• About
  • Welcome to OFC
  • Mission & History
  • Outreach
  • Staff Bios
  • Board of Directors
  • Auditions
• News & Media
• Season & Events
• Support Us
• Contact

Opera Fort Collins Outreach

Opera Fort Collins Opera Quest - Educational Outreach Program

Opera Fort Collins invites you to take advantage of a unique and FREE educational opportunity for public, charter and private school students during the 2012-2013 school year.

Our Opera Quest Educational Outreach Program brings opera performances into Larimer and Weld County schools via two programs:

Both programs are performed by the talented OFC Apprentice Artists, each of whom is currently enrolled in the Master of Music degree programs at Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado. These emerging professional singers will introduce your students to one of the world’s most demanding art forms (think Olympics for the voice!).

A limited number of performances will be offered. To book a program at your school for an individual class or general assembly, please contact me at your earliest convenience. Include more than one date/time, as that will give us more opportunity to schedule. I look forward to scheduling an educational concert for you in the near future!

Downloads

• Opera Fort Collins Opera Quest - Educational Outreach Program
• Opera Fort Collins Opera Quest - Brochure

Opera Fort Collins Apprentice Artists

Kristen Baumgartner (soprano)

Kristen Baumgartner originally hails from Louisville, Kentucky, where she received a BA in Music and History magna cum laude from Centre College. Currently, she is seeking a Masters in Music degree at Colorado State University. As an Opera Fort Collins Apprentice Artist, she has participated in outreach programs around the region and performed in the chorus for Carmen, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Daughter of the Regiment. She also managed the supertitles for the Spring 2012 production of Barber of Seville. Ms. Baumgartner has appeared as the first Touriere in Suor Angelica with the Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre and Flora in Turn of the Screw with CSU Opera Theatre. This fall, she will perform Lucy in The Telephone. She is a current student of Dr. Susan Hochmiller.

Alexandra Diessner (soprano)

Alexandra C. Diessner studies with Dr. Tiffany Blake in the Colorado State University Masters of Music degree program. Fort Collins Opera roles include: Rigoletto, Turandot, Barber of Seville, Daughter of the Regiment, La Traviata and Carmen. Ms. Diessner has performed leading roles with CSU Opera Theater including Johanna in Sweeney Todd, The Governess in Turn of the Screw, Laticia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Queen of the Night inThe Magic Flute, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Sally in Die Fledermaus, Fredrika in A Little Night Music, and Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro. Other roles include: Kiss Me, Kate, Ballad of Baby Doe, Falstaff, Fidelio and Street Scene. She has had featured articles in College Avenue magazine and Operagasm Newsletter.

Dana Kinney (mezzo-soprano)

Dana Kinney returns to OFC for a second season. Her OFC assistant director credits include Carmen, Gift of the Magi, Barber of Seville, and Daughter of the Regiment. Ms. Kinney received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado, studying with Dr. Melissa Malde. Past UNC performance roles include Phoebe in Yeomen of the Guard, cover for the title role in Carmen, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, and Zita (cover) in Gianni Schicci, and two summers with Opera Classica Europa. Ms. Kinney is an active stage director throughout the Rocky Mountain region. She has directed/assistant directed for Loveland Opera Theatre, the Opera-in-Education production of The Impresario, and UNC’s Don Giovanni. She will direct her own version of Don Giovanni in 2013 with a newly founded opera company, Rocky Mountain Chamber Opera.

Yamuna Meleth (soprano)

Yamuna Meleth of Birmingham, Alabama, received her undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Montevallo. She is now in the second year of the Masters of Music graduate program at the University of Northern Colorado, where she studies with Melissa Malde. She made her OFC debut as chorus in Daughter of the Regiment. Recent UNC roles include Charlotte in A Little Night Music. While living in NYC, Yamuna was the featured soloist for the world premiere of Christina Whitten-Thomas’ piece Mornings with You where she received a review to have a “voice like honey” by the composer herself.

Dan Reem (baritone)

Dan Reem a native of Macomb, Illinois, is currently in his second year at the University of Northern Colorado seeking a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. Mr. Reem made his Opera Fort Collins debut as the Officer in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He was cover for St. Sulpice and sang as a chorus member in Daughter of the Regiment. Recent leading roles at UNC include Fredrik Egerman in A Little Night Music and the title role in Signor Deluso. He has performed abroad with Opera Classica Europa as Monsieur de Brétigny in Manon and Marullo in Rigoletto. Previous roles include the title role in Gianni Schicchi, King Melchoir in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Sam in Trouble in Tahiti, and Peter in Hansel and Gretel (at Western Illinois University - his alma mater). He has studied voice with James Stegall, Terry Chasteen, and Paul Kreider. Currently, Mr. Reem studies with William Wilson.

Kimberli Render (soprano)

Kimberli Render is delighted to join the Opera Fort Collins Apprentice Artist program. Originally from Columbus, Georgia, Ms. Render recently graduated from the Columbus State University's Schwob School of Music. Earning degrees in both Music Education and Vocal Performance, she studied voice with Dr. Michelle DeBruyn. While there, she also was afforded countless opportunities to sing for some of the most highly esteemed coaches, composers, and vocal artists such as Mark Hayes, Walter Huff, Martha Gerhart, and Laquita Mitchell. A highlight in Ms. Render's undergraduate career came the summer of 2009, when she was invited to participate in Si parla, si canta in Urbania, Italy coaching with the highly regarded Benton Hess, Bob Cowart, and Hugh Murphy. Ms. Render's hard work has earned her continued success as a vocal artist. She has consistently been recognized as a finalist and semifinalist in state and regional NATS, MTNA, and other competitions held throughout various states in the Southeast. Some of her performance credits include Lucinda from Sondheim's Into the Woods, soprano soloist in Mozart's Coronation Mass, First Lady in excerpts from The Magic Flute, and Countess in The Marriage of Figaro. In addition, she is a certified K-12 Georgia music educator, who enjoys sharing her passion for music and life with children. Ms. Render never ceases to find musical inspiration, whether it is through teaching or performing.

Revere Taylor (baritone)

Revere Taylor hails from Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is now a first-year Master of Music candidate at University of Northern Colorado. He made his OFC debut as Corporal in Daughter of the Regiment. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Music from New Mexico State University and a Certificate of Higher Education from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. At New Mexico State, he appeared as Belcore in L’Elisir d’amore, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Falke in Die Fledermaus, and Ben in The Telephone. In Scotland, he appeared in The Tales of Hoffmann and Scottish Opera’s production of Prokofiev’s The Love of Three Oranges.

Jacob Thompson (tenor)

Jacob Thompson is a first year student in Colorado State University’s Masters program. In 2010, he received his BM from the University of Northern Colorado, studying with Dr. Melissa Malde. He performs regularly throughout Colorado’s Front Range. With the UNC Summer European Opera Tour, he has also appeared on several stages in France, Germany, and Holland with Opera Classica d’Europa. Past roles include Spoletta in Tosca, il Messagiero in Aïda, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Arsamene in Handel’s Serse, Frederick in Pirates of Penzance, and Le Dancaïre in Carmen, and the page in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Mr. Thompson was the recipient of a Denver Lyric Opera Scholarship, the Joe Tennyson Family Scholarship (2006, 2007, 2008), and the 2010 Angie Southard Award for Excellence in Music.

Anna Christine Woiwood (mezzo-soprano)

Anna Christine Woiwood recently graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with her Bachelor’s in Music. She debuted with Opera Fort Collins in Daughter of the Regiment. While at SMSU, she sang the roles of Gertrud in Hansel and Gretel, Katisha in The Mikado, and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte. She was a featured soloist in Verdi’s Gloria and also received honorable mention in SEMO’s Concerto and Aria competition. Last summer, Woiwood was in the Midwest Institute of Opera’s production as the third boy in Die Zauberflote. Recently, she won the Amelia Guthrie Promising Singer of Merit Award.