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Summer Soiree: Songs and Music from Italy
August 3, 2025
Summer Soiree 2025: Songs and Music from Italy
by Frank Strafaci, Opera at Florham member of the Board of Trustees
Once again, Mary Pinto, the Artistic Director of Opera at Florham, outdid herself!! She managed to transport the entire audience to Italy for a Summer Soirée. While seated at Lenfell Hall on the breathtakingly beautiful campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, the audience was treated to Arias and well known traditional Italian songs sung by Soprano Sarah Barrera and Tenor Pedro Barrera. This husband and wife team enraptured the audience with their skill, delicacy and outright charm throughout the entire afternoon on Sunday, August 3rd. There was no surprise when the talented couple received a standing ovation!
Music ranged from “Una Furtiva Lagrima” from L’Elisir d’Amore by Gaetano Donizetti to “O Sole Mio” by Eduardo Di Capua and Giovanni Caputo. The music is timeless and the appeal is universal.
The next performance of Opera at Florham will be on September 7th, titled The Roulades of Rossini featuring music by the illustrious and beloved composer himself, Gioachino Rossini. Buy your tickets before they sell out!
Summer Soirée 2025
PEDRO BARRERA
Tenor
Colombian-American tenor Pedro Barrera, born in Barranquilla, moved to the United States in 2017 to hone his vocal skills and pursue a singing career.
In Colombia, Pedro performed with Opera de Colombia and was a soloist with the Bogotá Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, becoming a national finalist of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra Singing Competition in 2015 and 2016.
Recent engagements include a tribute to Naples, Italy, at the Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York City, accompanied by the renowned Guitar-Mandolin duo Francesco Mammola & Alfonso Brandi.
SARAH BARRERA
Soprano
Sarah Barrera, soprano, is an internationally trained Opera singer whose warmth, versatility, and storytelling shine in every performance. Born in San Diego, California, she earned her Bachelor of Music from Northern Arizona University and her Master of Music from the University of Denver, where she performed leading roles such as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi.
Sarah’s love of Opera began at age 17 when she was selected for a summer apprenticeship with the Greek Opera Studio in Syros, Greece. That pivotal experience led her to pursue a career in singing and she has since sung in Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Austria.
Now based in New York City, Sarah blends her classical training with a passion for music education. She holds a management role at Juliette and Ella’s Playdate, Manhattan’s premiere children’s music company, and teaches music and dance to young learners. She also serves as the Children’s Program Director at West End Collegiate Church in Manhattan, where she nurtures a love of music in the next generation.
MARY PINTO
Artistic Director & Piano Accompanist
Mary Pinto, an acclaimed accompanist and vocal coach, has worked with international opera singers and major American opera companies for the past 25 years. Ms. Pinto's career began as a rehearsal pianist for noted opera companies: Dallas Opera, Chicago's Lyric Opera, Omaha Opera, and others. In 2012, Ms. Pinto coached and was rehearsal pianist for Metropolitan Opera star and international soprano Deborah Voigt as she prepared for the three Brünhilde roles for the Met's production of Wagner's Ring Cycle which was featured in the documentary Wagner’s Dream: The Making of the Met's Ring Cycle and premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.
In 2022, Ms. Pinto was invited to be official accompanist for the Giulio Gari Competition and to accompany singers in the Gerda Lissner Song, Zarzuela and Aria Competition. She made her Carnegie Hall debut playing for the winners of the Gerda Lissner Winners Concert. In 2021, Ms. Pinto coached and directed scenes at the Summer Opera Festival of Morelia and coached at the Queens Summer Vocal Institute. In the fall of 2020, she performed at Black Opera’s tribute to Jessye Norman. She spends her summers on the coaching staff at Masterclass d' Ischia, Italy. She has worked with the NJ State Opera and Light Opera of NJ, and internationally with Opera Noire’s Ensemble in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Ms. Pinto is on the faculty of Montclair State University as a private coach, accompanist, and prepares students for opera productions. She serves as Artistic Director and accompanist for Opera at Florham while maintaining coaching studios in New Jersey and New York City.
Mary received her Bachelor’s degree in Music for piano performance from DePauw University and a Master’s in Music degree for piano and voice accompaniment from University of Illinois.