Nurturing voices, building community
The Kristin Okerlund Masterclass Series honors the life and artistry of pianist, vocal coach, and répétiteur Kristin Okerlund (1963–2025), a St. Louis native who served the Vienna State Opera for more than three decades. Renowned for her musical insight and devotion to her colleagues, she helped shape Vienna’s operatic culture and guided generations of singers with warmth, wit, and precision. Kristin was also a cherished vocal coach to the Living Opera founding team for nearly seven years, preparing us for performances and shaping the artistic values that continue to guide our work.
The series offers emerging and mid-career singers an immersive environment for vocal development and mentorship. Participants work directly with the Living Opera artistic team and invited guests in sessions that combine technique, interpretation, and professional preparation. Each masterclass emphasizes practical performance skills, expressive freedom, and artistic resilience, fostering a community of musicians committed to excellence with purpose and integrity.
Through this ongoing initiative, Living Opera aims to cultivate the next generation of performers and educators, strengthen artistic networks across communities, and affirm the enduring importance of mentorship in sustaining a vibrant musical culture. And if you look really closely in this photo, you'll see Kristin at the piano during our very first masterclass.
