Christopher Z McKim

Style: Pop; Opera; Jazz; Rock; Classical; Musical Theatre

Title: Instructor of Voice

Bio: Dr. Christopher McKim, baritone Dr. Christopher McKim, B.M. –Vocal Performance, Wichita State University; M.M. – Music Theatre, Arizona State University; and D.M.A. – Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, University of Colorado-Boulder, is currently an instructor of Voice at Colorado Mesa University. He has previously been the head of the voice area at the University of Puget Sound, and has been a member of the vocal faculty at Metropolitan State College in Denver. In Grand Junction he has performed with the Western Colorado Chorale, High Desert Opera, The Theatre Project, and has Music Directed at Grand Junction High School. Dr. McKim has performed and trained extensively in Music Theatre, enjoying well over thirty different professional productions. He enjoys working in the various styles of Musical Theatre; performing shows by Jerome Kern, Gershwin, Cole Porter, standards by Rogers & Hammerstein, and Frank Loesser, as well as more contemporary works such as Forever Plaid, Seussical, Evita, Secret Garden, Cats, and Jekyll & Hyde. Since Musical Theatre continues to develop stylistically, Dr. McKim considers himself a continuing student of musicals: learning, performing, and teaching as new shows are written and recently has received pedagogical training in Contemporary music styles such as Jazz, Country, Rock and Pop. An experienced interpreter of Opera and Operetta, Dr. McKim has performed in France with the Lyrique en Mer festival at Belle-Ile, as well as opera companies in Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, and Maine. He has performed operatic stage works ranging from Monteverdi to Mozart as well as many contemporary works. Some highlights include the Mozart roles of Papageno and Figaro, and premiers of two American operatic roles: Billy Blythe (Bill Clinton) in the opera Billy Blythe by Bonnie Montgomery and Florentino Ralston in Sara McKinnon by Mark Medoff and Randall Shinn. Dr. McKim also performs extensively in the genre of operetta, and holds a great fondness for the shows by Gilbert & Sullivan – particularly The Mikado, Patience, and The Gondoliers. Dr. McKim truly enjoys the creation and sharing of art that is teaching. He was honored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) when he was included in their Teaching Intern program, working under master–teacher Donald Simonson. Dr. McKim also works with students and colleagues though stage directing or music directing. He has directed numerous successful productions of full shows and scenes programs. Educational outreach is an important part of Dr. McKim’s mission. He has appeared in over 75 performances of full “children’s operas” such as Hansel & Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Help, Help the Globolinks!. During his three years as a member of Central City Opera’s Education and Outreach program he performed for thousands of schoolchildren throughout Colorado. He frequently presents master classes and workshops for High School and College age performers.

Voice Type: Baritone

Music Styles Taught: Pop; Opera; Jazz; Rock; Classical; Musical Theatre

Availability: I am available as a clinician or presenter; I accept students through a college or university program