Our Community Advisory Council helps ensure the Learning Department’s programs are meaningful and responsive to the needs of our community with their valued feedback, input, and support. Advisors are Kansas City metro residents with a demonstrated commitment to arts education and community engagement who attend regular meetings, volunteer at performances and events, and serve as ambassadors for Lyric Opera of Kansas City in the community.
Community Advisory Council applications are currently closed for the 2025–26 season.
2025–2026 Members
Kris Chaisanguanthum, Ph.D., is a scientist and entrepreneur. His broad research career encompasses fundamental physics, computational neuroscience and bioinformatics. He is also a startup veteran, having co-founded several tech companies. Locally, he has been involved in several education non-profits and is a lifelong musician, passionate about preserving and perpetuating interest in the classical arts.
Courtney Collado (CiCi) is an artist-activist, educator, and entrepreneur. Following a career as a professional dancer and dance educator, CiCi is delighted to serve on the Lyric Opera Community Advisory Council to bridge the gap between underrepresented communities and the performing arts.
Dr. Aaron Duff is an educational leader with a deep commitment to fostering community and intellectual engagement. He believes in the power of the arts to enrich lives and unite diverse groups, aligning with his interest in creating spaces for thinkers and community members to connect. Aaron is particularly interested in supporting Lyric Opera's mission to broaden its reach across all Kansas City communities, ensuring equitable access to its transformative performances and community impact. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is an avid reader, an enthusiastic traveler, and he enjoys a delightful dinner party.
Tiffany Finn has been a teacher for fourteen years, teaching early childhood through eighth grade, in private and public-school classrooms. She is also a songwriter and indie author who just released her debut novel Between Shadows and Flames in February 2025. Tiffany believes art fosters growth, learning and a greater understanding of the world around us.
Sam Knopik has been teaching world history and coaching football at Pembroke Hill School since 2003. A passionate advocate for the humanities and the arts, he is proud of the many football players on his team that also participate in the performing arts. Sam has served in leadership roles for local, state and national professional associations, as well as neighborhood and church-related community service over the years. He is excited to combine his appreciation for the arts with his background in education as a Lyric Opera Community Advisory Council member.
Gabriel Livingston is an educator, union leader, and arts advocate based in Kansas City. He is a second-grade teacher, president of the Hickman Mills National Education Association, Vice Chair of the West Central Region of the Missouri NEA, and Chair of their statewide Communications and Research Advisory Committee. He has pursued his love for the arts by working as a dramaturg with Kansas City Repertory Theatre and as a teaching artist with The Coterie Theatre, where he helped bring theatre education to young audiences. Some of Gabriel’s favorite operas include Don Giovanni, La traviata, and Roméo et Juliette.
Bio TBD
Madison Sisson has channeled her passion for serving others through her work at The Farmer’s House, a nonprofit for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and as an elementary music teacher with Kansas City Public Schools. Madison is honored to serve on a committee that creates opportunities for all to engage with music through opera. This work brings people together, fosters inclusivity, and shares the transformative power of the arts.
Back row, left to right: Kris Chaisanguanthum, Laura Blankenship (Lyric Opera Manager of Community Programs), Lindsay-Darshaun Murray, Gabriel Livingston, Sam Knopik, Madison Sisson, Neal Long (Lyric Opera Director of Learning), Tiffany Finn, Aaron Duff
Front row, left to right: Courtney Collado, Emily Bridges (Lyric Opera Manager of School Programs)
