July 9 Guest vocalists

Ann Cravero

Dr. Ann Cravero is delighted to be making her debut at the Lauridsen Ampitheater while sharing the stage with her talented daughter, Marisa. Noted for her artistic versatility, Dr. Cravero is an award-winning mezzo-soprano, pianist, actor, and director who has been heard on stages in Italy, China, and throughout the United States including repeat performances at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. Recent performance credits include Symphony Hall in Chicago, Ordway Theater St. Paul, Really Spicy Opera Company in Minneapolis, American Gothic Performing Arts Festival, and Teatro Communale Città Vicenza.  Ann is the recipient of the 2019 Vocal Pedagogy Award from the NATS Foundation, and the 2019 & 2020 American Prize Winner in both Art Song and Oratorio. Dr. Cravero is Professor of Voice at Drake University and also maintains a private studio in West Des Moines. Cravero holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor of Music Education with emphasis on Piano and Voice from Bradley University (anncravero.com).

Marisa Cravero

Marisa Cravero, singer, dancer, actor and saxophonist, recently graduated from Valley High School in West Des Moines and will be pursuing Jazz Performance at the University of North Texas this fall. As an up-and-coming artist, Marisa has performed on stage with a number of jazz musicians such as Gabriel Espinosa, Alyssa Allgood, Alison Wedding, and Kim Nazarian from ‘New York Voices’. Marisa is a two-time recipient of the Iowa Vocal Jazz Champs Outstanding Soloist Award and was repeatedly selected for the competitive Iowa All State Jazz Choir. Earlier this year, Marisa was also selected to play lead in the Iowa All State Jazz Band, and sang as a member of the Iowa All State Choir. Equally at ease in the Broadway genre, Marisa was a consecutive IHSMTA triple threat nominee appearing on Iowa PBS. Recent roles include Georgia Hendricks in “Curtains” and Meg Brockie in “Brigadoon.” As jazz vocalist in the ‘Next Generation Jazz Ensemble’, Marisa will perform at “Jazz in July” at Hoyt Sherman Place later this month. 

Max Wellman

Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​

Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. Performances alongside vocalist Rose Colella & pianist Annie Booth have been met with rave reviews. Additionally, Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines.