I attended my first live opera performance in 1978, after having listened in to the Metropolitan Opera's live radio performances for many years prior. The opera was La Boheme at DMMO and I immediately fell in love with this opera company in the heart of Iowa. I attended many more performances and then in 1991 was overjoyed to be asked to join the Board. I was in my early 30s and had little knowledge of how opera is produced, but Dr. Larsen was so generous with his time (as was Jeri Mace) in teaching me the rudiments (I'm afraid that the finer points of music theory were beyond me!). Between those early days and to date, I have enjoyed 17 years of Board service, including as President in 2001-02. DMMO has given me so much joy in my life and I am so grateful for the friendship that I had with Dr. Larsen. I miss him to no end, but I am so happy that the Company that he and his teams created will continue to captivate audiences far and wide.