The Music and Theater Department’s own Marci Ziegler is performing with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The Italian Opera “La Traviata,” written by Giuseppe Verdi, is about a young man and an ill, young woman who fall in love.

Ziegler, assistant professor of music, said that since she’s started working at Baker, she tries to do at least one opera per year.

“It’s hard to do much more than that,” Ziegler said. “I get pretty tired after teaching, then going to rehearsals in Kansas City, but it’s fun. I really enjoy it. It’s kind of my way to continue my professional development.”

Although teaching music during the day and practicing it at night can be stressful, Ziegler happily took the stage Saturday for the opera’s first performance.

“It’s definitely worth it,” Ziegler said, “especially this opera. We probably get to wear some of the best costumes that I’ve seen. This is the third time I have done this opera. The music is really great too.”

Ziegler has performed with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City since 1996. In this opera, she sings in the choir.

“The chorus, we are sort of the comic relief,” Ziegler said. “We dress up as gypsies and some of the men dress up as matadors. This opera is a lot of spectacle, which is typical with grand opera. It’s a large production. We get to hear really fine international opera singers. It’s really fun to hear them sing and sing along beside them.”

Associate Professor of Music Robin Liston, who took her students to the opera on opening weekend, is so proud of Ziegler for “keeping her hand in professional music.”

“I’m so excited to have a colleague that is so active in our field,” Liston said. “It is a very real example for our students, to see a teacher who is still actively involved in music, outside of teaching.”

Ziegler’s husband Rand Ziegler, who is also a professor and department chair, said participating in opera is her way of continuing her scholarship. He points out how academic scholars gain credibility by doing research and studies, and in that way, Marci uses opera to further her professionalism as a singer.

“Performing with the opera is her version of scholarship,” Rand said. “By her being involved in a professional organization like that, it helps inform her in teaching voice to her students.”

Performances this week are at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 5 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.