The Wave has a very nice article on the singer. I always loved hearing her in Opera San Jose, and I will be playing both concerts mentioned in the article — both San Jose Chamber Orchestra’s upcoming Opera! concert and Opera San Jose’s gala concert.

It’s a common belief that an artist residency at Opera San Jose (OSJ) is a transformative experience. But mezzo-soprano Layna Chianakas, an OSJ resident from 1995-97, took the idea to an extreme. Three months after arriving from Illinois, the talented singer went on a blind date, fell in love and never left town. Since then, life both off and on the stage has been a storybook success: Chianakas not only has a husband, a seven-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter, but enjoys an intriguing “soccer mom/diva” lifestyle.

So hoorah for Ms. Chainakas, and I’ll look forward to hearing her again.