Gabriel Chona Rueda is a Colombian tenor and emerging artist with the Moores Opera Center at the University of Houston. Recent roles there include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Will Mossop in the world premiere of Hobson’s Choice, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Emperor Altoum in a concert performance of Turandot, and most recently the Stranger in Markheim by Carlisle Floyd. Beyond the Moores Opera Center, Gabriel has collaborated with several performing organizations. This season, he participated in a workshop with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for the new opera Safe Haven by Tobias Picker and appeared as a featured soloist in Houston Chamber Choir’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem. Competition honors include being named a national finalist in the Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Vocal Competition, runner-up in the Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser Scholarship Competition presented by Mobile Opera, and a finalist in the vocal competition of the Tuesday Musical Club of San Antonio. Gabriel holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia and will complete his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance this year before pursuing his Master's in Arts Leadership degree at the University of Houston. A member of the studio of Melanie Sonnenberg, he continues to build a career distinguished by expressive artistry, musical versatility, and a commitment to both standard and contemporary repertoire.