Cynthia Stokes, 1981, B.A. Speech and Theatre Arts, recently founded SD CITY Opera in San Diego, Calif., a new, artist-driven opera company dedicated to building community by turning beautiful music into stunning theatre and contributing to the dynamic reimagining of opera in America for the 21st century. Previously, Ms. Stokes started La Jolla Playhouse’s Summer Conservatory and San Diego Opera’s Summer Opera Institute. Ms. Stokes has collaborated with some of America’s most exciting composers and librettists including creating original work for the Cincinnati Opera, Opera Carolina, Los Angeles Opera, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Other opera directing credits include: San Diego Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Piedmont Opera, Mainly Mozart and Glimmerglass Opera. She is currently on faculty at The Taos Opera Institute and is Resident Stage Director at San Antonio’s Opera Piccola. An accomplished theatre director, her work has been seen at American Conservatory Theatre, The Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre, and North Coast Rep. She also holds an M.FA. in Directing from the University of California at San Diego. Watch a video about CITY Opera’s inaugural production Queen of Carthage. Read more at cynthiastokes.com
Luke Contreras, 2013, B.A. Political Science and Communication Studies, CSU Marching Band: I consider myself lucky that after I crossed the stage at graduation, my CSU experience did not end, but rather a new chapter began. Working in the CSU Office of Admissions as a proud alumnus has been the opportunity of a lifetime. Getting to be an advocate for the University Center of the Arts and the CSU Marching Band to prospective students is a humbling experience. I loved my time dawning the uniform as a member of the band, and now, as a senior admissions counselor, I still get to dawn dawn green and gold, demonstrating to future students the power a CSU Experience can hold.
David Saccardi, 2011, B.M. Music Education, is currently in his fifth year teaching orchestra at Loveland High School and Bill Reed Middle School in Loveland, Colo. He also continues to play double bass with the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and maintains an active private studio. He recently began graduate studies for a M.M. in Music Education from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.