When the San Diego Opera presented Cinderella last fall, it included three performers with UNT ties, from left, doctoral student Lauren McNeese, David Portillo ('05 M.M.) and Alissa Anderson ('03). McNeese portrayed Cinderella, Portillo was the prince and Anderson performed as one of the wicked stepsisters. The three knew each other before the show but hadn't performed together.

Anderson says her education made it possible to perform in such operas all across the country.

"UNT is where I got the first bearings on my voice and how to use it," she says. "It put me on the path to the success I am having now."