With fellow singers and teachers equally divided on the matter, Megan Buness has joyfully come to understand that she is a Zwischenfach, a German term meaning she is able to sing in both soprano and mezzo soprano repertoire. This recognition of her vocal range and ability is not a recent one. Even in her teens, she was said to have had the high notes of her soprano mother and the low notes like her bass father.

Ms. 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 (the private lessons for 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 Competition. 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 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 the chair of the vocal department and opera theater, internationally famed leading opera basso 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.

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, and later their alumni choir Magnum Chorum under the direction of David Dickau on their National American Choral Directors Association Convention concert in Chicago and its tour. She was soloist, graduate teaching assistant and section leader for the Lamont Chorale under its conductor Catherine Sailor.

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 has been honored with soprano soloist in Stalling's Cantata Laudes, composed for and performed with The Denver Brass and chorus.

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 Liudmila Khmeleva-Startsev (piano).

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, the region's premier chamber group dedicated to modern compositions, directed by Conrad Kehn. She can be heard in recital throughout the Denver metro area.

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