Darren Anderson '00

Darren Anderson’00 has "an outstanding large voice with quality, carrying power and the tenor high C," said Carlene McMonagle, an emeritus voice professor from UW-Whitewater. "He has the voice, personality, stage presence and drive - the whole package."

The raw vocal talent of Anderson -- who came from the small town of Marshall, Wis. -- was recognized by UW-Whitewater director of choral music Harry Johansen. Anderson spent five years studying voice performance under Johansen and McMonagle, and went on to receive his Master of Music degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in vocal music performance.

"Carlene McMonagle basically taught me how to sing," Anderson said. "She taught me almost everything I know. Because of my training at UW-Whitewater, I had my pick of graduate schools."

Young in the opera business, Anderson has a 10-year goal to sing operatic roles throughout the U.S. with regional opera companies. In the meantime, he is happy to be in New York, have a New York-based manager, and have the honor of studying with famed American soprano Catherine Malfitano.

"I believe I am one of a select few alumni in the voice program at UW-Whitewater who has reached this level of professional success," Anderson said. "I would never sell down my music education there. The university set me up for success."