Associate Professor Mark R. Calkins, tenor, recently returned from sabbatical during which he studied vocal cross-training for 21st century singers. While on sabbatical Mark performed in recital and in concert in Illinois, New Mexico, and Chongqing, China. In 2019, he presented 22 Master Classes in classical singing throughout the United States, in Beijing and Chongqing, China, and online in Ecuador. Mark teaches master classes in Broadway performing at the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts and in classical vocal technique for the Kentucky ACDA Summer Choral Conservatory. He has appeared in leading roles with opera companies throughout North America and Europe. Performing Alfredo in La Traviata, Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Lindoro in L’Italiana in Algeri, The Prince in La Cenerentola, The Count in Le Comte Ory and Oreste in Ermione to critical acclaim in opera houses such as: Opera De Nantes, France; Dublin Grand Opera, Ireland; Cologne Opera, Germany; The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Birmingham Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Castleward Opera, Northern Ireland; Kentucky Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Toledo Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Omaha, Mobile Opera, Central City Opera and Dayton Opera. In 2009 he was awarded the Thursday Musical “Teacher of the Year”. He performed in a nationally broadcast Dominican Republic production of La Boheme by Puccini in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, conducted by Maestro Jose Antonio Molina. Mark’s students have been awarded graduate assistantships in prominent graduate music degree programs such as the University of Colorado, Boulder, C.S.U, Fort Collins, I.U. Bloomington, U.K. Lexington, S.I.U. Carbondale and Denver University. His current and former students have performed and continue to perform at The Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Washington National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Minnesota Opera, Fargo Moorhead Opera and Central City Opera to name a few. His students have been winners in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions in many districts and regions around the country. They have been contracted for AGMA apprenticeships with Santa Fe and Central City Opera companies and have been selected as members of the elite training programs at the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center and the Washington National Opera Cafritz young artist programs. He has also starred in an Emmy Nominated, PBS National Television Broadcast in Robert Greenleaf’s Under the Arbor. He conducted the Berea College Women’s Chorus in a 2017 CBS Nationally Televised Christmas Concert production entitled Listen.