President of the Advisory Board

David Campbell is a composer whose work draws connections between musical forms, harmonic systems, artistic concepts from other disciplines, and human experiences, with particular attention to the mind and mental health. Central to his approach is the recognition that music communicates to human listeners, and each work is conceived as a transmission of meaning that balances formal experimentation with accessible emotional and intellectual engagement.

David's compositional aesthetic has been informed by formal studies at Southern Utah University, Western Washington University, and Stony Brook University, where he studied with composers Hal Campbell, Keith Bradshaw, Leslie Sommer, Roger Briggs, Sheila Silver, and Perry Goldstein. His work demonstrates a sustained engagement with both the established canon and diverse voices within the contemporary classical tradition.

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As Artistic Director of NEXT Ensemble, an Ogden-based new music nonprofit organization, David curates and champions the performance of innovative contemporary repertoire. He is a founding member and board member of Opera Contempo, an organization dedicated to the advancement of new operatic works and interpretations.

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David's current projects include a chamber opera with librettist Anthony Buck, scheduled for production by Opera Contempo in a future season, and Nova, a full-length opera in collaboration with librettist Jennifer Campbell, slated for premiere in 2028-2029. He continues to develop new chamber works for NEXT Ensemble's concert season.

Clara Hurtado Lee is a highly acclaimed soprano.  Clara crosses many genres and feels equally at home on the stage and in the recording studio.

Clara’s stage credits include dozens of opera and oratorio appearances.  She has also headlined a tour as a crossover artist and appeared on other artists' tours.   

As an independent recording artist, Clara released Sacred Geometry on all streaming platforms as well several singles and music videos.  

Clara heads Diva Moms, an online community and performing ensemble which became an arm of Opera Contempo.  

Clara recently returned to her theatrical roots by writing the script for Handel’s Messiah: One Woman’s Sacred Struggle which she will also direct and will premiere on Opera Contempo's season in April 2026.

Clara's academic background consists of Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees along with Doctoral Studies from the University of Utah.  She teaches privately and in the University setting

Hilary has been eager to support Opera Contempo since its infancy, and is delighted to be joining the board helping with Social Media.

Hilary has been an active member of Utah’s singing community for several years, both as a performer and as an administrator. Hilary graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in vocal performance from Westminster College in 2014 and received a Master of Music degree from the University of Utah in 2016.

Since 2017 she has been an adjunct music faculty member at Westminster University, where she has directed and assistant directed several of their Opera Studio productions.

As a performer, she has worked with such companies as Utah Opera, The Ohio Light Opera, The Franco-American Vocal Academy, St. George Opera, and most recently with Opera Contempo in their productions of The Combat and Protectress Acts I and II.

Holly Banfield just finished her DMA this year in vocal performance at the University of Utah. Her recent performances include Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Dorabella in Cosí fan tutte.

At the University of Utah, she was assistant director for the University’s productions of Cosi fan Tutte by Mozart, Sweeney Todd by Sondheim, Semele by Handel, and Rigoletto by Verdi. She has portrayed Maddalena in Rigoletto, Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, and Juno in Semele. She has performed with Opera Modesto Opera as Papagena for their production of The Magic Flute, and Tisbe in their production of La Cenerentola.

Board Member/Co-Founder

Board Member