Artist Staff

Daniel Kleinknecht, Resident Conductor

Daniel Kleinknecht is executive director and conductor of Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre in Iowa. As founder of Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre nine years ago, he has led the company in performances of major operatic repertoire. Under his leadership the company has received five consecutive National Endowment for the Arts grants, has established a nationally-recognized Young Artist Program, and has built several endowments for the Opera Company. In this its 10th Anniversary Season, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre received an Iowa Department of Education 2008 Governor’s Volunteer Award. He is an associate professor of music at Mount Mercy College.

Kleinknecht has been a Conducting Fellow at the Aspen Music School and at Quebec’s Domaine Forget, and holds music degrees from Oberlin College, Indiana University, and The University of Iowa where he conducted performances of the Opera Theatre and the Center for New Music. He is listed in the International Who’s Who in Music, and has had articles published in the American Choral Review and the Choral Journal.

Damon Cole, Artistic Director, Follies

Damon Cole received his Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and music education from Cornell College along with his general education endorsement.  Damon has worked in the Cedar Rapids public schools for almost forty years, most recently as Arts Facilitator for Johnson School of the Arts.  He began his association with Follies as production accompanist 28 years ago. Since then he has added the hats of Musical Director, Co-Writer and Co-Director. His community arts involvement also includes occasional Music Director for Theatre Cedar Rapids. Damon is the choral director for First Presbyterian church in Mount Vernon, a position he has held since he was in college way back in the seventies. Damon has worked with Orchestra Iowa on several occasions as talent coordinator and children’s chorus director.