Our Leadership, Board, & Trustees

Jim Sohre serves as full-time General Director for Opera Las Vegas, for which he has devised and directed such events as Bravo, Bernstein!, A Passion for Puccini, Viva Verdi! , Latin Fiesta, and Bravo, Bernstein! at the Smith Center Cabaret Jazz; Who’s Afraid of Opera?, Carmen and Rigoletto Informances tours to area schools;  Britten’s Noye’s Fludde (Noah’s Flood) to local churches; Stars of David, saluting Jewish-American opera stars at Temple Sinai; family friendly operatic versions of Pinocchio, The Three Little Pigs, and Jack and the Beanstalk to library theatres; and various other thematic performances like Divas in Diamonds, Operatic Spook-takular, Our Three Tenors, Holiday on Broadway, Beer and Baritones, Opera Legends in Black, Dueling Pianos and Cinderella’s Diamond Ball which performed at the historic Liberace Mansion.

Jim travels throughout North America and Europe regularly to review performances for Opera Today, and Music and Vision among other publications. He is a founding member of the Las Vegas Valley Theatre Awards program. He completed a 40-year civilian career with the Army Entertainment program, most of it spent as the Chief for the European Region.  He was the longtime chair of the International Committee for the Association of Community Theatre (AACT).

He has directed and/or served as music director for more than 200 productions, including Les Miserables, The Addams Family, Something’s Afoot, The Fantasticks, Hairspray, The Producers, The Drowsy Chaperone, and many others. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s Degree in Theatre from Tulsa University.

He has received multiple awards from the U.S. Army for his work improving the quality of life for soldiers, and from AACT for “promotion and development of the highest standards for community theatre.”  He has adjudicated theatre festivals in Germany, Japan, Canada, and the United States and is the recipient of the Mort Clark International Theatre Award.  His achievements have been honored with a dedicated chair at the National Theatre in Washington, DC. 

Praised for conducting with "steady acumen and considerable aplomb" and "awesome control” (Opera Today), Joshua Horsch is an extremely versatile operatic and symphonic conductor.  A two-time winner of the American Prize in Opera Conducting, Joshua serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Opera Las Vegas. Joshua’s recent and upcoming conducting engagements include appearances with Atlanta Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Orlando, Opera Idaho, Opera Baltimore, Greensboro Opera, Mobile Opera, Pacific Opera Project, and Tri-Cities Opera.  With a diverse repertoire of over sixty operas and a broad spectrum of orchestral and choral works, Joshua has recently held positions as a conductor and pianist/coach on the music staff of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, Detroit Opera, Florida Grand Opera, North Carolina Opera, Opera Saratoga, Pensacola Opera, the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Newport Music Festival. Joshua studied conducting and piano at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Pennsylvania State University, and Ithaca College.

Sheronda McKee-Dollar, D.M.A., soprano, originally from Phoenix, Arizona has been appearing on stages in both the United States and Europe. Recently she finished her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas under the guidance of Dr. Alfonse Anderson. She is currently performing with Opera Las Vegas and Opera On Tap Las Vegas. Most recent roles performed with UNLV Opera include Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro) and Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos). She has also performed the title role in Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” for the International Lyric Academy during the Tuscia Opera Festival. In concert and in scenes she has played Violetta (La Traviata), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor) and others.

Sheronda has been a featured soloist in Handel’s Messiah as well as Mozart’s Requiem. She has traveled to Viterbo and Tarquinia in Italy with the International Lyric Academy and Graz, with the AIMS Program (American Institute of Musical Studies) where she was an alternate in the 2010 Meistersinger Vocal Competition. Recent awards include the Pasadena Opera Guild Scholarship, the Encouragement Award from MONC (Metropolitan Opera National Council) as well as First place in NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing). She most recently appeared with Opera Las Vegas in Opera Legends in Black.

Joseph Svendsen is the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he conducts the flagship ensemble, the UNLV Singers, and the Early Music Ensemble. He teaches graduate coursework in conducting and choral literature and serves as an advisor to graduate students seeking the MM in Choral Conducting, as well as co-director of the Las Vegas Baroque Festival.

Svendsen is the Chorus Master for Opera Las Vegas, a position he has held since 2017. He was named Artistic Director of the Las Vegas Master Singers, the chorus-in-residence for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, beginning in the 2021-2022 season. Other professional engagements include singing tenor with Anúna and the San Antonio Chamber Choir. He has served as an invited conductor and clinician for choral festivals in California, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Wisconsin. He has presented at recent conferences of the Nevada Music Educators Association and the American Choral Directors Association.

Svendsen’s research and artistry focuses on sacred choral music. His recent article, Healey Willan: Crafting Plainsong” is published in CrossAccent, the journal of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. He is the Artistic Director of the Las Vegas Sacred Music Institute.

Svendsen serves in leadership positions in the American Choral Directors Association and the Nevada Music Educators Association. He holds a Doctor of Music in Choral Conducting from Texas Tech University, a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Bachelor’s degrees from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Athena Mertes is one of the Valley’s most celebrated sopranos, whose opera and concert credits include Despina (Cosi Fan Tutte), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Lucy (The Telephone), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Gianetta (L’Elisir d’Amore), Morgana (Alcina), Musetta (La Bohème), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Abigail (The Crucible), Nella (Gianni Schicchi) and soprano soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah and Honegger’s King David. She has performed as a guest soloist with the Burbank Philharmonic, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Henderson Symphony, Opera Las Vegas, Vegas City Opera and Lexington Opera Outreach. She has appeared with Opera Las Vegas on many occasions, in Holiday on Broadway, the Old Lady and the doll Olympia in Pinocchio, and Despina in The Three Little Pigs. She is also the director of the OLV Youth Chorus. Most recently, Athena was Alice B. Toklas in the West Coast premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon and Royce Vavrek’s 27, sang in the Twentieth Anniversary Season Reveal, and portrayed Lilly in Sasha Matson’s Cooperstown. She was scheduled to sing the role of Papagena in June’s The Magic Flute, before it was canceled.

Deborah Gordillo, originally from New York City, is a winner of the Prix D’Excellence, France, and the New York Artists International Competition. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, for President George W. Bush at the White House, and has served as accompanist for studios of Metropolitan Opera tenor Nico Castel and cellists Gary Hoffman and Timothy Eddy.

Mrs. Gordillo sang in the choir of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, where she became its sole Composer-In-Residence in history after winning the competition to compose the New York Archdiocese’s bicentennial hymn. Commissions include orchestral arrangements for the New York Papal masses in 2008, a Spanish mass, additional mass parts, anthems, and orchestrations. Her choral works were performed throughout New York State and at the Vatican.

Mrs. Gordillo served on the faculties of her alma mater, the Mannes College of Music, and Eugene Lang College. She teaches music theory, piano, ear training, and has written textbooks for beginner through undergraduate music theory levels.

Celebrated soprano, Cecilia Violetta López, has been named one of “Idaho’s Top 10 Most Influential Women of the Century” by USA Today and has been named one of opera’s “25 Rising Stars” by Opera News. The singing actress is constantly praised for her “alluring voice and incredible range” (Washington Post).

She has received accolades for her signature role of Violetta in La traviata, which she has performed countless times throughout North America. Critic, James Jorden, exclaimed “she is a Violetta fully- formed and, I think, ready for the great stages of the world.” She has now performed the role with Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Tampa, Opera Idaho, Ash Lawn Opera, The Northern Lights Music Festival, Madison Opera, Pacific Symphony and Virginia Opera. Ms. López made her European début as Norina in Don Pasquale with Zomeropera in Belgium, for which Klassiek Centraal exclaimed: “She turns out to be the revelation of the show and wins over the audience with her funny rendition, irresistible charm, and [she is] natural in the different vocals.”

From her performance as Adina in The Elixir of Love with Virginia Opera, The Virginian- Pilot hailed, “Cecilia Violetta López is showing local audiences why Opera News named her one of its ’25 Rising Stars.’ In the lead role of Adina, she hit the highest notes with ringing clarity, performed the vocal runs with precision and grace and showed a particular charm and humanity in the softest passages and lowest ranges.” In her recent performance as Marguerite in Faust with Opera Omaha, the Omaha World-Herald claimed “...López sang Marguerite’s seduction, madness and salvation with an other wordly wisdom and artistry.”

Despite the halting effects of COVID-19 in the opera industry, Ms. López’ 2020-2021 has included both virtual and live recitals with Opera Idaho, Opera Las Vegas, Austin Opera, Opera Southwest, Chatter ABQ, and Madison Opera. Ms. López made her company debut with Pacific Symphony as Violetta in their 90 minute version of La traviata, and Ms. López will also be the featured soprano soloist in the world premier of Mi Camino, a virtual project with Opera Cultura. Cecilia will also return to Opera Colorado as a soprano soloist in Canciones de Nuestras Tierras: a live, outdoor performance.

Robert has lived in Las Vegas since 1998. Living in Las Vegas, along with his wife Shirley, he noted a need for volunteerism and leadership in the organizations who supported the arts. Robert has a history of leadership manifested in his experience during three tours of duty as highly decorated Air Force combat air-rescue pilot in Vietnam, heavy jet pilot in California and senior controller in the Pacific Command Post in the Philippines. He was selected for duty in the Presidential unit at Andrews Airbase when he was designated to fly Code 1 dignitaries to include the Vice President, Presidents family, Secretaries of State and Defense and heads of state. He also served as a senior controller in the Presidential Command Post. Next he departed the military for two years to incorporate and act as president of a major property management company. Upon return to the service he was assigned to an Air National Guard VIP unit at Andrews Airbase, where he served as Operations Officer. He finished his 40-year aviation career as a United Airlines Captain in the airbus A-320. He holds airline transport ratings in the Sabre-liner, Learjet, B-727, 737, 747,757,767 and A-320. Robert has formed, supported and is on the boards of many non-profit organizations. For over 15 years he displayed his expertise and leadership as a part of arts community in Nevada, California, and Utah. Robert has served as President for junior and high school PTA’s. He was President of the DC National Guard Association. He is the Past President of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild and Past President of the Guild of the Utah Shakespeare Festival. He is currently serving as secretary of the Las Vegas Sinfonietta Board and is a board member of the Simon-fest Theater Company, Impact Theater Company, Encore Theater Company, and Southern Utah Museum in Utah. He serves on the Board of the California Symphony Alliance. He is on the Jazz Outreach Initiative Advisory Board and acts as Volunteer Coordinator. He has served and is now serving as Vice President of the Opera Las Vegas Board. Recently he saw a need for a fundraising organization at UNLV and founded, in coordination with Jazz Director Dave Loeb and Dean of Fine Arts Nancy Usher and her staff, “Friends of UNLV Jazz” where he currently acts as director with Shirley. In 2023 he and Shirley were presented the 2023 Arts Leadership Award for committed volunteer contributions in the southwest. They have continued to house opera Las Vegas performers for most opera events and have been recognized many times by OLV for their financial sponsorship of individual operas.

Anita Murray was a Patron of the Metropolitan Opera in New York for many years. After moving to Nevada, she became an enthusiastic supporter of Opera Las Vegas. She has been a Trustee and served as co-chair of gala events and silent auctions for Opera Las Vegas. She is a recipient of the Opera America 2020 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award.

While in New York Anita was a member of Community Board 1 in lower Manhattan and a board member for her residential cooperative building. She has been a longtime advocate for women’s health and safety.

Anita is retired from a career in computer systems management in various industries, including airline, apparel, commodities, consulting, and software. Anita has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Statistics from Stanford University.

Nicole Harris, soprano, is an emerging artist from Las Vegas, Nevada. She received her Bachelors of Music and Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. There, she studied with Dr. Michelle Latour and Dr. Tod Fitzpatrick. In 2014, she made her operatic debut with Vegas City Opera as Third Spirit in their production of The Magic Flute. Other productions with them include La Perichole (Hinoyosa), L’Etoile (Chorus), Pagliacci (Chorus), Seven Deadly Sins (Brother), The Pirates of Penzance (Ward), Das Rheingold (Wellgunde), and Die Walküre (Rossweisse). She has also been featured in the chorus with Opera Las Vegas in their productions of Carmen and Elisir d’amore.

For 9 years, Nicole was an active member of the Las Vegas Master Singers, first under the direction of Dr. Jocelyn Jensen, then David Weiller, and currently, Joseph Svendsen. With them she was able to perform alongside the Las Vegas Philharmonic and sing major works including, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem, and Mahler’s 9th Symphony. Nicole currently teaches piano and voice at Nevada Music Academy, works as a choir assistant at a middle school, and is a roster singer with Opera on Tap Las Vegas.

William Schroder is retired and lives in Las Vegas with Elizabeth Jacks, his wife of forty-five years. As a young man, Bill spent over five years in the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam as an infantry officer and combat helicopter pilot. In addition to having a thirty-year career as a successful businessman, he has also sailed small boats across the Pacific Ocean and for years flew his own aircraft in the Alaskan bush. His proudest achievements, however, are those of husband, father and author.

In addition to his many articles, historical essays, short stories and movie screenplays, he is the author of Cousins of Color, an historical novel that examines America’s 1899 invasion of the Philippines, our nation’s first overseas war of conquest and occupation. Since its publication, Cousins of Color has gained acceptance in academia and with African/American and multicultural interest groups. He is also the author of The Disposable Generation, an examination of the lifelong effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Vietnam veterans.

Bill is also proud to be selected to serve on the board of Opera Las Vegas, Nevada's finest and most professional opera company.

Dr. Alfonse Anderson, tenor and Professor of Voice is currently Vocal Coordinator at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He has performed in opera, recital and concerts for over 40 years.

In the United States and Europe he has performed with such notable organizations as the Houston Grand Opera, Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, Teatro Municipal Sao Paulo, Teatro Sols Montevideo, Arizona Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Minnesota Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Oakland Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Francais, Opera South, Opera Columbus, Opera North and Opera Las Vegas.

Anderson has performed in concert and oratorio with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and in the National Cathedral in Washington DC, Chautauqua Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago, Warsaw Symphony and Krakow Symphony in Poland, Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Henderson Symphony. He also performs frequently in recitals, concerts and master classes throughout the US.

The World premier of the opera Bandana by Daron Hagen was released in summer of 2006 on Albany Records with Anderson singing the role of the “Leader”. Anderson can be heard on various recordings with the American Spiritual Ensemble and on the Nationally acclaimed DVD titled  “The Spiritual” airing throughout the US on PBS. Also in 2008/09 the CD from the German recording label Klavier singing " Nessun dorma" from the opera Turandot.

He has taught voice for over 30 years and in that time his students have won international, national and regional vocal competitions with such notable organizations as the MET Opera, NATSAA, Leontyne Price, Marian Anderson, Mario Lanza, Montserrat Cabellé, Meistersinger, Opera Index, Belvedere and Palm Spring Vocal Competition to name a few.

Many of his students have performed in young Artist Programs such as the internationally recognized Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Aspen Musical Festival, San Francisco Opera, Florida Grand, American Institute of Musical Studies, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, LA Opera, Miami, Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Opera, Opera North, Sarasota Opera, Mirella Freni CUBEC program. Many of his students and former students are performing with opera companies in the US, Europe and China. Anderson also serves as a master vocal clinician throughout the US and Europe.

Dr. Richard Kravchak is one of America’s most exciting oboists and accomplished academic administrators. He has been heard as an oboe soloist, chamber and orchestral musician worldwide, performing throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He specializes in contemporary music, with over 100 compositions written for him, and HIP (Historically informed practice) frequently performing period music on oboes of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and early 20^th century.

Kravchak holds performance degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the Juilliard School, and Florida State University. He has been Chair of Music at CSU Dominguez Hills and was the founding Director of the School of Music and Theatre at Marshall University as well as the Director of the School of Music at the University of Southern Mississippi. Currently Dr. Kravchak serves as Dean of the School of Arts and Letters at the College of Southern Nevada, our nation’s 5^th largest Community College.

Teri Raven is a non-profit leader within the Las Vegas community and has had a lifelong commitment to academia, philanthropy, and the arts. She serves as Chairwoman of the Board for Notes With a Purpose, and has also served on the boards of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild, the UNLV Newman Center, and the Junior League of Las Vegas. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree and PhD in Family Therapy and Psychology, and also holds an Executive MBA from UNLV. Teri has an extensive professional career in leadership positions within the technology sector and at the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce. She is a professional violinist, vocalist, and artist, and is a passionate supporter of the Las Vegas performing arts community.

Shirley Kramer is an accountant with over 50 years of experience. She served as comptroller for a large investment firm in Maryland, during which time she was also Executive Director of the District of Columbia National Guard Association and coordinated with the highest levels of the Guard leadership. She was President of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild for 2 years and she continues to serve in treasurer, membership, and volunteer board positions in many non-profit arts organizations, including being treasurer and membership chair of the Utah Shakespeare Guild, and on the boards of the Simon Fest, IMPAC, and Encore Theatre companies in Cedar City. Back in Las Vegas, Shirley co-founded and is director of Friends of UNLV Jazz, and is on the boards of the Las Vegas Sinfonietta, Jazz Outreach Initiative, and the California Symphony Alliance. She is a Dame in the Knights Templar and she supports OLV by housing opera singers and sponsoring outreach programs in the community.

Collier Maxwell was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. After graduation from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Marketing, Collier moved to Japan where he taught English in a country town.

Returning to the US, Collier joined Neiman Marcus and rose to become a buyer and then joined Saks Fifth Avenue where he continued his career and ended as General Manager. Both companies moved him around the country to dynamic cities including Dallas, New Orleans, Honolulu, Tulsa, St. Louis and Las Vegas.

For the past 4 years, he has worked for a Kona Coffee Company spending time between Kona, Hawaii and Las Vegas. This past August, Collier left the coffee company and decided to stay put in Las Vegas and joined Coldwell Banker Premier Realty as a Realtor.

Terry, a seasoned Sr. Consultant with a decade of experience solving complex business challenges for global corporations, is also a passionate theater-goer and lover of live music. She has spent time backing SE Asia and living in Parma, Italy. She was lucky enough to take private flight lessons in Manassa, VA. When not working, she can be found immersed in community projects or stargazing, always radiating positivity and laughter. With an unwavering commitment to quality, Terry brings her unique blend of professional expertise and personal enthusiasm to every endeavor.

Keesha Sharp is a special education teacher in the Clark County School District, where she has taught for 10 years. She graduated from Walden University with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. A lifelong learner, she decided to attend UAGC where she received her Master’s in Education with specializations in Reading Literacy and Family and Community Engagement. She is a United States Air Force Veteran where she was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. Keesha is a passionate supporter of all aspects of the arts

Born and reared in Chicago, Debbi is a graduate of The Art Institute of Chicago. Always interested in fashion, she has worked with some of America’s most prestigious retailers and also wrote freelance retail and fashion pieces for Luxury Magazine and WHERE Magazine.

Beginning in 2007, Debbi spent thirteen years as the marketing and special events director for Saks Fifth Avenue at the Las Vegas Fashion Show. In that position, she cultivated strong relationships with local businesses and charities and promoted and directed high profile events. She now volunteers with St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Las Vegas Fashion Council and the Cleveland Clinic (Keep Memory Alive). A life-long lover of the arts, Debbi is happy to be a member of the Opera Las Vegas team.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio Stacey has been in Las Vegas for 30 years. Currently working in healthcare, Stacey’s interests outside of her career include the Las Vegas community, it’s music, cultural and the food scene, which led her to delve into a cultural adventure and volunteer for Opera Las Vegas.

Stacey has a postgraduate degree in Social Work from UNLV . She has worked in multiple healthcare environments including hospitals, home health and hospice. Stacey enjoys spending time with friends and family, staying up on current events, listening to the radio and attending live concerts of all genres.

Alvida Lane has been an opera lover since she started listening to the Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcasts at age 9 in Vancouver, BC. Shortly after moving to Las Vegas in 1988 her husband passed away, and she became a volunteer at classical radio KNPR, eventually moving up to an on-air “classical disc-jockey”. When KNPR decided to discontinue airing the Met broadcasts, management asked her if she would like to host an opera program. Alvida was delighted and produced her own opera show for about two years. At that time Opera Las Vegas was just getting established and asked her to join the group. She happily agreed, since she saw it as an opportunity to bring live opera to Las Vegas. She was soon thereafter elected as Secretary of the Board of Directors, a position which she held for 20 years. As a senior member of the Board, has helped and watched as Opera Las Vegas grew and developed into the organization it is today. Alvida currently serves as the OLV Historian.