Kristin Roach is a conductor committed to the ongoing evolution of opera in the 21st century, with more than 40 new operas and over 20 world premieres under her baton. Leading repertoire that spans six centuries and performances across the globe, she has been recognized with numerous honors, including The American Prize in Opera Conducting and two Latin Grammy® nominations.
Recent conducting engagements include The Consul for Lawrence Opera Theatre, Cavalleria Rusticana for Spotlight on Opera, and The Crucible and The Merry Widow for Opera in the Ozarks. Previous projects include the world premiere of Alice in Wonderland by Amy Scurria at Red River Lyric Opera, Thumbprint for Chautauqua Opera Company, Two Remain for Lyric Opera of Orange County, Tosca for Texas Concert Opera Collective, Alcina, Suor Angelica, Curlew River, and The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Adventures of Mr. Burke and Mr. Hare for Lawrence Opera Theatre, La Cenerentola for Pacific Opera Project, and Prima la musica poi le parole for the Vocal Academy of Opera in Bodrum, Turkey.
Kristin serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Lawrence University, where she is opera conductor and vocal coach.
As Founding Music Director of Alamo City Opera, where she served from 2012 until its closure in 2019, Ms. Roach conducted 17 productions, including many South Texas premieres. A San Antonio native, she partnered with founder and General Director, the late Mark Richter, to cultivate an atmosphere of intimate opera. With diverse and often ground-breaking programming—featuring fresh, energetic interpretations of Dido and Aeneas, Acis and Galatea, La Cenerentola, and even a Star Trek-themed Abduction from the Seraglio—as well as Trouble in Tahiti, The Medium, and Laura Kaminsky’s As One, Alamo City Opera attracted new audiences, maintaining an average age under 35 and introducing hundreds of first-time opera-goers to the art form.
Recognizing the area’s rich Spanish-speaking culture, Alamo City also presented San Antonio’s first full-length opera in Spanish, La hija de Rappaccini by Mexican composer Daniel Catán, followed by acclaimed performances of Piazzolla’s “operita” María de Buenos Aires. The company also developed signature collaborations featuring Ms. Roach at the piano, including Opera vs. Broadway I, II, and III (showcasing both opera and musical theater artists), Opera in the Park (a free concert series in Travis Park), and Songs by Dvořák and Brahms in partnership with Alamo Arts Ballet Theater.
Additional conducting credits include the world premieres of Mollicone’s Children of the Sun (orchestrated) and Leo Chadburn’s Golden Space City of God, as well as productions of Don Giovanni, The Turn of the Screw, A Little Night Music, La Bohème, The Pirates of Penzance, Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte, Don Pasquale, The Medium, Bastien und Bastienne / La Curandera, The Italian Lesson, Gianni Schicchi, Buoso’s Ghost, Bon Appétit!, Gallantry, Prince Orlovsky’s Ball, Liszt’s Christus, and The Consul.
Ms. Roach has prepared productions for the San Francisco Opera, San Diego Opera, Tulsa Opera, Utah Opera, San Antonio Opera, San Antonio Symphony, Brevard Music Institute, Aspen Music Festival, Breckenridge Music Institute, Taos Opera Institute, Opera Theatre of Rochester, Eastman Opera Theatre, Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Spotlight on Opera, and Texas Concert Opera Collective.
Her recording of chamber works by Miguel del Aguila with Camerata San Antonio, Salon Buenos Aires, received two Latin Grammy® nominations.
A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Ms. Roach earned a Bachelor of Music in Applied Music (Piano), the Performer’s Certificate in Piano, and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Literature as well as Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music.
