Leadership

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Kathryn Evans

Dr. Evans is the head of the Vocal division of the School of Arts and Humanities at UTD, where she teaches vocal instruction and a variety of music history courses, as well as general arts education courses. She directed the most successful theatrical production in the history of UTD, Side Show the Musical, as well as the annual Best of Broadway show (2008-2016) and productions of the musicals I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (2011); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2012); Red, Hot and Cole (2013); Songs for a New World (2014), and Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music (2015). She produced the first fully-staged opera at UTD, The Marriage of Figaro, in 2017.

President, Music Director

Tom Smith

Composer, singer, and conductor Tom Smith has appeared regularly with Comet Opera since 2018 and directed their first Summer Studio production. He is currently the President and General Music Director for Comet Opera and has previously served as the Organization Ambassador. Outside of Comet Opera, he sings in the Dallas Symphony Chorus and UT Dallas’ University Choir. He has composed for piano, handbells, choir, and orchestra, and studies voice with Dr. Kathryn Evans.

Vice President, Marketing Coordinator

Alina Linde

Alina Linde is an Arts and Technology major at UT Dallas, specializing in UX and web design, and has completed a minor in performing arts for vocal performance. They are currently the Vice President and Marketing Coordinator for Comet Opera. Outside of opera, their vocal repertoire includes works by Debussy, Brahams, and Rachmaninoff. They have appeared at Carnegie Hall with the Women's Chorus of Dallas and currently study with Dr. Kathryn Evans.

Organization Ambassador

Rene Davila

Rene Davila debuted as Ferrando in Così Fan Tutte (2018). He is a biomedical engineering sophomore and an undergraduate researcher under Dr. Victor Varner's Bioengineering laboratory. He is also a Terry Foundation Scholar, regularly volunteering at the Achievement Center of Texas.