MUSE • Musicians United for Social Equity

Kristoffer “Kit” Cleto was born in Chicago, Illinois and showed interest in music at an early age. He actively sang in choirs from elementary school through high school. In 2011, Kit received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Central Florida, studying under

Dr. Jeremy Hunt. During his time at UCF, Kit sang solos with the University Chorus, Chamber Singers, and UCF Symphony Orchestra and performed with UCF Opera, Orlando Opera Company, Orlando Philharmonic and Valencia Opera Theater Workshop.

Kit holds a Master of Music in Voice Performance & Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He studied with Jerold Siena, an internationally acclaimed tenor who has appeared regularly at the Metropolitan Opera and the world’s leading opera houses. While at the

U of Illinois, he performed with the Illinois Opera Theatre, U of I Opera Studio & Opera Scenes, Danville Symphony Station Theatre, Sinfonia da Camera, and the Allerton Music Barn Festival. As a full tuition waiver recipient and graduate teaching assistant, he taught undergraduate voice at U of Illinois for 2 years. He spent the summers of 2010 and 2013 performing operatic scenes and studying the Italian language and culture with La Scuola Italia per Cantanti Lirici in Urbania and St’Angelo in Vado, Italy.

After returning to Orlando in 2014, Kit continued to develop his vocal artistry and technique under the tutelage of Priscilla Bagley, specifically focusing on crossover and contemporary styles of singing. As a result, he has performed with Opera Orlando, Central Florida Vocal Arts, and Opera Del Sol as well as many regional and local Central Florida theater companies, such as Mad Cow Theatre, Athens Theatre, Garden Theatre, Titusville Playhouse, Beth Marshall Presents, Central Florida Community Arts, and Theatre at St. Luke’s. In 2016, Kit became and Adjunct Instructor of Voice at Valencia College and his students have since then been accepted into programs on scholarship from Rollins College and Stetson University.

Kit’s progression into music directing and vocal coaching Central Florida theatre productions allowed him to introduce another element into this union and extend the range of his talent even further. His use of bel canto singing technique and its application to more contemporary styles of singing fuse together to form impactful and emotionally rich performances for his students, his casts, and himself.