Meet Sandra Babbel - one of Kelowna's gems

Author Profile: Darcy Nybo

Darcy Nybo is an award winning author, freelance journalist, online editor, book editor, publisher, word nerd, music lover and all around nut bar.

Canada Online News | Gonzo Online! - Music

Written by Darcy Nybo

Sandra_Babbel Alexandra Babbel's motto "that my students may one day surpass me" may very well one day come true.

A world renowned Soprano with an impressive bio, Babbel has entertained audiences around the world in many title opera roles. Settling in Kelowna 20 years ago, she opened Alexandra Babbel Studios and quickly became an important cultural icon for youth in the arts within our city. The results of Babbel's passionate and tireless coaching skills are on the precipice of producing a new breed of successful, young sopranos and tenors.

Known as a purist, Babbel continually challenges her students by exposing them to classical music right at the source by arranging educational and performance tours to Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, England and New York City. Students also have the opportunity to experience Master Classes by other Opera greats such as Barbara Bonney and Isabel Bakdarian. Several of her students have also been invited to perform locally with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.

With world class training such as this, it is no surprise that she instills in her pupils, a love for classical music, along with the skills required to pursue and achieve major music scholarships in some of Canada's top notch universities.

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Lyric Soprano Alexandra Kosachukova Babbel, being the only American-born member of her family, has approached her music with a great sense of privilege. Her German mother and Ukrainian father met and married in a displaced persons’ refugee camp after fleeing the Stalinist terror in Ukraine and later immigrated to the United States where Ms. Babbel was born.

Ms. Babbel’s opera career in Chicago included the title role in the World Premiere production of Philip Hagamman’s opera The Aspern Papers and roles with the Lincoln Opera and the Milwaukee Opera Company in Puccini’s La Boheme, performing both the roles of Mimi and Mussetta.

Ms. Babbel's has enjoyed Operatic and Concert Solo performances in Canada, Germany, England, Switzerland, Holland, Italy and solo concert tours in Russia and Ukraine including guest appearances with members of the Kiev Conservatory of Music, Moscow’s conductor Evgeny Vechenko, and recital performances in association with the Britten-Pears School.

In addition to training with teachers Galina Vesnevskaya and Kathleen Kaun and Vocal Coaches John Wustman and Joan Dornemann, Ms. Babbel sang in Master Class for Maureen Forrester and Elly Ameling. Alexandra Babbel holds a BA in Choral Music Education from the University of Michigan, a MA in Opera Performance from the University of Alberta and Post-Masters Certificate of Performance from Northwestern University, Deerfield, Illinois. She held the faculty position of Voice Department Head at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois before relocating to Canada.

Our valuable member Darcy Nybo has been with us since Tuesday, 17 January 2012.