"Today I'm earning a Master of Music in opera performance at the University of Maryland, College Park, and a member of the Maryland Opera Studio."

-Claire Kuttler '06

Soprano Star
By Claire Kuttler '06

One of the highlights of my time at Concordia was singing the soprano solo in a performance of "Ein deutsches Requiem" of Johannes Brahms. Dr. Rene Clausen, conductor of The Concordia Choir who was also conducting the Requiem, asked me to try out and then offered me the part!

I spent months working on the solo until I could nearly sing it in my sleep. I was so excited to sing in the Requiem for many reasons, one of them being it was my first solo experience accompanied by an orchestra. It was quite the performance - with the entire F-M Symphony and a 90-voice chorus of professional musicians.

The Requiem was one of many wonderful experiences I've had while studying vocal performance at Concordia. I was a member and soloist of The Concordia Choir and performed in various recitals, small ensembles and opera workshops. One summer, I participated in the studio program at the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, through the University of Cincinnati Conservatory. I was also been involved in several Fargo-Moorhead Opera productions, including "La Traviata" and "Madama Butterfly."

Today I'm earning a Master of Music in opera performance at the University of Maryland, College Park, and a member of the Maryland Opera Studio. I am pursuing a career in opera and graduate school is the next logical step.