Megan Buness began voice lessons at the age of fourteen - with a foundation of violin lessons at age five, piano at age seven and french horn in elementary school (private lessons for the last two continued through college) - studying with her mother, Fay Buness in Helena, Montana. A mere three years later she was declared a winner in the National Association of Teachers of Singing local auditions. During those years, she was also selected for All-State and All-Northwest choirs, and later toured with the Helena Symphony Chorale under the direction of her father Dr. Dave Buness in Australia. Her high school collaborations with vocalists and instrumentals received the highest ratings in district and state music festivals.

Ms. Buness was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Denver in Colorado where she studied voice with Kenneth Cox. Cast as Dorabella, Ms. Buness made her operatic debut in the University of Denver Opera Theatre production of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte. In conjunction with the University of Denver's Opera Theatre Department, Ms. Buness studied and performed roles including Poppea in Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione de Poppea, Lizzie in Beeson's Lizzie Borden, and Nancy in Britten's Albert Herring.

Following graduation, Ms. Buness was a member of the Carol and Nico Castel New York Opera Studio at Vassar College in their inaugural season, where she performed opera scenes including the roles of Lucretia in Britten's Rape of Lucretia and Carmen in Bizet's Carmen. In her European debut she was cast as Angela in the climax of the final act of Rossini's Cenerentola at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.

Ms. Buness sang the role of Mercedes in Bizet's Carmen with the Helena Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Allen R. Scott. She also sang with Central City Opera in the world premiere of Guo Wenjing's Poet Li Bai, singing in Mandarin Chinese dialect, recalling when she learned the language in Hangzhou, China.

As a soloist in a choral setting Ms. Buness has appeared with the St. Olaf Choir under the direction of Anton Armstrong, singing at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, as well as their alumni choir Magnum Chorum's tour and concert at the National American Choral Directors Association Convention in Chicago, directed by David Dickau. She was soloist, graduate teaching assistant and section leader for the Lamont Chorale under its conductor Catherine Sailor.

As a soloist in choral and dance company works, Ms. Buness was the guest artist in the FEEL THE SPIRIT Concert with the Helena Chamber Singers directed by Dr. Steven Michelson and presented with the Premiere Dance Company under the leadership of Artistic Director Charlene White, a performance played repeatedly on Helena Civic Television through the summer.

As a soloist in orchestral/choral works, Ms. Buness soloed in the world premiere of Leavitt's Requiem under his direction at Carnegie Hall. She also was soloist in Schubert's Mass in G, D. 167 with Lakewood United Methodist Church's Chancel Choir under David Heck and the Colorado Young Sinfonia, directed by Basil Vendryes and in Stalling's Cantata Laudes with tenor Scott Merchant and The Colorado Chorale, composed for and performed with The Denver Brass.

The once acting Chair of the Music Department, Ms. Buness has otherwise been Voice Performance faculty at the Community College of Denver, performing with Stephanie Morrison (piano). While teaching at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, Megan has collaborated with Leanna Kirchoff (composer), Dave Devine (guitar), Tamara Goldstein (piano) and several Russian Romance Recitals with Liudmila Khmeleva-Startsev (piano), recalling her summer in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

In Vocal Pedagogy, Ms. Buness was awarded certification in Vocology from the Summer Vocology Institute of the National Center for Voice and Speech. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, she has been judging Colorado-Wyoming NATS Student Auditions and has adjudicated voice students for the Helena Music Teachers Festival in Montana.

In contemporary chamber music, Ms. Buness has had the pleasure of singing in the world premiere of James J. Pellerite's Lone Figures Floating with Pellerite (Native flute & composer) and Sara Bardill (soprano & DU voice faculty) at Aspen's Composers' Conference. She is also a member of Lamont's Artist - In - Residence ensemble The Playground directed by Conrad Kehn, the region's premier chamber group dedicated to modern compositions.

She has performed with the Playground at the Colorado Music Educators Clinic/Conference and the Arvada Center, as well as on Colorado Public Radio, the National Performing Arts Convention, the International Society for Improvised Music Conference and in the Mile High Voltage Festival, a New Music Festival hosted by The Newman Center with Canteloupe records. Ms. Buness can be heard in recital throughout the Denver metro area.

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