Anne Elgar Kopta started her career as a singer first on Broadway in the musical The Sound of Music as one of the nuns starting the show. Then she won a four-year scholarship to the Metropolitan Opera Studio appearing in many leading roles as a lyric soprano in performances in New York City and up and down the Eastern Sea Board.

When Julius Rudel, intendant of the New York City Opera, heard her sing, he invited her to join the company where she performed in 27 leading roles including Pamina in The Magic Flute; Mimi in La Boheme; Violetta in La Traviata and many others.

Later, Living in Paris, France, Croatia and Slovenia, she sang at the Amsterdam 600th-Year Festival and at the Croatian National Theatre and Opera Company in Zagreb.

When she moved back to the states, she started her teaching career at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, as Artist in Residence and two years later was invited to Carnegie-Mellon University, again as Artist in Residence, eventually becoming tenured Associate Professor of Music in Voice till 1999, when in May of that year she became the new Associate Professor of Music in Voice, again with tenure, at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. She taught voice at ASU up to her retirement in May 2018, then becoming Emerita Professor, at the Emeritus College at ASU.

Following her retirement, she continued teaching privately at her home Gilbert, AZ, doing this weekly on Tuesdays. Anne was beloved by her students and everyone she came in contact with.

She was the wonderful wife of Nick, with whom she celebrated their 59th Wedding Anniversary on August 20, 2025.