Soprano Annamarie Zmolek (Frasquita) is delighted to be making her professional debut as Frasquita in Carmen with Opera Theatre of the Rockies. Her association with Opera Theare began with her participation in the Colorado College Vocal Arts Symposium. In her three summers there, she appeared in scenes as Birdie in Regina, Giuditta in Giuditta, Gilda in Rigoletto, Flower Maiden in Parsifal, Beth in Little Women, Ortlinde in Die Walküre, and Elvira in I Puritani. She also covered the role of Contessa Almaviva in Opera Theatre’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro. A Colorado native, Annamarie has appeared in the chorus of Nixon in China with the Colorado Music Festival, as a soloist with the Western Academy of Music String Orchestra, and in numerous recitals. She studied at the Eastman School of Music with Robert Swensen, where she earned her Bachelor of Music and Performer's Certificate. While at Eastman, she portrayed The Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Gleaton in Susannah, Nightingale in Nightingale, and Lisette in La Rondine (cover). She won the 2004 Concerto Competition and performed Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Eastman Philharmonia. She performed this piece again with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra as the winner of their Young Artist Competition. A willing collaborator on new music, she premiered the role of Venus in Zachary Wadsworth's chamber opera Venus and Adonis, as well as premiering two of his song cycles. Annamarie recently returned from an 18 month mission for her church in Germany, where she lived in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Bonn, and Kaiserslautern. She is glad to be back in beautiful Colorado and studying with Martile Rowland.