Soprano Christine Goerke has founded VOX Detroit, a new producing initiative dedicated to the human voice, and announced two inaugural events in April 2027.

Goerke serves as founder and artistic director, and Matthew Principe is executive director and creative strategist. The organization will create professional performance opportunities for Detroit artists across opera, cabaret, musical theater, song, recital, and spoken word.

Per an official press release, Goerke said, “I conceived VOX to celebrate everything that the human voice can do — opera, cabaret, musical theatre, song, recital, spoken word, and whatever wonderful things happen to fall in between.”

The first event, “Beyond the Aria,” takes place at the Gem Theatre in a cabaret-style setting. Music director and pianist Craig Terry curates and accompanies one night pairings of established and emerging voices, and the opening evening features Goerke and Tony Award winner Paulo Szot.

Performance Date: April 18, 2027

Then, VOX Detroit will produce a semi staged “Pagliacci” at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, presented by Music Hall as the second installment of its Classic Opera Series. Suzanne Acton conducts members of the Detroit Youth Choir and a cast that includes Errin Duane Brooks as Canio, Maria Natale as Nedda, Szot as Tonio, Jacob Surzyn as Silvio, and Leo Williams as Beppe.

Performance Date: April 24, 2027