renato n. estacio
Bass-Baritone Renato Estacio is based out of Albuquerque, NM and currently engaged as a vocal coach, singer, teacher, and restaurateur. Renato has previously narrated a documentary on service members that is in post-production and did voice overs for radio and gaming devices.
Renato is the recipient of several awards in the arts: 1st Prize National Association of Teachers of Singing Sophomore Division; 1st Place Classical Singer West Texas, Marjorie Barrick Opera Scholarship; and the Mark Hamill Award for Fine Arts. Renato has adjudicated singing, acting, and other performance competitions and festivals for 28 years and was also a professional casino singer & host of Broadway Show Revues.
Recently, Renato sang with the Los Alamos Light Opera as a soloist in their Broadway Show Revue, and sang the roles of Simone and Marco in the opera Gianni Schicchi (Maestro Samuel Otero) in Amersfoort, Netherlands. He also sang the roles of Count Ceprano and Marullo in Rigoletto in the Netherlands in 2022.
In July and August 2022, Renato sang at the Opera Festival Berlin as Frank in Die Fledermaus (Maestro Valter Borin) and studied the role of Sarastro for Die Zauberflöte.
In 2023, Renato makes his role debut of Leporello in Don Giovanni with Teatro Miela in Trieste, Italy and will return to Berlin, Germany in July 2023 to debut the lead tole of Jupiter in Orphée aux Enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld) by Offenbach at the Opera Festival Berlin.
Other credits include Tonio (I Pagliacci), Marco (Gianni Schicchi), Thomas Putnam (The Crucible), Tin Woodsman & Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz), Masetto (Don Giovanni), and being a professional casino singer & show host (Broadway revues).
Renato has served as a Music Commissioner for the State of New Mexico from 2014-2019, Music Director for the Albuquerque Civic Chorus, Music Director for St. Chad’s, and is the Founder & Artistic Director of the NM Black Cat Cultural Enterprises.
Renato holds a BA degree in English literature with an emphasis in Theater and a minor in Psychology and is a Magna cum Laude graduate of UNLV with a BMus in Applied Voice, Applied Voice (MMus), and Business (MBA with Marketing emphasis) and is completing a Doctor of Education (Class of 2024) in Higher Educational Teaching and Learning.
Michael Burdick
Michael is Vice President on the board and grew up in Hamburg, Iowa and is co-owner of Sidewinders Bar and Grill; in his spare time, he helps produce events and oversees operations at the venue. He has over 20 years of management level experience across various industries. His experience includes Interim General Manager and Director of Marketing for San Felipe's Casino Hollywood, Director of Marketing and Database Marketing for Santa Ana Star Casino, Sr. Marketing Operations Manager for PRIMEDIA Enthusiast Publication, and Operations Manager and Executive Account Manager for Palm Coast Data.
Michael is also a recipient of the Cumbre Public Relations Awards; Best of Show for New Mexico Open, Gold Award Relationship Management, and Silver for Branding Campaign; New Mexico American Marketing Association Marketer of the Year Award, best multi-media branding campaign (company received); Barona/VCAT Marketing Excellence Award - Branding and Multi-channel Marketing; and over 25 Romero Casino Marketing Awards - "Large Casino" - in Promotional, Multi-Media, E-Marketing, and Public Relations. Michael is based out of Albuquerque New Mexico.
Ravenesque Noire
Melanie Grant, also known as Ravenesque Noire, has served as the NMBCCE’s Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer and the Chair/ Director of the Health & Wellness, Concession and Finance Committees.
Ravenesque oversaw the treasury, financial handling and policy development, accounting, financial planning and analysis, donor relations, and taxes for the BCCE. Ravenesque joined BCCE as a founding board member in 2019 and has been involved in the initial development of the center as well as the Committees for Education, Health and Wellness, Finance and Concessions. She works closely with the CEO and board as a leader and entrepreneur with the BCCE development.
Ravenesque also brings over 15 years of experience in healthcare leadership, education, and finance to the team. She began her career in healthcare administration in 2006 and continues to develop these areas with the same enthusiasm for community support and development as she had when started her career. In this field, Ravenesque brings a vast array of experience and resources to the center for Health & Wellness development and management.
Ravenesque currently oversees the development of concessions at the center and is in development of the Black Cat Coffee Shop, which will be introduced as part of phase III of the BCCE development.
As a performer, Ravenesque has performed in a multitude of areas within and outside of the NM Black Cat since she was about 6. She brings experience in orchestra, choir, and dance. She has won numerous awards and certificates and believes that ongoing training and development of performance art is the key to any successful performance.
An original member of Teatro Burlesco and the NM Black Cat Choir, she can be seen on stage as an independent dancer, Soprano for the Black Cat Choir, and karaoke enthusiast in numerous venues across Albuquerque. She is presently your first runner up for the 2021 Miss Sandias with the Imperial Sovereign Court of New Mexico, and a current contestant for the 2021 NM State Fair Karaoke Showcase.
Colby LaRue
