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Keri Alkema

@kerialkema

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Musician, Opera Singer, Globe Trotter, Dog Mom, Avid Reader, Knitter, LoveisLove

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Meet Keri Alkema, Nashville Opera's Chief Strategy and Operations Officer, and the person who keeps all of us pointed in the same direction.

Ask her to pick a favorite opera and she'll say any one with great singers, directors, and musicians. Spoken like someone who loves every person in the building.

Her favorite Nashville spot: anywhere with her hubs, her friends, and Lulu ( yes, Keri is our Chief Vibes Officer's mommy).

When she’s not leading the team, Keri is in the audience at any live performance she can find, out on Middle Tennessee’s lakes and trails, tasting her way through Nashville, or helping out with local animal rescues. And then there’s the yarn. She brings it home from every trip, turning each project into a travel souvenir, and her happy place is Bliss Yarns.

We're so lucky to have her. 🧶🐾 by @kerialkema

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2 days ago

We both can’t believe it has been 33 years together…and at dinner last night we talked about the expansiveness of it - our hills and valleys… sometimes so deep and wide we both didn’t know if we were gonna make it out…and our choice every day to still choose each other. One thing we wanted to start talking about in this forum is our little nugget Lulu. It has taken us about 2 years to talk about her publicly.She was raised and loved immensely by Chris’s Dad and his partner Mary Jo. An accident/ illness/ and loss of his partner changed everything and Lulu was lovingly given to us to carry on that love and care. Coming out of that kind of loss it never felt right to post or celebrate… but in those years Chris’s dad has now become grandpa and she visits him throughout the year. Lulu is my shadow… and has stolen all of our hearts. She travels and goes everywhere with me… she’s had a million adventures so far and loves every minute of it. We felt it was time to share her awesomeness and adventures with you all ❤️

As I was going back over the last year in my camera roll it hit me I didn’t get a pic of last night in the ER. That these pics show all the highlights but none of the sticky messy stuff either…
A work lunch on Friday turned into food poisoning… before we went to our anniversary dinner last night I wasn’t feeling so great in my neck and ears. By 11:30 last night I was in so much pain we went to the ER… and through my tears we were still laughing like the first pic in this thread…. Ascension ER downtown on a Saturday night in Nashville 😳😳 we thought we’d be in for a nightmare…. But they were so awesome and quick that we were home and back in bed in 2 hours… with antibiotics, ear meds and loaded up on anti inflammatory….
That was the end of our anniversary evening… and as we crawled in and laughed about it all…. I wish I had gotten that pic… mascara stained cheeks, unmatched clothes, Chris with a vat of coffee filling out the forms… and the nurses and docs thinking I’m having issues with my heart cuz I said my jaw was killing me… 🙄🙄🙄🤪🤪🤪❤️❤️❤️❤️ by @kerialkema

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4 months ago

I have been so lucky to have sung all over the world as an opera singer… but the last few months with the culmination of this weeks dress rehearsals and performances with @backlightproductions has been one of the most fulfilling and joyous productions I have ever done. In collaboration with @nashvilleopera - 6 opera singers joined Backlight productions show The Sound of Music. There was a moment where I was on stage left hearing what was going on ON stage and then hearing all the singing going on backstage and I thought my heart would burst… it was sheer joy … music and art and love of theater brought us all together and I have never in my whole career felt so much joy and love of music and performing! I am forever grateful! Please check out their website, follow on socials, donate, volunteer if you are local…you will be so glad you did! One of my cast mates that I got to share the stage and dressing room with could not wait to hear which musical they were going to do next year…. A huge fan of the Disney villains she was hoping and praying for Little Mermaid so she could be her favorite villain Ursula…. When they announced that indeed it was Little Mermaid… her reaction was one of winning the lotto… and reminded me of when I first got hired to sing my first Tosca…. I bawled like she did! I felt all that emotion to my core and I can’t wait to be on the front row next year cheering her on! Melissa and her team, board and volunteers behind Backlight are amazing! Check them out and lend a hand and or a dollar! It will be one of the best things you ever do! Thank you @meganmurphychambers for the connection and to Melissa for reaching out and making this collab a reality! ❤️❤️❤️🎶🎶🎶🎭🎭🎭 by @kerialkema

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5 months ago

My moms first gallery showing of her art. This series is called “Layers of a Woman” The gallery showed 12 of the original 21.
The are powerful- and incredibly beautiful. The pictures do not do them justice. You can see them @threestonesgallery . I am so proud of her and it was such joy to join her at the reception and celebrate her! @marciealkema by @kerialkema

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6 months ago

Oven on, aircon cranked down, hoping a Christmas miracle happens and we wake up to snow 😜. Merry Christmas everyone🎄❤️ by @kerialkema

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10 months ago

I am so incredibly proud of my mom. This is her first art show with her Polaroid and Encaustic Wax art work. I am in awe of her, inspired by her, grateful she is my mom. So many pieces…I see the power and strength of women, my sister, my mom, and her heart. If you see anything in here that speaks to your soul, DM me and I’ll get you in touch with her. Please send all the positive first time vibes for her first art show. She is proof that there are always second chapters, more to learn, more to explore, more to do, more light to put into the world. #art #encausticartist #daughters #mothers #love #polaroids #artists by @kerialkema

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a year ago

I love this man….. ❤️ by @kerialkema

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a year ago

Today, the 28th, is my sister Erin’s birthday. I miss her more than words could ever describe but I’ve realized in this last year how much she has shown up in all the years since she crossed through the veil. She’s in every sisterhood friendship, she’s present in my niece and my great nieces, she’s in the art that my mom has created and is still creating, she’s been supporting me, running along side me, showing up through people in the way they hug me… those hugs that are so huge and big and meaningful… that was her. Her laughter, her humor, her hugs, her love, her friendship, her sisterhood with me… they have been in every amazing, glorious, hard, joyous, moment of my life. How lucky am I. How lucky are the people that knew and loved her, how lucky are the people that didn’t know her but know her through those that did. Happy Birthday Erin! I can’t wait to share the rest of my years here with you and when it’s my turn to cross through the veil I know you will be there waiting for me with a massive hug and that infectious laughter! All my love dear one! 😘 by @kerialkema

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a year ago

32 years of adventures, with hills and valleys we always call it…. Hills of immense joy and awesome sauce and valleys so low there was one we both worried we might not get out of… we have been so lucky to have been surrounded by so many that love and support us, family and friends that showed up and tirelessly listened to our valleys….and the same loved ones that cheered us on when the hills were high… you know who you are and you are cherished beyond measure…

Forever and a day I would always pick him… and he says the same with me… here’s to the next 32 with all the adventures, hill and valleys, and timeless love ❤️ by @kerialkema

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a year ago

Our annual bike ride to the CMA fest for music, tshirts, fun and food. Yes I ended up with that sparkle hat, cuz why not🤣. We had so much fun talking to people and listening to music and watching all the craziness of friends and family just letting loose and having fun. We ended up at a tapas bar downtown that was delicious and loved the bike ride home over the walking bridge listening to the concert from the Bridgestone.

We are Nashvillians and We ❤️ music city!

#neverthoughtidsaythat #mylove #music #community #love #fun #beers #bikerides #joy #nash #myoneandonly by @kerialkema

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a year ago

When your forever friends across the pond come to the big apple…you join them! Nothing like a late night greys papaya, nyc pizza , cupcakes, walking the streets and enjoying Christmas in the city!
Love you all so much and can’t wait for the next get together on your side of the pond! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#friendsforever #family #drunkshenanigans #gin #food #nyc #thebigapple #rockerfellercenter by @kerialkema

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2 years ago

SO EXCITED!!!! IN THE THEATER NOW!!!! LOVE these memories with these 2 … and it’s gonna be SO HARD NOT TO SING ALONG!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
#sisterfromanothermister #music #love #friends #family #wicked #arianagrande #cynthiaerivo #womensupportingwomen #women by @kerialkema

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2 years ago