The competition for the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition is open to all new undergraduate and graduate vocal music students in all vocal categories who plan on attending the University of Kentucky in the immediately following academic year. The Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition was conceived by Dr. Pearse Lyons, the founder of Alltech, a global animal health company headquartered in Kentucky.
The Metropolitan Opera Competition, held annually in 37 districts and 11 regions of the United States, Canada and Mexico, cultivates young opera singers and assists in the development of their careers. The Kentucky District winners advance to region competition which leads to national finals on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Prize money allows young singers to invest in further training, travel and career development for their budding careers in opera.
Nancy Wrede has for more than a decade been a homemaker and substitute teacher for Fayette County Public Schools, serving as lead teacher, paraeducator, special needs paraeducator, bookkeeper, registrar and attendance clerk. She received her B.A. from Northern Kentucky University, studying business writing with a minor in marketing. Prior to motherhood, she worked in the …
Stephen Lloyd Webb is a recognized entrepreneur and industry leader with over 30 years experience in pharmaceutical, academic and clinical research. In 1997, Mr. Webb co-founded REGISTRAT, Inc. a Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on peri- and post-approval clinical studies. In 2009, REGISTRAT merged with Mapi Group (Lyon, France) to form REGISTRAT Mapi, the largest …
Abby Vaughn has worked in the financial industry for thirty years, for a global financial company and a Fortune 500 bank. She currently is at Unified Trust. Her experience includes 16 years of management, and over a decade in the Private Banking/Wealth management sector. Abby and her husband moved to Lexington in 1987 from Harold, Kentucky, …
Madison Stewart is an associate attorney at Dinsmore and Shohl L.L.P. Lexington Office. A recently retired competitive Irish Dancer, she is aware of the effort and expense required to train young performers to their full potential and considers it a privilege to work through OperaLex to support the UKOT. Growing up, her parents fostered in …
Leslie Smart is the President of the CHI Saint Joseph Health Foundations overseeing six foundations across Kentucky and southern Indiana which collectively provide program, capital and research support to CHI’s Saint Joseph Health’s hospitals and facilities. Past president of a communications and development firm, she has served as two-term president of the Association of Fund-Raising …
Melissa Skaggs is a native Kentuckian with a love for music and singing. She pursued and received a degree in both Vocal Performance and Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky where she studied with Dr. Everett McCorvey, the late Gail Robinson, and Dr. Jefferson Johnson. As a student at U.K., Melissa was an active …
Karen Rice Sellers is the Assistant Director of the State Board of Elections (SBE), an independent agency of the Commonwealth. Prior to residing in Lexington and joining SBE, Ms. Sellers’ career was previously as a health care executive in Eastern Kentucky where, among her duties, she provided oversight for the Highlands Foundation and Community Development …
Kay Collier McLaughlin, PhD is an organizational development and leadership consultant, author and speaker, principal of Transformative Leadership Consulting. “Formed” as a musician and lover of the arts through the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra, the orchestra program at Henry Clay High School and the Music Department at the University of Kentucky, her first opera experience …
