Roberta Gumbel

Roberta Gumbel is pleased to join the voice faculty at Kansas University. She has performed in opera, concert and musical theater. After completing her bachelor and master's of music at Indiana University in Bloomington, she made her professional debut with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. In addition, she has performed with Michigan Opera Theater, Indianapolis Opera, Opera Memphis, and Philadelphia Opera. A frequent Clara in Porgy and Bess, Gumbel has sung the role internationally and throughout the United States.

Gumbel spent 18 years in New York City. She performed in several Broadway shows, including Showboat,Ragtime, Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme and In My Life.

Gumbel has been a frequent soloist with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, performing in several Christmas shows as well as the Duke Ellington Sacred Concert. Gumbel is the featured soloist in the Song Cycleon Susan Kander's recording of "Songs for My Father". She is also the soprano soloist on George Quincy's recording of Pocahontas in the Court of King James, which was performed at the Smithsonian. Gumbel can be heard on Jazz at Lincoln Center's Christmas Album.

As a teacher, Roberta has taught privately at the New World School of the Arts High School and Barry University in Miami, Florida. She maintained a private studio in New York City. Upon returning to her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, Gumbel teaches privately and is on the roster of Kansas City Young Audiences.