William Vendice, the pianist for Cleopatra's Voice.

Conductor William Vendice was Head of Music Staff and Chorus Master at Los Angeles Opera from 1995 to 2007. At Los Angeles Opera, Maestro Vendice has conducted performances of Norma, La Bohème, Hänsel und Gretel, Madama Butterfly, The Barber of Seville, Aida, Tosca, La Traviata and Die Zauberflöte. Prior to his return to his native California, Maestro Vendice was a member of the conducting staff at the Metropolitan Opera where he debuted in 1983 with The Barber of Seville. While at the Met, he also conducted Lucia di Lammermoor, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Porgy and Bess, L'italiana in Algeri, and the Finals Concert of the Metropolitan National Auditions. He served on the Metropolitan Opera Education committee for eight years and was a well-known accompanist and panelist for Texacos Opera Radio Quiz during the Mets Saturday afternoon broadcasts. He also appeared regularly on the nationally syndicated radio program, First Hearing. Maestro Vendice has conducted internationally at Berlin's Theater des Westens, Hamburg Opera, Puerto Rico Opera, Banff Festival, Israel Opera Institute, the Perelada Festival in Barcelona, and with the Winterthur Orchestra in Switzerland. In the U.S. he has led Eugene Opera, New England Lyric Opera, Chatauqua Opera, Hollybush Festival in New Jersey, the San Francisco Opera Mozart Festival and was Music Director of Western Opera Theater for the San Francisco Opera. Maestro Vendice has been assistant conductor at Houston Grand Opera, Opera Company of Boston, Santa Fe Opera, Venices La Fenice and Grand Théâtre de Genève. He has accompanied many distinguished recitalists, including Nicolai Gedda, Renata Scotto, Catherine Malfitano, Hermann Prey and Sumi Jo.

One of the nations outstanding vocal coaches, William Vendice is equally well known in the field of vocal education. He was Music Director of University of Southern California Opera from 1992 to 1995 and Music Director of UCLA Opera from 1996 to 2004. He succeeded Henry Lewis as Music Director for Opera Music Theater International of New Jersey, the program Jerome Hines created to help young artists.

He has judged for the Met auditions in many cities throughout the U.S. as well as for the Spotlight Awards and Bel Canto Society Awards. He was a guest coach for San Francisco Operas Merola Program during the 2010 session and also gave a public Master Class for the programs participants in Herbst Hall.