Kayla in the role of Marie Shabata in the 2012 UNL Opera production of O Pioneers! (with Joshua Zink as Emil Bergson)
KAYLA WILKENS
This May, Kayla Wilkens (MM 2014) enjoyed a concert run in Las Vegas sharing the stage with Josh Groban, singing the famous duet “All I ask of you” from Phantom of the Opera. Wilkens went through an audition process that ultimately landed her the gig. Since graduating from UNL, Wilkens has been working as a professional singing-artist, fluently crossing over between genres. “It’s been rewarding to help bring opera, musical theater, and jazz to new audiences and communities” Wilkens reports. Since settling in Las Vegas in 2018, she has been involved with both Opera Las Vegas and Vegas City Opera, performing in both MainStage productions and educational student outreach programs. “My love for connecting people to music is still a strong motivating force in my life. I also sing regularly with the UNLV
choirs as a guest artist and mentor, which has been a fun way to stay connected to the next generation of musicians”. With UNL Opera, Kayla delivered phenomenal performances in the roles of Marie Shabata (O Pioneers! 2012), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring 2013) and La Fée (Cendrillon 2014)
Please enjoy a visit Kayla’s website: https://kaylawilkens.com/about
Kayla in rehearsal for the 2014 production of Cendrillon with UNL Director of Opera William Shomos
BRIAN JEFFERS
Brian Jeffers (BM 2014) is now a NYC-based vocalist and actor praised for his “flexible and heroic tenor” (Opera News) and for his “mix of comic boldness and fine voice” (ArtsKnoxville). He has performed with Knoxville Opera, Chautauqua Opera Company, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, The Juilliard School, Opera Saratoga, On Site Opera, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, New Amsterdam Opera, Axelrod Performing Arts Center and City Lyric Opera. Recently Jeffers delivered a dynamite performance of Sellem in Opera Omaha’s wonderful production of Rake’s Progress this past February. He returns to Opera Omaha this summer in the production Fantastic Mr. Fox. While at UNL, Brian performed many roles with UNL Opera including Mayor Upfold (Albert Herring 2013) and Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Check out Brian’s website: https://brianjefferstenor.com/
Kayla Wilkens and Brian Jeffers, together (center), in the 2013 UNL Opera production of Albert Herring.
Brian as Sellem in the Opera Omaha’s recent Rake’s Progress