Singer gives students insight into life at the opera

Intermountain Catholic

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Keith Miller speaks to choral students at Juan Diego Catholic High School. IC photo/Christine Young

DRAPER —When Dr. Brian Manternach, Juan Diego Catholic High School's director of choral and vocal activities, reconnected on Facebook with his friend Keith Miller, he didn't realize it would have a life-changing affect on his students.

Miller and Manternach met while attending the University of Colorado in 1996.

Miller, an internationally known bass-baritone in the New York Metropolitan Opera, was in Salt Lake City Nov. 18-19 to perform with the Utah Symphony and Utah Symphony Chorus.

Before his performance he talked with students in Juan Diego's concert choir, encouraging them to do their best and never give up. He told them to look at how they can improve from each experience, to be patient, and to put aside their egos.

"It doesn't matter what you want to do in life, whenever you're frustrated, get up and do it again," said Miller. "Every time you feel like quitting, embrace the frustration and exhaustion and keep going. Show up the next morning because someone else is feeling the same way and you will have won because you didn't quit."

Miller is from the small town of Ovid, Colo. There was very little music in his home as he grew up. He played the flute, but didn't read music well. One night during his years as a college fullback, he took his girlfriend to see "Phantom of the Opera" because he thought it would be a cool date. Instead it was a life-changing moment.

After that he listened to and sang along with all the musical theater he could. Luciano Pavarotti was his favorite.

"It's embarrassing to get caught by another football player singing in your car," he said. "The switch from football to opera was hard."

Miller was four credits short of graduating from the University of Colorado when he began playing football in Europe; he later played with the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos. While training in 2001, he saw a flyer for auditions for the young artist program at Pine Mountain Music Festival in Michigan. He sang one aria and landed a spot at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.

"Before that, I didn't know what I wanted to be," Miller told the Juan Diego students. "Allow yourselves to dream, but at the same time, focus on what is in front of you; learn your music and learn how to study."

Manternach wanted his students to hear from a professional musician because many of them aspire to perform. "I wanted them to experience a performer on a more personal level because they only see them from the audience," he said.

Being a professional performer is difficult, Miller said. "In this job you have to be able to take criticism and not let it affect you. Trust me, there are people with big axes and they will chop you down. I thought politics in football was bad; it didn't even come close to singing."

Sophomore Ashley Ramos said Miller was inspirational because, despite being unsure of a career, he achieved in both football and the opera. "We have the tools, so we have no excuse not to follow our dreams," she said.

Junior Abby Moore agreed that Miller was inspirational. "Although I'm not going into music, I can apply what he said to what I am going into," she said. "His dedication was phenomenal."

The students had the to opportunity to attend Miller's performance of Hector Berlioz's oratorio "L'enfrance du Christ" with the Utah Symphony.

Senior Nina Martinez thought Miller's performance was breathtaking, she said. "He said today in class that music is black and white, but the performers add color through technique. That is obvious tonight through their emotions, even in the orchestra."