Brenda Rae Klinkert will be inducted into the Appleton West Hall of Fame on Thursday, September 26, 2024. The following is what she has chosen to be displayed on her plaque at West. 

Brenda Rae Klinkert's love of music was born and nurtured in her native Appleton, not least of all at Appleton West High school, where the music and drama program cultivated a budding talent, and gave her early inspiration to go out and make her mark on the worldwide operatic stage. After obtaining music degrees from UW-Madison and the Juilliard School in New York, Brenda moved to Germany to begin a contract with Oper Frankfurt, where she amassed a large repertoire of leading roles. From there, her career grew steadily, and she has become a much sought-after singer at top opera houses in Vienna, London, Munich, New York, Paris, Milan, Zurich, Madrid, and Tokyo. Creating a moving experience for the audience is Brenda's greatest passion, and she is not only known for her musical interpretations, but for her dramatic characterizations as well.

Music is with us in our joy, and our sadness, supporting us as a friend in whatever way we might need. As Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: Without music, life would be a mistake.