Each summer Opera San Luis Obispo holds an opera camp for kids 8-16 years old. It's an ideal activity for that young person in your life who loves to sing and has a flair for the dramatic. The camp runs for two weeks July 16-27, Monday through Friday, 9am until 3pm. Rehearsals are held at the United Methodist Church on Fredericks Street. The children learn singing and acting techniques, build their own props, and get acquainted with the arts of costume design and make-up.
This year's opera is Mozart's The Magic Flute, a work beloved by adults and children alike. Mozart filled Magic Flute with a wide variety of musical styles, from the simple folk-like melodies of Papageno, the Bird Catcher, to the solemn arias and choruses of Sarastro and his followers, to the fantastic and difficult music of the Queen of the Night.
An adaptation of the original for children has been made by camp Music Director Alan Boehmer and Liz Waterbury, formerly of the Santa Barbara Children's Chorus. I asked Boehmer if any adult performers will be called on. He answered, "No. The Queen of the Night aria has been slightly adjusted to fit the voice of a young singer, but still requires a competently trained singer. In the past such campers have often graduated from the Opera Camp program to sing in local musical theater productions, Opera SLO choruses, and professional productions."
Boehmer noted further that Magic Flute calls for many solo roles and a few choruses. And though "most of the major roles require experienced singers, there are lots of parts available for those just able to 'carry a tune'."
The children will be guided by Music Director Boehmer, organist and music director at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, and Assistant Music Director and accompanist Paul Woodring, music director at Mount Carmel Lutheran Church and San Luis Obispo Methodist Church; he is also University Organist at Cal Poly.
They will be assisted by Camp Counselor and Stage Director Marissa Bloom and Co-camp Counselor Katelyn Holliday, both of whom have several years' experience working with Opera Camp. Holliday is an alumna of Opera Camp, from ages 12-14. She has worked as a camp counselor since then, assisting Bloom in all aspects of the program and giving demonstrations in stage make-up, working on choreography, and stage direction. Bloom has been involved with Opera Camp for five years as camp counselor and stage director.
Both Bloom and Holliday cited last year's Little Red Riding Hood as their favorite opera in the time they've worked with Opera Camp. It was, in the first instance a US premiere, but especially fun for campers and audiences, with staging Bloom recalls as "hilarious." They also share an appreciation of the growth in the young singers' abilities in singing, staging, and performing over the years.
In her current work, Bloom finds the most rewarding aspect of her job the final performance of each year's opera. "I am always continually surprised by their ability to go from auditions to final, memorized performance in 10 days. It's warming to the heart to be able to mentor and help these kids grow as performers and people."
Holliday says "OperaSLO's Opera Camp contributed to my love and passion for singing, and it led me to become a member of OperaSLO's chorus as a freshman in high school. Together these experiences directed me to pursue a music degree at Cal Poly. Seeing kids with so much enthusiasm and joy for singing and acting continues to inspire me."
With such distinguished musicians guiding the young singers, The Magic Flute should add a particular sparkle to our local music scene this summer. Opera Camp will conclude with a grand public performance on Friday, July 27, at 7pm.
Rehearsals and the performance will be held at the United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks Street. Registration cost is $400 for the first family member and $375 for additional family members. For more information and registration materials, call OperaSLO at 805.541.5369 or see online Opera-SLO.org
Don't miss this extraordinary performance. Admission is free. As Music Director Boehmer says, "This opera is as fun as it gets for children – with fantasy characters, Egyptian motifs, magic, and a live dragon put to its doom by three ladies. The music is, of course, splendid."
JULY SALON
OperaSLO presents another in its series of highly successful salon concerts. Tenor Cesar Sanchez and soprano Alisa Peterson will join forces for a concert on July 29 at Aria House in See Canyon, the home of Jamie and Michael Stehula. |
