Courtney Kalbacker is the Director of Music for the Stage and a Lecturer in Vocal Studies at Towson University. She is an award-winning opera director, educator, performer, and producer. A dynamic coloratura soprano, Kalbacker was a district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She now sings regularly with the Washington National Opera, Annapolis Opera and other regional companies. Her many backstage roles include directing and production positions with UrbanArias, Lyric Opera Baltimore, Peabody Opera (Peabody Institute), Baltimore Concert Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Live Arts Maryland, Silver Finch Arts Collective, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and Oklahoma City University. Recent engagements include directing the short comedic operas Service Provider and The Whole Truth with UrbanArias, Assistant Directing Madama Butterfly at Michigan Opera Theatre, and directing the American premiere of Errollyn Wallen's ANON for Peabody Opera. In addition, Kalbacker currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement at Baltimore Concert Opera.

As an educator, Prof. Kalbacker has taught a range of courses at Summer Music in Tuscany, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Lyric Opera Baltimore’s Opera Kids Camp, and Oklahoma City University's Performing Arts Academy. Her private voice students have won major competitions and spots at top universities. Prof. Kalbacker is also the designer and facilitator of a interactive presentation for school children: "What is Opera? A Team!" She completed a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from Oklahoma City University, a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Boston University, continuing education courses in Vocal Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College, and a Certificate in Arts and Culture Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania and National Arts Strategies. Prof. Kalbacker is a proud resident of Baltimore, Maryland where she lives with her husband, baritone Jeffrey Grayson Gates.