Megan Thompson, Mezzo-Soprano Opera Singer from Cleveland, OH

An avid performer, Megan Thompson sang for the Vero Beach Opera in Stetson Opera Theatre's production of Suor Angelica (The Abbess). Other operatic credits include The Pirates of Penzance (Edith/ Mabel), L'Enfant et les Sortilèges (Maman), Berenice (Selene), The Bartered Bride (Hata), and The Mikado (Pitti-Sing). Ms. Thompson has also appeared in a number of musicals, including the Insomniac Theatre Company's production of The Rocky Horror Show (Janet). In addition to her operatic and theatrical performances, Ms. Thompson has been a featured artist in many concert series around Central Florida and has soloed with several choirs and symphonies including the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Bluegrass Orchestra, TrueNorth Symphony, and Central Florida Master Choir. After holding many leadership positions in choirs and theatre, Ms. Thompson was hired to start an all-female choir for Fuchs Mizrachi Girls' School. Her teaching experience does not end there. She has also served as a drama instructor for the Ocala Civic Theatre and was hired to begin a drama/musical theatre program for two of the Cleveland Boys' and Girls' Clubs. While still in Florida, Ms. Thompson served as Treasurer of the board for the Central Florida Master Choir. With her background in management and event coordination, Ms. Thompson was recently appointed Executive Director/Artistic Director of the Great Lakes Light Opera with the intent of developing a company focused on education and outreach in Northeast Ohio. Most recently, she directed Great Lakes Light Opera's production La Vida Breve for the Cleveland World Festival and The Medium for their 2nd annual Macabaret. No stranger to the technical side of the performing arts, Ms. Thompson has provided technical assistance in over 40 productions. At Stetson University, she was a member of the Opera Theatre staff where she served as lighting designer and assisted with set construction, costuming and public relations. Prior to her Stetson career, she volunteered extensively with the Ocala Civic Theatre as a stage manager, electrician, rigger, light board operator, sound board operator, spot operator, dresser, and stage crew. Her technical experience has also included productions with the Cleveland Institute of Music, Stetson Opera Theatre, Square Theatre, Everyman Sound Company, Ocala Youth Theatre, and Central Florida Community College. Megan Thompson completed her Master of Music degree in Opera Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Professor Clifford Billions. Prior to her tenure at CIM, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Central Florida Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Drama and Magna Cum Laude from Stetson University and with a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in vocal performance and psychology. For her achievements in music, she has received many awards, including the ICUF Presidential Access Scholarship, Ocala Civic Theatre Talent Grant, Athene Award for an Outstanding Student in the Humanities, and Stetson University's William E. Duckwitz Talent Scholarship, and she was granted the honor of the Dean's List every semester. Ms. Thompson is an alumna of both the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.