top of page
JLS_6731.jpg
calendar

GOOD MEDICINE INDIGENEOUS MUSIC FESTIVAL 
 

GOOD MEDICINE / NOVEMBER 2025

Kirsten and her daughter Stephanie join the roster of the inaugural Good Medicine Indigenous Music Festival in Houston, Texas. Together, they will perform Mvskoke Lullaby. Kirsten will also be performing her own works, as well as works by Ian Cusson and Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER / PERFORMER

UNITED WOMEN OF FAITH / NOVEMBER 2025

Kirsten will deliver a keynote speech to United Women of Faith in Findlay, Ohio. She will sing one of her own compositions, and she and her daughter Stephanie will sing Mvskoke Lullaby together. 

SOUNDS OF HOME: KO'KOOM'FEENA WORLD PREMIERE 

CITYMUSIC CLEVELAND / OCTOBER 2025

Kirsten makes her Orchestra Series Debut with CityMusic Cleveland as the soprano soloist in Jerod Tate's new work "Ko'koom'feena." She will also sing the soprano solo in Samuel Barber's "Knoxville, Summer of 1915." Maestro John McLaughlin Williams conducts. 

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY CONCERT 

WINDHAM PHILHARMONIC / OCTOBER 2025

Kirsten and her daughter Stephanie make their Windham Philharmonic Debut for their "A Concert of Protest, Memory, and Belonging on Indigenous Peoples' Day." Together they will sing Mvksoke Lullaby and join the orchestra on Julius Eastman's "Stay on It." Maestro Hugh Keelan will join Kirsten on piano in her own compositions "Reclaim the Land" and "Witch of November in the White City." 

OCTOBER CHAMBER CONCERT 

CITYMUSIC CLEVELAND / OCTOBER 2025

Kirsten makes her CityMusic Cleveland debut performing works by Jerod Tate with violinist Katie Lansdale. Kirsten and Katie also present the program as outreach to schools in Cleveland. 

LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN

Wilmington Concert Opera / September 2025

Kirsten returns to Wilmington Concert Opera to perform the role of Antonia in Jacques Offenbach's French opera "Les Contes d'Hoffmann." 

DER RING DES 
NIBELUNGEN

TUNDI Productions / August 2025

Kirsten will make her TUNDI Productions debut at their Wagner in Vermont Festival in the role of Wellgunde in "Das Rheingold" and "Götterdämmerung." She will also be covering the roles of Gerhilde in "Die Walküre" and 3rd Norn in "Götterdämmerung." 

GUEST LECTURER

North Fairfield Historical Foundation /
July 2025

Kirsten will present a lecture on the importance of retention of cultural heritage and her own career as a Mvskoke musician. She will also be joined by her daughter for the presentation. 

TOSCA

Mission Opera / June 2025

Kirsten returns to Mission Opera in Santa Clarita, California for her role debut in the title role of Puccini's masterpiece opera "Tosca." 

CABARET
FRANÇAIS

Wilmington Concert Opera / May 2025

Kirsten returns to Wilmington Concert Opera to perform in their French Cabaret Gala, featuring works by Jacques Brel, Enzo Enzo, Michel Legrand, Edith Piaf, and others. 

AN AMERICAN INDIAN SYMPHONY

Oklahoma City Philharmonic / April 2025

Kirsten makes her Oklahoma City Philharmonic debut as the soprano soloist for the World Premiere of Jerod Impichaachaaha' Tate's "An American Indian Symphony." 

VOICES OF 
MANNAHATTA

Voices of Ascension / April 2025

Kirsten makes her Voices of Ascension debut as the soprano soloist for the World Premiere of a new work by Danielle Jagelski. 

BEETHOVEN 
9th SYMPHONY

Firelands Symphony Orchestra / 
March 2025

Kirsten returns to Firelands Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist for her Beethoven 9th Symphony debut. 

LOKSI' SHAALI'
(Shell Shaker)
EAST COAST PREMIERE

Mount Holyoke College / February 2025

Kirsten is featured in the East Coast Premiere of Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate's new Chickasaw Opera "Loksi' Shaali'." Kirsten will reprise the role of Ippo’si’ Sipokni in this production, which she originated with Canterbury Voices in the World Premiere in October, 2024.  

AMERICAN DREAMS: A CELEBRATION OF MODERN AMERICAN SONG

Malone College / February 2025

Kirsten returns to Malone College as a guest artist to sing a recital of music by American composers, featuring works by Barber, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lucy Simon, and many more, including one of her own works. 

VOICES OF
MANNAHATTA
WORKSHOP

Voices of Ascension / January 2025

Kirsten workshops a new extended work centering around Native experience in Manhattan by Danielle Jagelski. This work will premiere with Voices of Ascension in April, 2025.

AMAZING GRACE:
FIRE & LIGHT

PostClassical Ensemble / January 2025

Kirsten makes her PostClassical Ensemble and Kennedy Center debut as the featured soloist for this concert curated by Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, including "Hymn" by Tate and "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" by Samuel Barber. 

MESSIAH

Toledo Choral Society / December 2024

Kirsten returns to Toledo Choral Society as the soprano soloist for the fourth year in a row for the annual historic concert of Handel's "Messiah." 

AN AMERICAN SALUTE

SONGS OF 
THANKSGIVING

Firelands Symphony Orchestra /
November 2024

Kirsten returns to Firelands Symphony Orchestra Chorale as a guest soloist for their annual popular concert, "Songs of Thanksgiving." 

AN AMERICAN SALUTE

Firelands Symphony Orchestra /
November 2024

Kirsten returns to Firelands Symphony Orchestra as a guest soloist for "An American Salute," a tribute to Americana and honoring veterans with patriotic anthems and musical theatre favorites. 

AN AMERICAN SALUTE

LOKSI' SHAALI'
(SHELL SHAKER)

Canterbury Voices / October 2024

Kirsten makes her Canterbury Voices debut in the World Premiere of Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate's new Chickasaw Opera "Loksi' Shaali'." Kirsten will originate the role of Ippo’si’ Sipokni in this production. 

DIE
FLEDERMAUS

Wilmington Concert Opera /
September 2024

Kirsten returns to Wilmington Concert Opera in one her signature roles as Rosalinde in Johann Strauss II's hilarious masterpiece, "Die Fledermaus."

LAKESIDE CHAUTAUQUA

Lakeside Chatauqua / July 2024

Kirsten will be the soloist for the church service at Lakeside Chatauqua in Lakeside, Ohio on July 7th, under the direction of Michael Shirtz, and conduct the choir on July 14th.

VOICES OF FREEDOM

The Port Clinton Community Choir/ July 2024

Kirsten will be a featured soloist for the Fourth of July Concert under the direction of Gregory Fox at Trinity United Methodist Church, 135 Adams Street - Port Clinton, OH 43452.

Feature 3

CARMINA BURANA

Toledo Choral Society / June 2024

Kirsten returns to Toledo Choral Society as the soprano soloist for Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana." 

Feature 3
Feature 3

SANDUSKY HIGH SCHOOL

Sandusky High School / May 2024

Kirsten will meet with numerous Sandusky, Ohio high school students to give them helpful feedback in a master class setting. 

VICTOR HERBERT 100

Comic Opera Guild / May 2024 

Kirsten will return to Comic Opera Guild in Ann Arbor, Michigan to perform as a soloist for a concert honoring operetta composer Victor Herbert on the 100th anniversary of his death.

WE ARE STILL HERE: A NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNEY 

The Trey Clegg Singers / May 2024 

The Trey Clegg Singers will perform the World Premiere of Kirsten's commissioned composition for eight part A Capella choir, "Mvskokvlke, Este'Cate: We are Still Here."

VOICES OF HOME GALA

Wilmington Concert Opera / May 2024

Kirsten will return to Wilmington Concert Opera as a soloist for the Voices of Home Gala, featuring works based on the heritages of the individual performers. 

REQUIEM FOR THE LIVING

Firelands Symphony Orchestra Chorale / April 2024

Kirsten will return to Fireland Symphony Orchestra Chorale as Artist in Residence and Soprano Soloist for Dan Forrest's "Requiem for the Living," along with other repertoire. 

​

MALONE UNIVERSITY

Malone University / March 2024

Kirsten will sing and teach a master class with students of Malone University in Canton, Ohio. 

VIVE LA FRANCE

Firelands Symphony Orchestra / March 2024

Kirsten will make her debut with the full Firelands Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist for the Poulenc "Gloria" on their "Vive La France" 

Feature 1

INSPIRATION OF THE MUSES

New Music Chicago / February 2024

Flutist Rose Bishop and Pianist Dr. Abbie Brewer will play the world premiere of Kirsten's newly commissioned work "Inspiration of the Muses" in recital with New Music Chicago. Kirsten will also be singing on this concert of all living women composers. 

MESSIAH

The Toledo Choral Society / December 2023

Kirsten will return as the soprano soloist in Handel's "Messiah" for the third year in a row with The Toledo Choral Society. 

SONGS OF THANKSGIVING

Firelands Symphony Orchestra / November, 2023

Kirsten will make her Firelands Symphony Debut as soloist and artist in residence for "Songs of Thanksgiving." Repertoire will include the world premiere of "Prayer of Peace" by Matthew Kennedy. 

GIRONDINES

 

Feature 2

HÄNSEL UND GRETEL

Wilmington Concert Opera / November 2023

Kirsten returns to Wilmington Concert Opera as the Witch in this German language version of the Engelbert Humperdinck opera "Hänsel und Gretel." 

Mission Opera /October 2023

Kirsten will reprise her role of Charlotte Corday, as well as stage direct and choreograph, this first fully-staged and West Coast Premiere of feminist opera "Girondines." "Girondines" is created by Kirsten C. Kunkle (librettist) and Sarah Van Sciver (composer). 

FIRELANDS SYMPHONY RETREAT

Firelands Symphony Orchestra Chorale / September 2023

Kirsten will present master classes to the Firelands Symphony Orchestra Chorale as part of her Artist Residency with Firelands Symphony. 

CHICAGO CURRENTS: 
CELEBRATING CHICAGO'S WATERWAYS
 

Chicago Fringe Opera / March 2023

Kirsten will make her Chicago Fringe Opera debut performing her monodrama/scena commission "Witch of November in the White City," along with Posey songs, and ensembles. 

YELLOWSTONE REVEALED

Mountain Time Arts / August 2022

Kirsten will be a featured commissioned composer, poet, and soloist in the 150th Anniversary celebration of Yellowstone National Park. 

© 2021 Kirsten C. Kunkle.

Website by Bold Soul. All Rights Reserved. 

bottom of page