This fall Ms. Rhodes will be traveling to Italy as a recipient of a Fulbright grant. As a grantee, Keely will be taking a yearlong leave-of-absence from the DMA program and the Butler Opera Center. Keely will focus her studies on the Pedagogical Practice of Bel Canto. This research study will allow her to trace the history of Bel Canto operas, composers, performances and aspects of teaching specific to this operatic art form. Keely is also the recipient of the Austin Critics Table Award for Best Classical Female Singer of 2005-2006, for her performance of Mother Marie in Francis Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites.