The Tribune

FORMER college star fullback Keith Miller is the only opera singer who can talk about “tackling an aria” the way a football player talks about tackling opponents on the gridiron.

One of opera’s hottest rising young stars, the bass-baritone has thrived in both worlds, going from the gridiron with the University of Colorado to one of opera’s most prestigious stages, the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In opera terms, his rise has been meteoric. In less than six years as a professional singer, Miller has drawn on his powerfully resonant rumble of a voice, sculpted physique and astounding athleticism to put his stamp on operatic productions old and new.

By applying the same rigorous training to his singing career as he did as an athlete, Miller is now one of the few performers today who can take on opera’s increasingly challenging roles that demand not only a beautiful voice but also the strength and stamina to make a stage fight thrilling or a dance sequence artful. He is part of the new genre of opera where singers are expected to look like movie stars and where fitness is a requirement. He has sung at the prestigious Metropolitan Opera over 200 times.

On Friday, at 7.30pm, Miller, along with internationally renowned soprano Melissa Short-Zapin and pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski, will perform a programme of light opera and broadway hits at Christ Church Cathedral, Nassau. This is the first of a series of operatic events over the coming months and is a joint venture by Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas, Nassau City Opera and the Ministry of Tourism.

Rotary Bahamas is hoping to raise funds to help defray the cost of the 2016 Rotary District Conference to be held in the Bahamas. Profits from the conference will go to Funding Rotary programmes. Additionally, the concert series will expand the musical horizons of the local audience and will assist with the Ministry of Tourism’s wish to enhance the cultural offerings for visitors.

Miller is using his talent and experience to help others succeed. He serves as the Director for Opera and Opera Young Artist Programme in Colorado. And now, he is coming to the Bahamas, not only to perform but also to work with the Nassau City Opera to lend his talent and expertise to local potential stars.