Faculty
Tracy Marie Koch
Co-founder of Midwest Institute of Opera
Spinto soprano and stage director, Ms. Koch made her New York City operatic debut as the title role inMadama Butterfly in Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance Program. She performed excerpts this past July as Tosca in New York Summer Opera Scenes with Joshua Greene and Carol Yahr. She is also co-founder of the Midwest Institute of Opera and runs one of central Illinois’ most successful voice and piano studios.
John Michael Koch
Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Midwest Institute of Opera
In 2003, John Michael Koch, baritone, was granted tenure in the College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University’s School of Music in Normal, Illinois, where he has been nominated to Who’s Who in America in 2008 and 2009, and three times to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and has served as Voice Area Coordinator in the School of Music since 2009. Koch has performed over 35 operatic and 45 oratorio roles throughout the world. He also maintains a full voice studio in addition to teaching Vocal Pedagogy and conducting the ISU Civic Chorale.
Kathleen Kelly
Conductor, Pianist, Teacher
Kathleen Kelly enjoys a wide-ranging and dynamic musical life as a pianist, opera coach, conductor, and master teacher. Highlights of her 2016-17 season include recitals with tenor Stanford Olsen, concerts with the Alexandria Symphony, Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Nig ht’s Dream at the University of Michigan, and Bize t’s Carmen at Opera Columbus.The first woman and first American named as Director of Musical Studies at the Vienna State Opera, Kathleen recently joined the faculty of the University of Michigan as that school’s first Coach/Conductor of Opera… (READ MORE)
