Asheville Lyric Opera Puccini's "La bohème" in conjunction with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. Past performances have included guest singers, conductors and directors who have performed across the U.S. and internationally. Soprano Susan Dunn gave a recital as part of the company's first season in 1999, and in 2001, the company presented Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" with Rockwell Blake in the role of Count Almaviva. The company began touring with their 2003/2004 season and has brought productions to Indiana, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The 2006–2007 season saw an expansion to three full opera productions along with an "education opera" performance
Kimberly Barber Kimberly Barber Kimberly Barber (born December 21, 1959) is a Canadian mezzo-soprano and vocal pedagogue. She studied with Patricia Kern at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1983. She received a diploma in operatic performance from the university in 1985. She began her career as a member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble, also in 1985. While maintaining a professional opera career, she has been teaching at Wilfrid Laurier University since July 2002 and is currently Coordinator of the Opera Program there. From 1989 to 1994, Barber sang with Oper Frankfurt in Germany. Barber made her New York City Opera