2009

After looking into multiple places for a music library internship for library school, I emailed the Metropolitan Opera Music Library as a last minute try. Mr. Robert Sutherland answered the email and the invited me to the library for an interview. This moment changed my life and took me on an unforgettable journey at the Metropolitan Opera.

2010

In 2010 I began my internship at the Metropolitan Opera Music Library under Chief Librarian, Robert Sutherland (1993-2020). This was the beginning of learning fascinating preparation techniques behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera. Mr. Sutherland taught me about instrumentation and the mechanics of how the librarian functions in a production. I cataloged parts of the music library for a few years.

2015

OPERA STEPS TO THE STAGE BEGINS: I started advertising new opera programs in October 2015. With encouragement from my family, close friends and Mr. Sutherland, I created opera programs based on the knowledge I learned in the music library. My first opera program was in November 2015 at the Garden City Public Library. I used to use copies of artifacts from the Metropolitan Opera Music Library that I discovered and cataloged.

2016-17

MORE OPERA TALKS ADDED: By 2016, more libraries hired me to present programs. I added many more opera programs to the list of offerings. Some of these programs included Tale of Two Divas: Callas vs. Tebaldi and Marian Anderson: American Icon. I was also hired by Molloy College and SUNY Farmingdale for their Life Learning programming. In 2017, I took photos in the MET Music library for my new website launch.

2019-2020

METROPOLITAN OPERA GUILD: In 2019 the Metropolitan Opera Guild invited me to present Opera Steps to the Stage as a part of the 2019-20 Metropolitan Opera season. I presented two programs that season. Orfeo and Eurydice was presented in October, 2019. Meanwhile, my Opera in Ebony lecture was expanded to two parts and called The Enduring Legacy of Black Singers in Opera. I presented the program on Black Singers in February 2020 in conjunction with the Metropolitan Opera's 2019-20 Season.

2020

OPERA TALKS EXPANDS TO ONLINE PROGRAMMING: The Pandemic Shutdown became a blessing in disguise. I went from all live opera programs cancelled in March 2020 to all programs hosted on Zoom. I was completely booked beginning in April 2020 doing programs online. I also gained new locations in upstate New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and even Florida. The logo changed from Opera: Steps to the Stage to Opera Talks.