographs and dances in the excerpt from this ballet, which is available for viewing on the Future Projects page. She also serves as style consultant on hair, make-up, and costumes for the Rogler Collection music videos.

Contact Maria: mariarogler1000@gmail.com

Sara Brownell – Ballet Dancer

Sara Brownell began dancing at the Connecticut Concert Ballet in Manchester, Connecticut. She danced in college at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. After graduation, Sara joined Festival Ballet Providence (now Ballet Rhode Island) in Providence, Rhode Island and currently teaches there.

Sara dances in the preview performance of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” a ballet rendition of the Grimm fairytale composed by Robert Rogler. This performance is viewable on the Future Projects page.

Learn more about Sara: sarabrownell.com

Louise Hautfeuille – Ballet Dancer

Louise Hautfeuille began dancing at the Menlo Park Academy of Dance in Menlo Park, California. Later, she spent her summers training at L’Ecole de Danse de l’Opera de Paris in Paris, France and the Boston Ballet School in Boston, Massachusetts.

After she won first prize at the San Francisco Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition, Louise joined Boston Ballet in Boston, Massachusetts where she continues to dance today.

Louise dances in the preview performance of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” a ballet rendition of the Grimm fairytale composed by Robert Rogler. This performance is viewable on the Future Projects page.

Learn more about Louise: bostonballet.org/company/louise-hautefeuille/
Connect with her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louise-hautefeuille-08167b185
Or contact her directly: louisehautefeuille@gmail.com

Alisa Korkhin – Ballet Dancer

Alisa Korkhin began her dance education at the Koltun Ballet Academy in Watertown, Massachusetts and later attended the SLK Ballet School in New York City; the Boston Ballet School in Boston, Massachusetts; and the Brookline Ballet School in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Professionally, she has danced with Teatrul de Balet Sibiu in Sibiu, Romania and with the Israel Ballet in Tel Aviv, Israel. Alisa has performed both classical and contemporary works with some of the most notable modern choreographers, and currently teaches at the José Mateo Ballet Academy in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Alisa dances in the preview performance of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” a ballet rendition of the Grimm fairytale composed by Robert Rogler. This performance is viewable on the Future Projects page.

Follow Alisa online: on Instagram @alisarkorkhin

Nikolia Mamalakis – Ballet Dancer

Nikolia Mamalakis’ first schools for ballet dancing were the Brookline Academy of Dance in Brookline, Massachusetts and New England Movement Arts in Burlington, Massachusetts. She later attended the Vienna State Ballet Academy in Vienna, Austria and after that joined the American Ballet Theater Studio Company in New York City.

She has won the gold medal at the Ballet Beyond Borders Competition in Missoula, Montana, and currently dances with Boston Ballet in Boston, Massachusetts.

Nikolia dances in the preview performance of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” a ballet rendition of the Grimm fairytale composed by Robert Rogler. This performance is viewable on the Future Projects page.

Follow Nikolia online: on Instagram @lia_lakis
Contact her directly: nikoliamamalakis@gmail.com