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About Opera Theatre of the Rockies

Learn More About Our Mission

Opera Theatre of the Rockies is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the Southern Colorado community through the art of opera. Our passion lies in providing exceptional opera education, hosting captivating concerts, and organizing educational events for all ages. We strive to support aspiring vocalists in achieving their dreams of a career in opera by offering valuable resources and mentorship.

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Meet Our Team

Our team at Opera Theatre of the Rockies is comprised of dedicated individuals who share a deep love for opera and a commitment to nurturing talent within the community. Each member brings a unique set of skills and expertise, contributing to the success of our educational programs, concerts, and events. Get to know the passionate individuals behind the scenes who work tirelessly to bring the beauty of opera to life for audiences of all ages.

Martile Rowland

Founder & Artistic Director

Emerita

Martile Rowland made her unexpected international debut with only six hours’ notice, stepping in as Queen Elizabeth in Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux at Carnegie Hall—and earning acclaim that launched a distinguished global career. She went on to perform leading roles with many of the world’s most renowned opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Opera de Nice, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Teatro Colón, and major houses across Europe and South America. In the United States, she starred with Atlanta Opera, San Diego Opera, Baltimore Opera, Minnesota Opera, Detroit Opera, Miami Opera, Dayton Opera, and Washington Concert Opera. She spent seven seasons with the Colorado Opera Festival, returning to Carnegie Hall multiple times in leading roles.

In 1998, Martile founded Opera Theatre of the Rockies and served as its Artistic Director for 20 seasons, directing or producing more than 40 productions and creating the award-winning Opera Theatre Goes to School program, which has introduced thousands of Colorado students to opera. With the support of Colorado College, she also co-created the Vocal Arts Festival, a 17-year training program that has produced graduates who now perform worldwide. A celebrated voice teacher and mentor, Martile was named Classical Singer Magazine’s 2006 Teacher of the Year and has received multiple lifetime achievement honors, including from the Pikes Peak Arts Council and the Pikes Peak Opera League. She continues to serve as Artist-in-Residence at Colorado College, which awarded her an honorary degree in 2019.

Steven LaCosse

Artistic Director

Vocal Arts Festival

Steven LaCosse has a repertoire that spans Le nozze di Figaro to The Fantasticks and has directed over 100 productions. He recently directed Il trovatore for Piedmont Opera, Haydn’s Orlando Paladino for the AJ Fletcher Opera Institute, Nixon in China for the Princeton Festival, and Gianni Schicchi for Opera Theatre of the Rockies, where he was recently appointed Artistic Director of the Vocal Arts Festival.

A dedicated educator, he has served as a resident opera stage director at the UNC School of the Arts for over 25 years. Currently, he serves as the Artistic Director of the AJ Fletcher Opera Institute.

He was awarded the University of North Carolina Board of Governors’ Teaching Award in 2011.

Nicole Cherecwich

Board Member

Sandra Damron

Board Member

Sandra Damron is a lifelong resident of Colorado Springs. Her career in accounting led her to become El Paso County Treasurer and then to teaching accounting at the post-secondary level. Sandra has always made time for music. She is a long-time member of the Colorado Springs Chorale and has also sung with the Colorado Opera Festival and Opera Theater of the Rockies. She currently serves on the Boards of the Colorado Springs Chorale, the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, and Opera Theater of the Rockies.

Joining us as of May 2024, Nicole Cherecwich is a soprano based in Colorado Springs. She received her Master's degree from the University of Delaware, where she studied with Noel Archambeault. As a teacher, she is currently a visiting lecturer for music at CSU Pueblo, a mentor at the Colorado Springs Conservatory, and runs a private voice and piano studio. As a performer, she frequents classical and musical theatre repertoire. Recent roles include Lynne in A Grand Night for Singing, Luisa in The Fantasticks, Jo in Little Women (The Musical), Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, and Anne in A Little Night Music.

Nicole de Naray

Board Member

President - Pikes Peak Opera League 2022 - Present

Nicole has lived in the Colorado Springs area since 1986. She spent her entire career in various forms of Financial Management, working in banking, government, corporate, small business, and nonprofit accounting. Since she retired from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic in 2010 as Director of Finance and Operations, she has served in various board positions, including Treasurer for the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, President, Treasurer, and Secretary for her HOA boards, member at large for the Home Front Military Network Advisory Board, and as a Mt. Carmel Community Ambassador. She is honored to serve as President of the Pikes Peak Opera League.

She grew up around the world as a military brat and wife and is proud to call Colorado Springs home. She studied piano as a child in Germany and as a teenager in France, and still spends time on her piano most days. She also sang in church and community choruses everywhere she lived. Travel has been a big part of her life, and she plans to continue doing that as long as she is able.

Thomas Andreas

Board Member

Joining Opera Theater of the Rockies as of October 2025, Thom is our newest board member!

Thom joined Sparks Willson in 2014 as a legal assistant, bringing experience from various fields, including liquor licensing, human resources, and the local government sector. In 2023, he completed his paralegal certificate through UC Berkeley Extension to enhance his skills.

When not at the office or in board meetings, Thom serves as the Head Verger of Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, sings with the Taylor Memorial Choir and the Opera Theater of the Rockies, and encourages civic involvement through public writing and mentorship. He is also an avid cook and plant dad with a passion for the natural world and history.

Chris Lilley

Board President & Treasurer Interim

Chris holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in voice performance and conducting from the University of North Texas. Since relocating to Colorado, Chris has performed with Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Opera Colorado, Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the Colorado Youth Symphony with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.

Chris is a Principal Solutions Architect with AVI-SPL, helping companies with their Unified Communications needs.

Steven Locke

Board Vice President

Kathleen Pearson

Advisor
Business Manager

Rachel "Ray" Erazo

Executive Secretary, Historian, and Outreach Liaison

Recently relocated from NY, Stephen Locke joined the Purple Mountain Group at Morgan Stanley in March, assuming the role of Client Service Associate with a focus on the team’s community outreach, sponsorships, client events, and team administrative support.

Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Alliance University in Manhattan, NY. His undergraduate training has provided him the opportunity to perform in places such as Hong Kong, Japan, & South Korea. He has also performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2015 & 2018. He recently received his MBA in Management from Mercy University, also located in Manhattan, where he studied management, business leadership, entrepreneurship, and economics.

A Colorado Springs Native, Kathleen has a passion for the city she grew up in and wants to help support local arts in the region. After earning music performance and business administration degrees at Adams State University, she returned to Colorado Springs to complete her MBA at UCCS. She completed five seasons with the Chamber Singers of the Colorado Springs Chorale and one season with the Madrigal Singers at Glen Eyrie Castle. Kathleen has previously served on the board of the Southern Colorado division of the American Diabetes Association.

Colorado Springs native Rachel “Ray” Erazo first fell in love with opera through Opera Theatre of the Rockies’ school performances, an early spark that has shaped her life as a mezzo-soprano, educator, and director. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Adams State University, Ray returned home to teach and direct at Harrison High School, her alma mater, where she spent multiple years leading innovative, student-driven productions and championing equitable access to the arts.

As of this year, Ray is completing her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at National University and pursuing an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy at the University of Idaho. Outside of education, Ray serves as Co-Founder and Director of Dramaturgy & Artistic Development of Unbound, a community theatre dedicated to performing banned and challenging works to ignite dialogue and support arts literacy. As a member of the Opera Theatre of the Rockies Board of Directors, she brings a strong focus on education outreach, community partnerships, and the next generation of artists inspired by opera—just as she once was. In addition, Ray has continued to advise her alumni, former students, staff, and families of Panther Playhouse through HHS as an Education and Directorial Consultant.

Kacie Kenton

Outreach Director

Kacie Kenton (Soprano) recently moved to Denver after living and working locally in Colorado Springs since 2017. Kacie was born in sunny San Diego, CA, and received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in Illinois. In 2016, she completed her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Kacie studies voice with Martile Rowland and sings with various organizations throughout Colorado. She has been a featured soloist with the Colorado Springs Chorale, the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, and Parish House Baroque. Kacie has sung with Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble for several years and was a featured soloist during their performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass in February 2022. Kacie enjoys singing with the Choir of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception as a soprano section leader and often performs in recitals and other engagements for churches in the state of Colorado.

Kacie made her debut as Lola (Gallantry) with Opera Theatre of the Rockies in January 2022 and has since performed in numerous outreach shows with the company. She had the pleasure of attending the 2023 Vocal Arts Festival in Colorado Springs, where she performed scenes of various roles including Young Alice (Glory Denied), Adina (L’elisir d’amore), and Despina (Così fan tutte). Her previous roles include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Laurie (The Tender Land), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Prima Sorella Cercatrice (Suor Angelica), Monica (The Medium), Emily Webb (Our Town), and The Shepherd Boy (Tosca).

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