“I came to the U in 2008 expecting to pursue a degree in architecture. I’d always loved singing and thought perhaps I could minor in music. But I wanted a degree that would lead to a ‘real’ career.

Fate decided otherwise.

I showed up for orientation, hoping to speak to an advisor in architecture about what classes to sign up for, but the building was locked down. I had auditioned and been accepted into the music school, too, so I ended up meeting with an advisor for that program and signed up for those classes. I figured I would get back to architecture at some point but every time I thought about it a little voice told me I was supposed to be in music.

When I started, I didn’t even know opera was a thing people still did. I thought it was some died-out art form. There is not a lot of opera in Heber where I am from! When I found out people still sing opera I realized this is what my voice is meant for and I’m pretty good at it. I am a coloratura soprano — the high, fast-moving acrobatic voice.

Opera gives you a chance to really dive into human nature and the reasons people do the things they do, what drives them. A lot of arts come together — dance, song, acting, music, set artists, costume designers, composers, writers — to do this one thing. It’s really cool that they all work together to create a masterpiece.”

— Alexia Adair, marketing and communications coordinator, College of Social and Behavioral Science, BA ’13, MA ’17 Alexia most recently performed in the chorus of Utah Opera’s Pagliacci/Gianni Schicchi