Vashon Opera

Krikawa arrived on Vashon Island with her husband, Andy, and their two kids in the fall of 2004. “We left New York to find a quiet place to raise our children,” she says. “We just landed in the most wonderful place by chance.” Back East, Krikawa, a soprano, sang for several opera companies including the New York City Opera, Virginia Opera, and Connecticut Opera. She appeared on the stage of the famed Carnegie Hall as a soloist for Francisco Scarlatti’s Dixit Dominus, Vaughan Williams’ Benedicite and Francis Poulenc’s Gloria. On island, she quickly enmeshed herself with Vashon’s vibrant music scene, notably her church choir and then the Vashon Island Chorale. She sang The Magic Flute, produced by Elizabeth Nye, at the Vashon Island Methodist Church in 2006. Later she performed a recital, selling it out with all proceeds benefiting the Vashon Island Chorale. She has since sung at many sold out events. “We realized that the community is really interested in opera at a local level,” she notes. “We felt we were ready to take on the work and care that an opera company would need and we felt the community was behind us.” Thus, the Vashon Opera was born.