Liberty City Arts Presents ‘The Anatomy of Opera: Larynx, Lungs, Legato, and Beyond!’

Ever wonder how opera singers make those captivating sounds? Did you know that the human voice all comes from an area that is less than the size of a dime?

Learn how these elements and more contribute to the incredible opera voices that have been captivating audiences for centuries. Get a crash course in some opera terms too, presented by three Philadelphia-based opera singers who promise to showcase what you’ve learned with live performances!

About the Singers

Samual Keeler is a tenor who has been hailed for his “rich tenor” (Culpepper Times) and “strong vocals and crisp, clear delivery” (DC Theatre Scene). Recent appearances include Remendado in Carmen and concert soloist with Maryland Opera, performing alongside Michael Spyres at Guild Hall/Bel Canto Boot Camp Resident Artist Series, and as Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera D’Oro. Other recent roles feature Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème, Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata, Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Sam Kaplan in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene.

As a frequent soloist in the greater Philadelphia region, Keeler serves as founder and executive director of Liberty City Arts, a nonprofit performing arts initiative dedicated to supporting artists and creating high-quality artistic experiences for the Philadelphia community. He serves on the Board of Bel Canto Boot Camp, whose goal is to break the often prohibitive barriers of distance, cost, and time to train and empower singers and audiences alike.

Mezzo-soprano Amanda Staub has been praised as “brilliant and beautiful…a jewel.” (West Hawaii Today). The 2025–2026 season sees Amanda debuting roles such as Papagena in The Magic Flute with Mobile Opera and performances with Opera Delaware, Opera Baltimore, Maryland Opera, and Art City Opera. Amanda has performed several iconic trouser roles including Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Stephano in Roméo et Juliette, and Sesto in Giulio Cesare. Other notable roles include Dido in Dido & Aeneas, Tisbe and Cenerentola in La Cenerentola, Ariodante in Ariodante, and Hannah (after) in As One. She was recently a finalist in the Music International Grand Prix Competition. Passionate about education and creating opportunities for artists to thrive, Amanda has held multiple positions as a private instructor and artistic administrator and currently serves as vice president of Liberty City Arts. Amanda lives in Philadelphia and is a student of Kathryn Leemhuis.

Michigan native and coloratura soprano Greta Groothuis received her bachelor’s in vocal performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and her masters in the same field from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Throughout her educational and professional career, Greta has obtained a repertoire that spans from the Baroque era to the 21st century. Roles she has performed include Belinda (Cover) in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Amore in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, La Fée in Jules Massenet’s Cendrillon, Titania in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Amelia Havisham in Dominick Argento’s Miss Havisham’s Wedding Night, and Margot in Jake Runestad’s Daughters of the Bloody Duke. Greta most recently performed with Philadelphia’s Opera on Tap as the seductive Alice 1 in Melissa Dunphy’s Alice Tierney. Her next performance will be with Art City Opera in February of 2026, singing the role of Suor Genoveiffa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica. 

Along with operatic repertoire, Greta enjoys delving into the comedic nuances of light opera. She is a member of the Savoy Gilbert and Sullivan Company and has performed with the company as Julia in The Grand Duke and Pitti Sing in their 2025 production of The Mikado. She has been a proud LCA artist since March 2024.

About the Series

Science on Tap is a monthly speaker series that features brief, informal presentations by Philadelphia-based scientists and other experts followed by lively conversation and a Q&A. The goal is to promote enthusiasm for science in a fun, spirited, and accessible way, while also meeting new people. Come join the conversation!