LIVERMORE — For a community accustomed to the transcendent operatic voices brought to life by Erie Mills, a stunned silence took hold early last week. News of the Livermore Valley Opera (LVO) artistic director’s sudden death broke across the Tri-Valley on social media leaving behind waves of shock and sadness. Mills passed away on June 23, following a brief illness, one day after her 73rd birthday.

“This is an unfathomable loss for the world of music, and Livermore Valley Opera, where she has been our artistic director and guiding light for years and for all those who love and cherish her. She was absolutely extraordinary,” LVO Board President Jonathan Kleid said in a statement issued last Thursday. A close friend of Mills since 1985, Kleid shared in a phone interview with The Independent that in the quiet of the aftermath, a clear message can be heard.

“In the sort of unfathomability, if that’s a word, of the whole situation, the voice I hear is Erie’s saying ‘Okay, now let’s get to work,’” Kleid said.

Not only had Mills planned and prepared LVO’s 35th season before her death, but she also laid out the 36th, which will include the works “Madame Butterfly” and “Macbeth,” Kleid confirmed.

The internationally acclaimed coloratura soprano achieved world recognition, but many people in the Tri-Valley will remember her warm and down-to-earth nature.

“This is a person who, I think because she was a member of our community and lived locally…a lot of people didn’t realize what we had and the gravitas of the artist that she was,” Kleid said.

“People kind of just said, ‘Oh, well, you know, it’s Erie.’ But Erie was a major, major artistic figure.“

Mills, who led LVO’s artistic vision since 2016 and had been a devoted champion of LVO since 2009, was born in Granite City, Illinois and graduated from The College of Wooster, the University of Illinois and the Houston Opera Studio, LVO officials said in a statement.

Over the course of her career, she performed in many of the world’s leading opera houses, among them the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, English National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera and New York City Opera.

She was highly respected for signature roles including Zerbinetta in Strauss’s “Ariadne auf Naxos,” Rosina in “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” Cunegonde in Bernstein’s “Candide,” the title role in “Lucia di Lammermoor” and Giunia in Mozart’s “Lucio Silla at La Scala.”

Her portrayal of Cunegonde at the New York City Opera was broadcast nationally on PBS’ “Live from Lincoln Center.” On record, she can be heard on RCA’s “Follies,” the Grammy Award-winning “Candide” on New World Records, and her solo album of American song, “always it’s Spring.”

Kleid commented on her impact on the Livermore Valley Opera company.

“Her vision and her refinement of taste in knowing which singers would be wonderful and worthy of what roles… that kind institutional knowledge is really rare and to have that for the last 10 years since she has been artistic director is why the level and reputation of the company, in large part, was what it was. And that can never be replaced,” he said.

The Independent had a chance to speak by phone from Canada with Rob Herriot, who directed the LVO production of Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” this past spring.

“She was certainly a strength for Livermore Valley Opera. I mean she raised them higher than anything. She was such a champion,” Herriot said. “I always felt when I was coming to Livermore that I’d better live up to Erie Mills’ expectations because she raised her own expectations so high throughout her career.”

In addition to her work on stage, Mills served as a member of the voice faculty at San Jose State University, beginning in 1998. Upon her retirement two decades later, she was a full professor of music.

“She had such a presence and a vibrancy,” Herriot said.” I can’t imagine what the company is facing. It’s like suddenly where does the ship go? You know, she just… she was everything.”

In addition to dedicating the 35th season to Mills, the board has also granted her the honorary title of artistic director laureate in perpetuity.

“So that she’s always in some way with us,” Kleid said.

The company will additionally honor her memory with the newly established Erie Mills Legacy Fund to continue the work she loved.

Kleid added that as a company they are taking a moment to process.

“But we will move through it,” he said. “And we hope to see (the community) keep coming to the opera.”