ABOUT
From the operatic stage to the contemporary chamber ensemble, Soprano Kristin Newbegin is equally at home. She was recently featured as Mimì with Opera 180 in their “re-imagined classic” (KC Independent) production of La Bohème. The fall of 2018 brought her to the Lyric Opera of Kansas City to sing the role of Miss Pinkerton in The Old Maid and the Thief.
Newbegin has an affinity for new music. She currently sings with The Meadowlark Project, a new contemporary music ensemble, whose mission is to bring fresh classical music to new audiences. During the 2018-2019 season, The Meadowlark Project toured Kansas with their recital series “Sounds of the Plains” which featured new art songs by Kansas-based composers with texts by Kansas-based poets. She has also been a guest soloist with New Ear Contemporary Music Ensemble.
Newbegin was a member and featured soloist in Kantorei KC, a Kansas City based professional choral ensemble, during the 2018-2019 season. She has also sung with KC Vitas as a featured soloist and recorded newly commissioned works, including several premieres.
Additionally, Newbegin has sung with companies such as Des Moines Metro Opera, Lyric Opera Kansas City, Opera for the Young, Kantorei KC, New Ear Contemporary Music Ensemble, Opera 180, Kansas City Metro Opera and Seagle Music Colony. Previous roles have included Mimì (La Bohème), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Female Chorus (Rape of Lucretia) and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni).
She received her Doctorate and Master of Music degrees from the University of Kansas where she studied under Joyce Castle. Her doctoral research focused extensively on the Granados opera Goyescas. Newbegin currently serves as Assistant Professor of Voice at Missouri Western State University. In her free time she enjoys knitting, fostering dogs, and racing as a competitive cyclist.