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.

Scott Graves, board member

With over two decades of experience in Account Management, Sales, and International Sales Leadership, SCOTT GRAVES has built a successful career across three dynamic industries: Office Technology, Marking & Coding, and Packaging Machinery Automation. Known for his strategic approach and commitment to excellence, Scott consistently drives growth and builds lasting client relationships.

Beyond his professional achievements, Scott is an Eagle Scout and a Black Belt in Taekwondo, where he also serves as a certified referee—demonstrating the same discipline and dedication he brings to his work. He is a proud board member of the Boulder Opera Company, contributing his leadership skills to support the arts.

Scott’s wife, Dr. Margaret Ozaki-Graves, is a renowned opera singer and administrator director, and together they share a deep appreciation for music and community engagement.

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.

JESSICA MUNIZ, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS

Jessica H. Muniz is a classically trained mezzo-soprano who studied with Dr. William Stone at Temple University in Philadelphia. After more than a decade in corporate roles, she recognized that the principles she values most - listening closely, building real relationships, and solving problems with a bit of creativity - are the same ones that make music land.

She has since returned to the stage, singing with Opera Colorado’s ensemble since 2023. She has also worked at Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception as an alto section leader. Most recently, she was invited to perform in Puccini’s Suor Angelica as the Cercatrice II in Classical Movements inaugural program, Prague Summer Nights: Presto in the Czech Republic.

At Boulder Opera, Jessica aims to partner with community leaders and local businesses to make opera feel like it belongs to everyone -current, welcoming and accessible. Beyond performances, she's focused on smart collaborations: season-long visibility and co-marketing, family and school programming, design-your-own pop-ups in workplaces and public spaces, thoughtful in-kind trades, and philanthropic efforts that widen access. Why? Because when the world is heavy, shared art gives people a moment of pause and connection. Jessica wants to help spark those moments, growing the next generation’s curiosity and tying cultural impact to real community and business values.

ALICE DEL SIMONE, EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Coloratura soprano ALICE DEL SIMONE, a San Francisco Bay Area native, received her B.A. in Vocal Performance and B.S. in Plant Science from UC Davis in 2014, and is currently pursuing an M.M. in Voice Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Colorado Boulder, studying with Andrew Garland.

Del Simone enjoys performing varied operatic repertoire including recent appearances as La Fée in Cendrillon (Massenet) with Eklund Opera, Clytemnestra in the premiere of Anne Hege’s The Furies with Stanford Laptop Orchestra, The Lady with a Hand Mirror in Postcard from Morocco (Argento) with Eklund Opera, Gilda in Three Feathers (Laitman) with Opera Steamboat, La Princesse, Le Rosignol, and Le Feu in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (Ravel) with Boulder Opera, La Feé in Cendrillon (Viardot) with Loveland Opera’s Educational Outreach, and Poppea in Agrippina (Handel) with Eklund Opera. In 2022, Del Simone was a Certificate of Merit recipient in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition.

Del Simone is also a passionate music educator. She previously taught music theory and vocal pedagogy for the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir where she also served as Program Director. She currently maintains a small private voice studio. Del Simone enjoys approaching the challenges of music education with positive energy and optimism and celebrates the differences that make each voice unique. Del Simone is currently undertaking voice science research that explores student-specific effective vocal instruction techniques. She also actively seeks works by female and POC composers for own performance and for her students.

carmel soriano, MARKETING manager

Carmel earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, majoring in Financial Management. After graduation, she worked as an associate in various businesses, including a grocery store, a pawnshop, and a bank. These experiences helped her develop strong skills in customer service, sales, and administrative tasks.

In 2024, Carmel took on a new challenge by joining Boulder Opera Company, stepping into the arts industry for the first time. Although this field is new to her, she is eager to learn and grow. Her work experience allows her to bring fresh ideas to the company, and she is dedicated to helping the organization succeed. Carmel is excited about the opportunities ahead and is ready to make a positive impact at Boulder Opera Company.

Baby Mylene Jimenez, Finance and Operations Associate

Baby Mylene earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. During her internship, she gained hands-on experience in administrative and operational duties, developing practical skills and confidence to take on new challenges.

She joined Boulder Opera Company with the goal of supporting the company’s financial and operational functions efficiently and accurately.