With more than three decades’ experience as a vocal coach, collaborative pianist, conductor, and organist, Kevin J. Bylsma is a musician of impressive depth and ability, well known for his work in opera, art song, and oratorio. A longtime member of the Toledo Opera staff, Mr. Bylsma was recently named Artistic Director of the company. He was formerly Music Director of the Department of Community Programs for the Michigan Opera Theatre (now Detroit Opera), and vocal coach, accompanist, and chorus master for OPERA! Lenawee. In recitals and master classes he has collaborated with the great American singers Samuel Ramey, Diane Soviero, Marilyn Horne, Dawn Upshaw, Michelle De Young, Irina Mishura, Katherine Lewek, and Jennifer Rowley. He is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Ann Arbor Festival of Song, and, for the past thirty years he has served the historic Mariners’ Church of Detroit as Associate Organist and Choirmaster.

Dedicated to the education and training of the next generation of operatic talent, Mr. Bylsma is Coordinator of Opera and Associate Teaching Professor at Bowling Green State University’s College of Musical Arts, responsible for vocal coaching and serving as a collaborative pianist for the school’s large body of young singers. Mr. Bylsma also served on the artistic staff of OperaWorks, an intensive opera training program, based in Los Angeles.

A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mr. Bylsma received his musical training at Calvin College, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Michigan—where he received the Robert Glasgow Organ Scholarship. He currently resides in Toledo's Old West End historic neighborhood with his cat, Dickens!

Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers, soprano, is currently an emeritus associate professor at the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University, where she taught voice and graduate courses, and spearheaded their recently-added Master's specialization in voice science & pedagogy.  Recent stage-directing has included Bowling Green’s productions of The Coronation of Poppea, Orpheus in the Underworld, Il Matrimonio Segreto, Così fan tutte, The Pirates of Penzance, Pasatieri’s Signor Deluso, and her own adaptation of Offenbach’s The Lantern Wedding.  She has frequently appeared at the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, including performances with the Wine, Women, and Song ensemble, as well as the annual Parisian Soirée.  For over 30 years she has sung in the professional choir at the historic Mariners’ Church of Detroit.  

She holds degrees in voice from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory (BM) and the University of Michigan (MM, DMA).  Her performing, recording, and directing credits include American Composers’ Alliance Festival of American Music (NYC), Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Moravian Philharmonic (Czech Republic), National Polish Radio Symphony, Society for New Music, MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music, Toledo Symphony, Toledo Opera Summer Opera Camp, Kerrytown Concert House (Ann Arbor), Pro Musica of Detroit, Camphill Village of Copake (NY), Toledo Museum of Art, International Symphony of Port Huron (MI) and Sarnia (Ontario). Opera credits include Ohio Light Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre (now Detroit Opera), Toledo Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Michigan Lyric Opera.  

Formerly she served on the faculties of Grand Valley State University, University of Toledo, Adrian College, Albion College, Spring Arbor College, and for three years as a graduate assistant at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Rodgers grew up in Syracuse, New York, and lives with her husband David in Ann Arbor, Michigan.