Walking among the stars: Southern Illinois resident and opera singer joins St. Louis Walk of Fame

Christine Brewer (photo courtesy of Christian Steiner)

Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Brewer is already a star in the opera world, but recently became a star on the Delmar Loop as well.

Brewer joined the ranks of famous locals as the newest star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame April 29, and she says it's a special honor.

"It's pretty exciting when I look at the other 140 stars that I've seen for years whenever I've been in the Loop," she says. "To join those people, it really is an honor."

The Walk of Fame already includes monuments to famous artists such as Helen Traubel, Tina Turner and St. Louis institution Chuck Berry.

"This award means a lot to me personally because this is where I got my start," she explains. "In the St. Louis Symphony and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis."

Many of the iconic talents represented on the walk are no longer practicing -- their stars commemorate already defined careers -- but not Brewer's. She's still a very active performer, at home and abroad, but she continues to make time for the place she cut her performing teeth.

"I sang in the chorus when I was a student and now I'm a soloist for the symphony almost every season," she says. "They gave me a chance to get my feet wet and really nurtured me. (Those places) opened a lot of doors for me, and I still sing with them."

Christine Brewer (photo courtesy of Christian Steiner)

One might think that for a singer, a Grammy would be the apex in terms of recognition, but for Brewer, this star is just as important.

"It was amazing to be honored by my peers (when I received the Grammy), and I take it very seriously, but this award is different," she says. "It's more of the local girl doing well and being honored by my community, so maybe it's a little more personal."

And since she recognizes how instrumental her experience in St. Louis was in her success, she has also made it a priority to give back to the community. She started a program called Opera-tunities to provide sixth graders in Marissa, Illinois, with exposure to the arts. Brewer says she hopes it might spark similar ambitions in youngsters who may not have considered opera or singing at all before.

"That's where I taught school right out of college," she says. "So now I try to go in two or three times a year, usually with a violinist or a cellist. We talk mostly about performing."

She says one of the best parts of the program is getting to hear the questions the kids come up with, usually about travel and the opera world outside their immediate surroundings.

"I grew up in a small town," says Brewer, a native of Grand Tower, Illinois. "I know what it's like to be in a town of 500 and wonder, 'What's London like?' I never truly thought this was what I could do. It really is overwhelming in a way."

She says she likes the thought that someday her star could reach future generations.

"I'm thrilled. It's really special and it will be permanent there long after I'm gone," she says. "Hopefully it could be an inspiration to another singer at some time."