Alexandra Burch ’21 is grateful for Viterbo connections that continue to open doors. Burch is a graduate student at Chicago’s DePaul University, where she is pursuing her Master of Music and will graduate in 2025. Her dream is to become a professional opera house singer.

She returns to Viterbo on April 5 to help teach a master voice class in her former Professor Emeritus Daniel Johnson-Wilmot’s class. The opportunity came full circle: Johnson-Wilmot is friends with her DePaul voice instructor, Chuck Chandler. It made perfect sense for Burch to return to her alma mater and give back to the university that continues to provide her with opportunities in and outside of the classroom.

“Looking back, I realize how Viterbo made it possible for me to make so many connections, even outside of school,” she shared. “Judy Stafslien helped me land my first voice job at Reed Music Studios when I was an undergraduate student. Dan connected me to another Viterbo alumni, Matthew Curtis. Matthew owns Choral Tracks, where I work remotely full time.”

Her professors from Viterbo and DePaul have provided her with boosts of confidence to audition for a role. She is cast in Dark Sisters on June 7 and 9 at DePaul. “It’s a small cast American opera,” Burch said. “I play the part of Lucinda. It’s a feminist lens on the Fundamentalist Mormon Church.”

Connections aside, Burch’s hard work and talent are key ingredients to her success. Her awards include first and third places at the Schubert Club Audition (2022 and 2023 respectively), and a second-place title at the 2022 National Student Auditions.

Burch was excited to share that she just accepted an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime offer. This summer, she will call Urbino, Italy home for one month while she is part of a Young Artist Program, Musica Nelle Marche.

A West Salem, Wis. native, Burch finds Chicago’s lively entertainment hub a great way for her to gain exposure and experience in her craft. Recently, she started teaching piano and voice lessons around Chicago. “That’s really fun,” she said. She and a friend perform little gigs around Chicago, singing pop, rock, and jazz tunes.

Here’s a fun fact that takes it full circle: Burch’s parents are both Viterbo alumni and studied with the same voice teacher that she did. Her mom was a vocal performance major and her dad completed his degree in business.