While studying at Concordia College, Kenney continued to sing, leaving her mark on the school.

“He had the voice, which could really handle it all and he’s just getting started,” said Concordia music teacher Peter Halverson.

Halverson mentored and worked with Kenney during his college days.

“Just the voice alone, but the energy and the personality – and you need the whole package and the motivation and he had it, and he was growing every year,” said Halverson. “With Chris, I was like, ‘If anyone’s going to make it …'”

All of this led Kenney to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York to sing in the production “Fire Shut Up In My Bones”.

“It’s a rarity and something I won’t take lightly for the rest of my singing career,” Kenney said. “It has been a blessing to work on this show.”

Kenney stars as Chester in the first Met opera written by a black composer.

“I could name a thousand people and they all said to me, ‘You can do that. You can go the distance and climb to the top of the pile’, and I believed them and I believed in myself and that trust. really pushed my trajectory, and it helped me get to know some big names from the start, ”Kenney said.

Getting this far so soon is almost unheard of in the opera world, yet despite all this fame, Kenney awaits his next gig but remains busy as a flight instructor.

“I’m actually going back to Chicago, I’m a full-time flight instructor when I’m not singing on stage,” Kenney said. “It’s my other passion and love in life is to fly. I teach other students how to fly planes and some airlines are looking to hire me. Lots to do in life, I try just get out of it. “

The final performance of the opera will take place on Saturday, October 23 and will be broadcast live at the Century 10 Theater in Fargo at noon.