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Alumni Spotlight: Kayla Wilkens and Brian Jeffers
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...
Give to Lincoln 2025 is LIVE!
As another school year comes quickly to a close, Give to Lincoln Day is once more around the corner! Now is as great a time as ever to support the UNL Opera program by making a donation to Friends...
Meet our Friends of Opera Student Representatives Ella Young and Tanner Engeseth
By Sharla Cerra I recently spoke with Tanner Engeseth and Ella Young, students at the UNL Glenn Korff School of Music. Tanner, who is in his first year of a Master’s program studying Voice...
“Re-Creating” Whitman poetry: Reflections on Song of Myself
by William Shomos, Director of UNL Opera In May of 2024 UNL alum Jared Hiscock, guest artists Brandon Bell and Philip Daniel, and I premiered a concert-piece, Song of Myself, at the Salt Creek Song...
Music and Theatre meet again in Urinetown
It’s understandable to hear the title Urinetown and have a few questions. Will the Spring Musical this year be reduced to two hours of potty humor? What kinds of educational experiences will the...
Getting to Know You: Friends of Opera Scholarship winner Jordan Thomas
The Friends of Opera Scholarship has been an integral part of our organization’s mission for many years. The 2024-25 school year, however, is the first year in which this scholarship will be...
Korff Alumni performs in Strauss’ Salome
Nathaniel Sullivan, UNL class of 2014, is having a wonderful career, keeping busy in the world of opera, concert, and art song. Performing the demanding principal role of John the Baptist, Nathan...
2 Korff School alumni collaborate for Viterbo opera production
Jeni Houser (MM 2011)James Wilson (DMA 2010)Two Glenn Korff School of Music alumni, who first collaborated on opera productions at Nebraska, are reuniting for Viterbo University’s upcoming...
SAVE THE DATE: 2023 Friends of Opera GALA
The FRIENDS OF OPERA GALA will be held Sunday, September 24th at the Country Club of Lincoln, starting with cocktails at 6pm and dinner at 6:30pm. Our theme this year will be “Midnight in Paris.” ...
2023 Friends of Opera Scholarship Competition Results
Eight of the students admitted to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music voice program for 2023-2024 were invited to compete on April 2 for one of the three $1000...
POSTPONED: Friends of Opera 2021 Gala
In consideration of the increased Covid-19 levels and for the safety of our patrons, the fall 2021 Gala “ A Viennese Ball” scheduled for September 26 has been postponed. We truly value your...
BECOME A MEMBER
Please join Friends of Opera today! Your membership dues will:
- Enhance the quality of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Opera productions
- Encourage talented vocal students to attend University of Nebraska-Lincoln through scholarships and increased performance opportunities
- Support outreach programs
- Reward outstanding performers at the annual Metropolitan Opera Nebraska District Auditions
