Lauren Lestage's CGD Campaign!

Hi my name is Lauren Lestage. I am one of those people that like to dream. When I was 2, I dreamed of being a ballerina. When I was 12, I dreamed of being Galinda on Broadway. When I was 18, I dreamed of having my own choir. When I was 20, I started to imagine for the first time what it might be like to study and perform as an opera singer! 

Circa 2005 

I couldn’t picture what that life would look like, but I went ahead, moved from Texas to Colorado and began studying opera at Lamont school of music in Denver in 2021. I learned that Colorado had a special place in its heart for opera. The history here was deep and I wanted to be a part of it, whether that was on stage, behind the curtains, or in front of the house. Wherever I was needed!

Circa 2023

When I finished my masters, I had my ear out for anything and everything going on in the opera community. With all the luck in the world I was put in contact with two incredible women, Daniela Guzman and Meg Ozaki-Graves (the heads of the Education and Community Engagement team at Central City Opera). They ended up  bringing me on to sing as their new Mariana, in “Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World.” I was beyond elated to be graduated and working with an incredible opera company.  But that was only the start. 

CCO Podcast, Circa 2024             /  Musical Menagerie, Circa 2024

Over the course of the year I would become a busy Touring Artist, performing in Opera Story time, Musical Menagerie, CCO Events, CCO Podcasts and even taking on administrative responsibilities which I loved. I was given the chance to build programming, collaborate with other artists, and meet so many people working a variety of different jobs within the opera community. The end of 2023 brought me the most joy, as I was given the opportunity to dance and act as choreographer in our Christmas production of,  “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” That opened up a part of me that I hadn’t seen in many years. I felt like I had finally found the job  that let me utilize every skill, every talent, and everything that I loved into my work. 

Amahl and the Night Visitors, Circa 2023

Now well into 2024, I have had the chance to sing as a Young Artist in the Bonfills-Stanton Program with CCO and have been promoted to Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement. 

CMEA, Circa 2023                  / Covering Mae Jones in Street Scene, Circa 2024

I am so grateful to this company for giving me countless opportunities to show myself in the best light. I have met incredible people who are even bigger dreamers than I am. I didn’t know that was possible! For Colorado Gives Day, every penny counts. Help support CCO and create space for dreamers like me to help make an impact on the community with the incredible art that is opera. 

CCO Gala, Circa 2024