So many CSU alumni have used their innovative skills in carving their niche in the world. The music program at CSU has over 5,000 alumni that inspire, teach, and heal. Denver native, Deborah Morrow majored in Music Education during her time at CSU and now serves as Director of Education and Community Engagement at Central City Opera in Denver, Colo.

As she expected upon graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor’s in Music Education, Deb began teaching elementary music. She soon learned, however, that her passion for educating in the field of music would take an unexpected turn.

“I’ve loved opera since I was a teenager,” she said. “My grandparents both used to sing at Central City and I loved going to the performances.”

She ended up taking an administrative role in the office at Central City Opera in 1991. By 1996, Deb had become the head of a full-time outreach and education program at the organization. Under Deb’s direction, this beloved summer repertoire festival season expanded to include school programs, community concerts, and other outreach activities during the year across Colo. and Wyo. With performances in the historic Central City Opera House, the company remains the largest holder of historical property in the state of Colo.

“I love the history that’s in this company,” said Deb. “There’s so much foundation here, but with the ability to build innovation on top of that.”

Deb cites the connection of her passion to educating in the arts to her years at CSU, where she immensely enjoyed music history and exposure to technical theatre under Bob Braddy, working with costumes and props on some productions, and where she also met her future husband.

Attending music classes in the old music building on the Oval, Deb is delighted by the concept of the now 5-year-old University Center for the Arts.

“I think it was a great idea to combine [music, theatre, and dance] together – there’s a lot of natural synergy there,” Deb said.

Managing approximately 150-200 education and outreach programs each year, Deb notes that it is the importance of artistic fundamentals and educating our youth in creative ways that mean the most to her.

“Whether I’m working with kids or adults, life gets so busy that we can almost ‘forget’ to be creative,” she said. “And when I see someone have one of those ‘AHA’ moments of making connections or broadening their horizons because of the arts – I can’t think of anything better than that.”

Learn more about Central City Opera at centralcityopera.org

All About Deborah:

Ensembles at CSU:
Opera Ensemble, Women’s Choir, Mixed Choir.

Favorite Professor/Director:
Robert Cavarra and Stephen Busch.

Favorite CSU Performance:
My voice instructor, Elizabeth Elliott, in La traviata.

Favorite Opera:
La nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) by W. A. Mozart.

Favorite CSU Memory:
Other than seeing the trees on the Oval, while living in Braiden Hall one year, I loved walking behind the Student Center every day and seeing Long’s Peak.

We want to know what our alumni are accomplishing! Connect with us online at: Music.colostate.edu/alumni or e-mail Carrie.Care@colostate.edu.