BOARD MEMBERS

MELISSA KILBERG, EMERITUS BOARD MEMBER

MELISSA KILBERG is an avid opera fan and supporter of the arts. With a Master's Degree in Venetian Renaissance art from the Courtauld Institute, and a background in Art History, Melissa has always been enthusiastic about art and music. She worked at the Santa Fe Opera for half a decade, and fully enjoyed every aspect of the operatic experience. Now that she has children of her own, it is her passion to promote opera to young audiences and ensure that opera is loved for generations to come.

OLGA CORRELL, EMERITUS BOARD MEMBER

OLGA CORRELL is excited to help Boulder Opera in reaching their artistic, educational and financial goals. Growing up in Munich, Germany, she has lived and studied in the UK and Switzerland before moving to the US. She holds a dual Master's degree in Philosophy and Computational Linguistics and is fluent in English, German, and French. Early on she was a very frequent guest at the prestigious Munich Opera House, where student tickets ran half the prize of movie theater tickets. This motivates her to help also make Boulder Opera accessible to everyone. Through her work with Boulder Opera, Olga hopes to not only instill her love of the arts in her four children, but also share with the greater Boulder community.

Catherine Stalick, board member

CATHERINE (Cat) STALICK is an entrepreneur, former COO and President of a real estate education company, and founder of Successful Living, a magazine formerly published that focused on women’s health, financial empowerment, and relationships. Her background spans environmental science, business operations, and consulting across education, scientific, and engineering sectors. Known for connecting people, ideas, and opportunities across disciplines, she is especially interested in the intersection of health, arts & culture, business, and emerging technologies. She is currently focused on her two sons , caregiving her elderly mother, and building her next chapter in Boulder, Colorado. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, snowboarding, concerts of all sorts, and cooking.

JULIANNE DAVIS, OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

JULIANNE DAVIS, soprano, values the wealth of performing arts in Colorado, especially around Boulder and Longmont, where she has lived since 2015. Before her recent debut with Boulder Opera, she appeared locally with the Boulder Symphony, the Boulder Chorale, and in several public recitals.

With a BA in music education from Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, and a MM in vocal music from the University of Northern Iowa, Julianne’s music life has spanned teaching public school vocal music, working as a graduate assistant in group teaching and collaborative piano, teaching private piano and voice lessons, and leading church music and children’s choirs. As a music educator and mom to three, she understands the impact of music on the lives of young people and is passionate about growing a diverse audience for all the live classical music in our local area, especially opera. Unique as an art form that combines the disciplines of vocal and instrumental music, literature, drama, and the visual art of set and costume design, opera has the power to simultaneously draw us into history and meet us in our present time, connecting all of us in the deeply human experiences of expression and relationship. Boulder Opera manifests these ideals by engaging local schools, presenting an array of new and well-known works, and drawing from the depth of our local talent and resources. Julianne is thrilled to be a part of it.

MARISA COOKSEY, BOARD MEMBER

MARISA COOKSEY is a multimedia producer and writer based in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. in Theatre and has since had the pleasure of working on a variety of projects in regional theatre and independent film with a writing and technical production focus. She has also worked in stage management with the continued passion to bring original musical and dramatic productions to life. In addition to creative projects, Marisa has participated in a variety of entrepreneurial projects including owning and operating small businesses, working as a freelance writer, and writing the whimsical children’s book, If Pots Could Talk, which is available where books are sold.

PRODUCTION TEAM

DIANELA ACOSTA, EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

DIANELA ACOSTA founded the Boulder Opera Company in 2012 with the intention of developing new audiences and making opera accessible to diverse audiences. Boulder Opera has introduced thousands of Boulder residents of all ages to opera, bringing together music, dance, and art together with a fresh, vibrant approach to this ancient art.

Originally from Barcelona, Spain, she is a classically trained singer with a M.M in Voice performance from Denver University, and sings locally as an ensemble artist with Central City, Boulder Opera and Opera on tap. Prior to moving to Boulder Dianela lived in NY where she was an artist in Residence with the Dicapo Opera, Amato Opera, and performed with NY Opera Forum and New York Opera Lyric Theatre.

carmel soriano, MARKETING manager

Carmel Soriano is the Marketing Manager at Boulder Opera Company, where she focuses on connecting audiences with the magic of live opera. Since joining the team, she has led digital marketing, email campaigns, and audience engagement efforts, always aiming to share the company’s work with the community in meaningful ways.

Carmel enjoys bringing fresh ideas and a collaborative spirit to every project, supporting Boulder Opera Company’s mission to make opera accessible, engaging, and inspiring for all. She is dedicated to helping the organization grow, reach new audiences, and create memorable experiences for every patron.