What we didOUR 5TH SEASON was a busy one. This year at Little Opera included:
The After-School Program New to the after-school program this year was:
ODC Collaboration ODC (Oberlin Dance Collective) is one of the most active dance centers on the west coast. This year, ODC commissioned two pieces to be written and performed by our Middle School students as part of ODC's annual student recital. Summer Teaching Apprentice Training Three veteran Little Opera students volunteered for 2 weeks with Erin Bregman as teaching artist apprentices at a Randall Museum Summer Camp opera creation class. Summer Camp We took our Middle School students on a 5-day camping trip to Samuel P. Taylor State Park, where we acted, sang, dove into rhythmic dictation, and explored the great California outdoors. In-School Workshops As part of our earned income stream we returned by popular demand to AltSchool classrooms all year, and ran short-term workshops at French American International School. |
The After-School Program
A SNAPSHOT of the after-school program in numbers:
* All class sessions, building days, and dress rehearsals for all 3 of our classes combined
- 391 hours of opera creation*
- 40 music rehearsal and vocal-coaching sessions
- 45 composition workshops
- 31 guest artists
- 24 students
- 2 composers
- 3 dress rehearsals
- 2 building days
- 3 San Francisco performances
* All class sessions, building days, and dress rehearsals for all 3 of our classes combined
Highlights from each of the 3 operas our students created this season:
Zwip, Zwee, Zong, and the Great Beyond
Humperdicks, Grades 2-3
with composer Danny Clay
Humperdicks, Grades 2-3
with composer Danny Clay
The Greatest Treasure
Wagners, Grades 3-5
with composer Danny Clay
Wagners, Grades 3-5
with composer Danny Clay
Outlaws in Love
Tchaikovskys, Grades 6-7
with composer Alex Stein
Tchaikovskys, Grades 6-7
with composer Alex Stein
Highlights: Outlaws in Love from Little Opera on Vimeo.
Snapshots from the performances at French American International School:
Photos by Betsey Kershner
A backstage look at students getting ready to perform on the SF Opera's Wilsey Center Stage:
Students enjoy a post-living-room-show music session:
Curious how all this got made? Take a look inside the classroom on the Little Opera Blog:
ODC Collaboration
LOCAL DANCE COMPANY ODC commissioned Little Opera's oldest students to write and perform two original pieces for voice, without words, as part of ODC's annual student showcase Uncertain Weather. In addition to their complete opera this season, 6 of our 7 middle school students wrote and performed 5 minutes of additional music in a series of 5 performances. Here they are in the green room, waiting to go onstage.
Summer Teaching Apprentice Training
PROGRAM DIRECTOR ERIN BREGMAN has spent the last 6 summers leading a 2-week opera creation camp at the Randall Museum. This year, in a collaboration with San Francisco Rec & Park, Erin brought three of her most experienced Little Opera students to camp with her as trainee teaching assistants. Here's what the students have to say about their experience:
Summer Camp!
AFTER 5 DAYS TOGETHER in Samuel P. Taylor State Park, the Tchaikovskys (our middle school group) were a tighter unit than ever. We spent mornings immersed in voice and acting workshops, and the afternoons hiking and exploring nearby Point Reyes National Seashore. Jon Fischer, camp chef, trained students in gourmet campground cooking, water hauling, and dish washing. Here's a peek into our first ever camp-out!
In-school workshops
FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW we brought bite-sized pieces of Little Opera to classrooms during the school day, and explored music, story, and music composition at two private schools: Alt School, and French American International School.
Here's what the workshop series looked like in numbers:
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Polar Bear lyrics from a K/1 workshop:
Oh we’re paddling, paddling, paddling Across the sea, the sea, the sea What if we get tired? What if we get fired from our jobs as bears? Will anybody care? Wait! I see an iceberg And we will get there soon Sooner than the month of June -- In, like, twenty minutes! |