LARA COLBY KNIGHTS
I first met David while singing at Tuscana West Restaurant what feels like 112 years ago. David was the accompanist and, very quickly, I realized that he is a first class musician. His training, knowledge, and experience were apparent. Over the weeks that we performed together at the restaurant, I started asking David for advice about my singing. The advice turned into many hours of lessons. David opened my mind to ideas about singing that I had never thought of or considered. I will always treasure the hours we spent together at the piano. The intense concentration that the work took sometimes made me feel like I was high on a drug.
David is always honest. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye on vocal issues and sometimes struggled to find common ground, but David always respected my talent and never held back his true opinion. When he plays, it is like having the support of a full orchestra behind you.
In addition to considerable musical gifts, David brings beautiful spirit and energy to the world! He has an eternally positive attitude that is inspiring without being unrealistic. He treats all singers equally, regardless of their level of development or even perceived talent. David’s skill in working with singers never fails to bring out the gift and uniqueness of each voice. What a gift to have David Chapman in my life!
Lara Colby Knights
David is always honest. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye on vocal issues and sometimes struggled to find common ground, but David always respected my talent and never held back his true opinion. When he plays, it is like having the support of a full orchestra behind you.
In addition to considerable musical gifts, David brings beautiful spirit and energy to the world! He has an eternally positive attitude that is inspiring without being unrealistic. He treats all singers equally, regardless of their level of development or even perceived talent. David’s skill in working with singers never fails to bring out the gift and uniqueness of each voice. What a gift to have David Chapman in my life!
Lara Colby Knights
Soprano Lara Colby has performed frequently in the Washington, DC area. Her singing has been praised by the Washington Post as “exquisite.” Ms. Colby holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in vocal performance from Catholic University. She was a three-time scholarship winner from the American Opera Scholarship Society and a first place winner in the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music Vocal Competition.
Ms. Colby has participated in apprentice programs at Central City Opera, Opera North, and the Bel Canto Institute in New York. Ms. Colby participated in Washington Concert Opera’s educational outreach program where she had the great pleasure of introducing opera to many DC area schoolchildren.
Ms. Colby was a national finalist for the Lyric Opera Center at Chicago Lyric Opera, and a regional finalist in the Met National Council auditions. She received a promising young artist award from the Washington Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters.
She has performed with Virginia Opera, Washington Concert Opera, Summer Opera Theater Company, Capital City Opera, and Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia. Roles in repertoire include Micaëla in Carmen, Juliette in Romeo et Juliette, Sister Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Mimi in La Boheme, and Elvira in Don Giovanni.
Ms. Colby has participated in apprentice programs at Central City Opera, Opera North, and the Bel Canto Institute in New York. Ms. Colby participated in Washington Concert Opera’s educational outreach program where she had the great pleasure of introducing opera to many DC area schoolchildren.
Ms. Colby was a national finalist for the Lyric Opera Center at Chicago Lyric Opera, and a regional finalist in the Met National Council auditions. She received a promising young artist award from the Washington Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters.
She has performed with Virginia Opera, Washington Concert Opera, Summer Opera Theater Company, Capital City Opera, and Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia. Roles in repertoire include Micaëla in Carmen, Juliette in Romeo et Juliette, Sister Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Mimi in La Boheme, and Elvira in Don Giovanni.