As Ms. Denari in OFOC's 'Opera Idol!' (2016)
Lisa Marie Gerstenkorn is an active singer, performer and teacher of varied vocal genres, currently based in the Kansas City area. She currently sings with Beau Sérénade of KC, Lawrence Opera Theatre, Heartland Opera Theatre, and American Opera Studio. She is a frequent soloist for Catholic mass services, weddings, and funerals and currently teaches at Washburn University in Topeka, KS.
Lisa was recently seen on the White Concert Hall stage as a soloist with the Washburn Symphony Orchestra, as well as in the James Hurd Performance Hall as a soloist in the Washburn Music Faculty Showcase.
Lisa also teaches online Music Theory and Music Appreciation live classes, and she was a Teaching Artist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, teaching the art of opera to 4th graders through the LOKC Education Program's Music! Words! Opera! in the Spring of 2025.
In May 2025, she performed the alto solos for Mozart's Vesperae Solennes de confessore with the Southern Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Donald Hodges in Joplin, MO.
In the summer of 2025, Lisa performed with one of the newest music groups in KC, Beau Sérénade, and she travelled with the American Opera Studio to Germany, Austria, and Italy for their production of Britten's Albert Herring.
In the Fall of 2024, Lisa was seen on stage with Lawrence Opera Theatre in two very different stage roles. She sang Magda in Adam Gorb's Path to Heaven and The Learned Judge in Gilbert and Sullivan's comedic operetta Trial by Jury. Shortly following, she briefly returned to her home of many years to perform as a soloist with the Pittsburg Multi-Generational Chorus. She also performed with Heartland Opera Theatre in their chamber performance of Twenty-Four (Boutté) in the role of Lady Clizia.
From 2020-2024, Lisa was a full-time singer and performer, with the title of Alto Principal Vocal Artist with the non-profit vocal music production company Heartland Sings in Fort Wayne, IN. There she performed the role of The Mother in Stephen Paulus' The Three Hermits, and the Alto solos for Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Mozart's Requiem, and Handel's Messiah. She also performed as a featured soloist for An Evening With Cole Porter and The Sondheim Cafe. For three summer seasons, she performed on the outdoor "ART-V" stage for Heartland Sings' Mobile Concert Series singing country and pop music of Adele, Shania Twain, Tanya Tucker, Bonnie Raitt, Taylor Swift, Queen, Rolling Stones, in addition to many eras of musical theatre selections.
In April and June 2024, Lisa enjoyed performing two Solo Voice Recitals in Fort Wayne, IN before relocating to the Kansas City area.
In July 2021, Lisa was privileged to premiere the role of Louise Thaden in DeSpain and Peters' world premiere of Staggerwing with Opera Kansas, under the direction of Ashley Winters. She also premiered the role of Mezzo in Bonnie McLarty's Snow Angel with Lawrence Opera Theatre in 2019.
During a very busy 2019-2020 season, Lisa traveled to Spain and Portugal to perform as La Vecchia/Zita in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi in a new production produced by the American Opera Studio, Inc. She performed as Julia Child in the one-woman opera, Bon Appetit! (Hoiby) with the Heartland Opera Theatre, as well as the role of Ursule in Beatrice et Benedict (Berlioz) with Landlocked Opera Company in Overland Park, KS. She also performed the roles of La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica (Puccini) with Music on Site, Inc., Ruth in Pirates of Penzance (Sullivan) with Opera Kansas, and sang the Alto solos for The Messiah (Handel) with the Bartlesville Choral Society. She also enjoyed performing covers of Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon and Melissa Etheridge's Come to My Window and I'm the Only One with the Southeast Kansas Symphony under the direction of Raul Munguia, and the J3 Band in Pittsburg, KS.
From 2018-2020, Lisa enjoyed two seasons performing with the Tulsa Opera as a Filstrup Resident Artist, working with current Artistic Director, Aaron Beck. She was privileged to perform in the professional Tulsa Opera Chorus for fifteen seasons, under the direction of Chorus masters Kostis Protopapas and Lyndon Meyer. She made her solo debut with the company as Sister Lillianne in Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking (2012).
During the summer 2018, Lisa performed in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the Halifax Summer Opera Festival as Arnalta in their production of Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, and the role of Anna in Cavalli's La Didone with the Haymarket Opera Summer Course, under the direction of Craig Trompeter and Drew Minter. She also spent a wonderful two weeks in Eugene, OR as a member of the professional Berwick Chorus of the Oregon Bach Festival, performing Mendelssohn's Elijah and the world premiere of Richard Danielpour's Passion of Yeshua.
Other performances in 2018 included the role of Deianiera in Cavalli's L'Ercole Amante with the Institute for 17th Century Music - Baroque Opera Workshop in Queens, New York, a performance of 'In si barbara sciagura' from Rossini's Semiramide with the American Opera Studio, Inc. of Kansas City for their Emerald Ball Gala, and a guest performance as Ruth in Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance on the stage of Pittsburg State University's Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.
In August 2017, her Lawrence Opera Theatre debut was the role of Sarastra in a new concept production Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, directed by Grant Preisser. In November 2017, Lisa returned to Heartland Opera Theatre in Joplin, MO to perform the role of Miss Todd in Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief. In December 2017, Lisa made another company debut in yet another originally male role as Queen Balthazar in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors with Music on Site, Inc. of Wichita, KS. Also in December 2017, she performed as a guest soloist with the Southeast Kansas Symphony for their Holiday Extravaganza.
Other past performances include the Alto soloist with the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, and a Resident Artist with both the Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio and the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Lisa helped bring forth the first opera ever performed in Independence, KS, Gian Carlo Menotti's The Medium with the Independence Community College at the William Inge Theatre. She has also appeared onstage with the Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park in Shawnee, KS and the Springfield Regional Opera in Springfield, MO.
Lisa is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and a member of the music fraternity Pi Kappa Lambda. Ms. Gerstenkorn has been an Adjunct Voice Instructor at Kansas City Community College, in Kansas City, KS and served as Adjunct Voice Instructor at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS from 2005-2020. She also taught as an Adjunct Voice Instructor at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO from 2013-2020. She holds a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Pittsburg State University. Lisa currently teaches at Washburn University in Topeka, KS.
Lisa is also part of the Pittsburg Community Theatre where she has performed the roles of Dominique du Monaco in Flaherty's Lucky $tiff (2010), Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz (2013) and most recently as Grace Farrell in Annie (2014). She has also served as Vocal Director for the Children's Drama Workshop production of Totally Red! (2012), as well as Lucky $tiff and the huge success of Hairspray (2011) with director/choreographer Kaye Lewis of Midwest Regional Ballet. In June 2012, Lisa had the privilege of performing with the Midwest Regional Ballet as the Queen in their production of Swan Lake in Pittsburg, KS and Miami, Oklahoma's Coleman Theatre.
Recently relocated to the Kansas City area, Lisa continues teaching Voice lessons virtually, and will soon have availability for in-person lessons. More information about her private voice lessons may be found under the Private Voice Studio link, or on her Studio Facebook page.
Ms. Gerstenkorn enjoys staying busy teaching and performing, challenging herself with new opportunities, and working to create more culture within her community and surrounding areas.
Lisa was recently seen on the White Concert Hall stage as a soloist with the Washburn Symphony Orchestra, as well as in the James Hurd Performance Hall as a soloist in the Washburn Music Faculty Showcase.
Lisa also teaches online Music Theory and Music Appreciation live classes, and she was a Teaching Artist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, teaching the art of opera to 4th graders through the LOKC Education Program's Music! Words! Opera! in the Spring of 2025.
In May 2025, she performed the alto solos for Mozart's Vesperae Solennes de confessore with the Southern Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Donald Hodges in Joplin, MO.
In the summer of 2025, Lisa performed with one of the newest music groups in KC, Beau Sérénade, and she travelled with the American Opera Studio to Germany, Austria, and Italy for their production of Britten's Albert Herring.
In the Fall of 2024, Lisa was seen on stage with Lawrence Opera Theatre in two very different stage roles. She sang Magda in Adam Gorb's Path to Heaven and The Learned Judge in Gilbert and Sullivan's comedic operetta Trial by Jury. Shortly following, she briefly returned to her home of many years to perform as a soloist with the Pittsburg Multi-Generational Chorus. She also performed with Heartland Opera Theatre in their chamber performance of Twenty-Four (Boutté) in the role of Lady Clizia.
From 2020-2024, Lisa was a full-time singer and performer, with the title of Alto Principal Vocal Artist with the non-profit vocal music production company Heartland Sings in Fort Wayne, IN. There she performed the role of The Mother in Stephen Paulus' The Three Hermits, and the Alto solos for Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Mozart's Requiem, and Handel's Messiah. She also performed as a featured soloist for An Evening With Cole Porter and The Sondheim Cafe. For three summer seasons, she performed on the outdoor "ART-V" stage for Heartland Sings' Mobile Concert Series singing country and pop music of Adele, Shania Twain, Tanya Tucker, Bonnie Raitt, Taylor Swift, Queen, Rolling Stones, in addition to many eras of musical theatre selections.
In April and June 2024, Lisa enjoyed performing two Solo Voice Recitals in Fort Wayne, IN before relocating to the Kansas City area.
In July 2021, Lisa was privileged to premiere the role of Louise Thaden in DeSpain and Peters' world premiere of Staggerwing with Opera Kansas, under the direction of Ashley Winters. She also premiered the role of Mezzo in Bonnie McLarty's Snow Angel with Lawrence Opera Theatre in 2019.
During a very busy 2019-2020 season, Lisa traveled to Spain and Portugal to perform as La Vecchia/Zita in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi in a new production produced by the American Opera Studio, Inc. She performed as Julia Child in the one-woman opera, Bon Appetit! (Hoiby) with the Heartland Opera Theatre, as well as the role of Ursule in Beatrice et Benedict (Berlioz) with Landlocked Opera Company in Overland Park, KS. She also performed the roles of La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica (Puccini) with Music on Site, Inc., Ruth in Pirates of Penzance (Sullivan) with Opera Kansas, and sang the Alto solos for The Messiah (Handel) with the Bartlesville Choral Society. She also enjoyed performing covers of Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon and Melissa Etheridge's Come to My Window and I'm the Only One with the Southeast Kansas Symphony under the direction of Raul Munguia, and the J3 Band in Pittsburg, KS.
From 2018-2020, Lisa enjoyed two seasons performing with the Tulsa Opera as a Filstrup Resident Artist, working with current Artistic Director, Aaron Beck. She was privileged to perform in the professional Tulsa Opera Chorus for fifteen seasons, under the direction of Chorus masters Kostis Protopapas and Lyndon Meyer. She made her solo debut with the company as Sister Lillianne in Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking (2012).
During the summer 2018, Lisa performed in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the Halifax Summer Opera Festival as Arnalta in their production of Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, and the role of Anna in Cavalli's La Didone with the Haymarket Opera Summer Course, under the direction of Craig Trompeter and Drew Minter. She also spent a wonderful two weeks in Eugene, OR as a member of the professional Berwick Chorus of the Oregon Bach Festival, performing Mendelssohn's Elijah and the world premiere of Richard Danielpour's Passion of Yeshua.
Other performances in 2018 included the role of Deianiera in Cavalli's L'Ercole Amante with the Institute for 17th Century Music - Baroque Opera Workshop in Queens, New York, a performance of 'In si barbara sciagura' from Rossini's Semiramide with the American Opera Studio, Inc. of Kansas City for their Emerald Ball Gala, and a guest performance as Ruth in Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance on the stage of Pittsburg State University's Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.
In August 2017, her Lawrence Opera Theatre debut was the role of Sarastra in a new concept production Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, directed by Grant Preisser. In November 2017, Lisa returned to Heartland Opera Theatre in Joplin, MO to perform the role of Miss Todd in Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief. In December 2017, Lisa made another company debut in yet another originally male role as Queen Balthazar in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors with Music on Site, Inc. of Wichita, KS. Also in December 2017, she performed as a guest soloist with the Southeast Kansas Symphony for their Holiday Extravaganza.
Other past performances include the Alto soloist with the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, and a Resident Artist with both the Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio and the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Lisa helped bring forth the first opera ever performed in Independence, KS, Gian Carlo Menotti's The Medium with the Independence Community College at the William Inge Theatre. She has also appeared onstage with the Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park in Shawnee, KS and the Springfield Regional Opera in Springfield, MO.
Lisa is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and a member of the music fraternity Pi Kappa Lambda. Ms. Gerstenkorn has been an Adjunct Voice Instructor at Kansas City Community College, in Kansas City, KS and served as Adjunct Voice Instructor at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS from 2005-2020. She also taught as an Adjunct Voice Instructor at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO from 2013-2020. She holds a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Pittsburg State University. Lisa currently teaches at Washburn University in Topeka, KS.
Lisa is also part of the Pittsburg Community Theatre where she has performed the roles of Dominique du Monaco in Flaherty's Lucky $tiff (2010), Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz (2013) and most recently as Grace Farrell in Annie (2014). She has also served as Vocal Director for the Children's Drama Workshop production of Totally Red! (2012), as well as Lucky $tiff and the huge success of Hairspray (2011) with director/choreographer Kaye Lewis of Midwest Regional Ballet. In June 2012, Lisa had the privilege of performing with the Midwest Regional Ballet as the Queen in their production of Swan Lake in Pittsburg, KS and Miami, Oklahoma's Coleman Theatre.
Recently relocated to the Kansas City area, Lisa continues teaching Voice lessons virtually, and will soon have availability for in-person lessons. More information about her private voice lessons may be found under the Private Voice Studio link, or on her Studio Facebook page.
Ms. Gerstenkorn enjoys staying busy teaching and performing, challenging herself with new opportunities, and working to create more culture within her community and surrounding areas.