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Education & Community Programs
Welcome to the Opera Colorado Education & Community Programs website. We'd like to invite you to explore our 2010-2011 lineup of opera programs.
EXPERIENCE THE UNIQUE MAGIC THAT IS OPERA! Of all the performing arts, opera is the most collaborative, encompassing a wide variety of skill sets. It’s far more than just music and drama. Opera can serve as a bridge, leading you into many different subjects including history, language, movement, culture and team building – the possibilities are endless. Regardless of the subject you teach or the event you are planning, Opera Colorado’s Education & Community Programs will entertain as well as educate. We provide teachers with resources such as trainings, curriculum materials, and access to opera education specialists. Our programs are also aligned with Colorado Academic Standards. So…what can we do for you? We hope you’ll tell us… and we hope you’ll join us for a journey into the world of opera – so many amazing things can happen!
Sincerely,
Cherity and Emilie
To receive an program brochure, e-mail the Education Department at education@operacolorado.org. To learn more about upcoming events and receive information first, sign up for our e-mail club.
Cherity Koepke, Director of Education & Community ProgramsMs. Koepke was drawn to music at an early age. A lyric soprano, she began singing at the age of 15 and has performed such roles as Guinevere (Camelot), Maria (The Sound of Music), Adelaide (Guys & Dolls), Eponine (Les Misérables) and Katherine (Taming of the Shrew). She attended and the University of New Mexico, where she earned her degree in Child Psychology. Koepke also studied theater, focusing on directing, improvisation and musical performance. She has directed numerous productions, including Inherit the Wind, My Fair Lady and Romeo and Juliet. In 2001, Koepke began working as a behavior specialist with the Albuquerque Public School System. In 2002, she worked as a volunteer for Santa Fe Opera's student-produced opera project. One year later, Koepke was hired by the Santa Fe Opera as an artist-in-residence and served as Director, Librettist and Vocal Coach, guiding students as they created, produced and performed their own original opera. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Koepke performed with the Santa Fe Opera at the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Disney Theater in Albuquerque. She has directed numerous student chorus programs, and in 2006, led a performance for New Mexico’s Governor, Bill Richardson. Koepke came to Opera Colorado in 2007, where she works in education and community programs. She continues to sing and direct in the Denver area.
Emilie Elmore, Manager of of Education & Community ProgramsEmilie naturally became an arts educator through her love and passion for the arts and her desire to serve the community. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking from Iowa State University. During her traditional fine arts studies Emilie naturally branched out and often found herself in leadership roles engaging her peers and community in the visual arts. Emilie conceptualized and spearheaded the first annual Social Justice Through the Arts a juried art show and social gathering. Social Justice Through the Arts was a forum for and about the visual arts community. After College Emilie moved to Santa Cruz, California and received an opportunity to intern at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. In 2006 Emilie accepted a position at the California Center for the Arts in San Diego, California where she worked to bring the visual and performing arts to the community for 3 years. During this time Emilie moved up the ranks from Education Coordinator, to Education Outreach Manager, to Associate Director of Education. Emilie is very fortunate for the experiences she gained while working at The Center and believes that they prepared her for current position as the Manager of Education and Community Programs at Opera Colorado. Emilie brings arts education, leadership and management experiences to her current position.