窪做惇蹋厙 Alumna Soprano Making it Big in a Big City
窪做惇蹋厙���s alumna Teaira Burge is thriving in her new city of Chicago. With both a bachelor���s degree in voice performance from 窪做惇蹋厙 and her Master of Music degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University under her belt, there���s no telling what her future holds.
���I am so in love with Chicago and the opera community here,��� Burge said, ���I have some exciting gigs coming up and some even more exciting auditions.���
Currently Burge is a soloist for Opera on Tap Chicago as well as New Moon Opera. She also is the co-founder and general manager of The Song Set Chicago. The recital series, Song Set Chicago, is an event that takes place twice a month in a local coffee shop where featured singers can perform a 30-minute recital.
During her time at 窪做惇蹋厙, Burge appeared as Papagena in ���The Mini Magic Flute,��� Polly Peachum in ���The Three Penny Opera��� and Rapunzel in ���Into the Woods.���
She was also a district finalist at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the winner of the Idaho State Civic Symphony Young Artist Competition.
���The Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition was such an exciting experience,��� Burge said. ���I am so proud to have represented 窪做惇蹋厙 well during its first year hosting such a fantastic competition.���
After graduating from 窪做惇蹋厙 she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she studied with opera coach Ruth Dobson, a professor of music and director of opera at Portland State University. Dobson introduced Burge to the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
���When I was accepted it was a dream come true,��� Burge said.
Burge then went on to graduate with her Master of Music degree in 2015.
���My time at Roosevelt taught me so much about resilience,��� Burge said. ���I truly learned to believe in myself and to push myself past the walls that I thought were built in my way. I learned a lot about myself as a person and as a performer.���
Burge���s future goal is to continue singing wherever and whenever she can.
���One of the best things about Chicago is that so many of us young singers simply create our own opportunities,��� Burge said. ���So you really never know what fun project is coming your way next.���
