Detroit Opera Youth Chorus (DOYC) is a groundbreaking ensemble and the first of its kind for Metro Detroit children. Founded in 2007, the DOYC, with children ranging from 8-17 years old, has charmed audiences of all ages, embracing diverse cultures and traditions in an extensive range of genres from folk songs to opera. The Detroit Opera Youth Chorus (DOYC) is a world-class training program for young vocalists ages 8 to 17 from metropolitan Detroit. The chorus performs as a separate ensemble as well as with international opera stars in Detroit Opera mainstage productions. Rehearsals take place at the Detroit Opera House on Monday evenings from September through May, led by Detroit Opera Chorus Master Suzanne Mallare Acton, Principal Chorus Conductor Sadarra Fields and Preparatory Chorus Conductor Jane Panikkar.

Moníka Essen is an award-winning, nationally recognized artist, designer, and director. The recipient of the prestigious Lawrence DeVine Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre, she studied Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Parsons School of Design and received her MFA in Scenography from the renowned Hilberry Repertory Company. Moníka has designed countless productions in theatre, opera, and film. For Detroit Opera she designed their highly acclaimed productions of Bliss, Carmina Burana, and The Medium, as well as their spectacular production of Frida. She has just recently directed and designed La Cenerentola for Opera Modo in Detroit, with an entirely new concept she devised, which included a new and modern libretto in English. Currently, she is working on a furniture line and an exciting new version of The Tales of Hoffmann. Moníka is an accomplished painter, and creates murals, custom furniture, museum exhibits, interiors, and full sensory, multi-media environments for residential and commercial clients, including the Detroit Zoo. All her work can be viewed at studioepoque.com.