Competitions: Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Regional Finals, Denver: Three 2nd places One 4th place Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, District Finals, Denver: Seven finalists Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, District Finals, Nevada: One 1st place Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition for Colorado Singers: One 1st place One 3rd place One 5th place Two 7th places Two 9th places High Plains Opera Competition, Colorado: One 3rd place National Association of Negro Musicians Scholarship Contest, Rocky Mountain Region: One 2nd place Classical Productions Competition National Finals, Carnegie Hall, New York. One 2nd place Bel Canto Competition, Denver. One finalist Rocky Mountain Theatre Association Competition 1st Place, Musical Theatre Division Metro State College Vocal Arts Competition For Young Colorado musicians 1st place, High School Division, 2008 National Association of Teachers of Singing, West Central Regional Auditions: (Students entered three times) One 1st place Two 2nd places Two 4th places National Association of Teachers of Singing, Rocky Mountain District Auditions: Numerous 1st, 2nd, 3rd, places and finalists in High School, College, and Open Divisions every year entered from 1988 through present. NATS Young Leader Award, West Central Region The Denver Post Ovation Award nominee: “Best Musical Actress,“ for Percy in ”Spitfire Grill” Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre, 2008 Artist Apprenticeships and Outreach Programs: Joseph and Loretta Law Artist Center of Opera Colorado: Emily Herrera: Resident Artist Nevada Opera Theatre: Emily Herrera: Resident artist Utah Opera Festival Apprentice Program Tausha Torrez Arkansas Opera Apprentice Program: Susan Bradford Opera Colorado Outreach Ensemble: Shauna Southwick Kelly Stoneberger Jenee Stewart Emily Herrera Opera Fort Collins Education Outreach Program: Shauna Southwick Central City Opera “Eureka” Outreach Ensemble: Montgomery Sykora Opera Colorado Chorus: Forty students (20 sopranos, 10 mezzo sopranos, 7 tenors, 3 baritones), have sung with the Opera Colorado Chorus. Schools: Active students have been accepted as voice majors and in many cases been offered scholarships, to the following Colleges and Universities: New York University, Vanderbilt University, University of Southern California, Boston Conservatory, University of the Pacific, Pomona College, (full scholarship) New Jersey City University, (full scholarship) Brigham Young University, University of Utah, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, Metro State College (B.F.A. and B.M. programs) Colorado Christian University, and the University of Denver. Also, The Denver School of the Arts, and the DCPA Theatre Academy. Opera and Musical Theater Companies: Active students have performed leading and secondary roles with these Colorado companies: Opera Colorado, Opera Fort Collins, Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Passaggio Opera Company, Black Box Opera, Loveland Opera Company, Colorado Opera Troupe, Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre, Ovation Players, Backstage Theatre, Ascot Dinner Theatre, Arvada Center Theatre, ACME Comedy Players, Castle Rock Players, Country Dinner Playhouse, Destiny Theatre Productions, Empire Lyric Players, Town Hall Arts Center, Main Street Players, Nomad Arts Center, Aurora Fox Theatre, Shadow Theatre Company, Theatre on Broadway, Performance Now, and Front Range Music Theatre. Students have also performed with companies in Seattle, Nevada, Utah, Arkansas, Arizona, Virginia, Washington D.C., and New York. Also, students have performed in Germany and Italy, and one has presented lecture recitals on African-American Spirituals throughout the United States. Reviews of Students’ Performances: “original music is a key element of ACME shows, and in this production, Lori Duncan stands out vocally.” “12 steps Beyond,” ACME Comedy Players The Denver Post, Ed Will “. . . and there were outstanding contributions, . . . especially from soprano Emily Herrera as Lauretta. Her diminuendo after the climax of the popular “O mio babbino caro” was gorgeous.” “Gianni Schicchi”, Opera Colorado. The Denver Post, Jeff Bradley. “ Emily Herrera played the part of the impetuous Musetta with sass and a capricious vocal dexterity that captivated the audience. Herrera’s performance of “Quando m’en vo”, Musetta’s flirtatious charming marketplace solo, was completely engaging. One wished she would never stop”. “La Boheme”, Nevada Opera Theatre. Las Vegas Review - Journal, Carolyn Wardle. “ Jennifer Ward’s Fiona is radiant and gorgeous. Her soprano soars through those bonnie lyrical numbers with a power that leaves one speechless” “Brigadoon”, Town Hall Arts Center. Spotlight Colorado, David Marlowe. ”the attractive Nikki Kandelind, who plays Hope, has a marvelous voice. She shines on each song. I wanted to hear more from her” “Anything goes”, Front Range Music Theatre. The Reporter Herald, Phyllis Walbye. “ Tausha Torrez is lovely in appearance and voice, making the bittersweet ending less sad than it might otherwise be.” “The Student Prince”, Utah Festival Opera Company. The Salt Lake Tribune, Celia Baker. Student Accomplishments
Emily Herrera as Lauretta, “Gianni Schicchi,” Opera Colorado
Heather Mills and Nicole Kandel,
“Lucia di Lammermore”
Opera Colorado
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