Opera in the Schools 2011- 2012
Rogue Opera will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2011, and the 25th year of Opera in the Schools programming. “Opera Tales” - a unique traveling presentation that will entertain and educate students, parents, staff and guests - is the theme of this year’s program. Written by well-known professional opera singer and director John Davies, Opera Tales is a collection of “fairytale operas” designed to encourage interest and enthusiasm for literature and music through musical theater. Rogue Opera will present Davies’ operatic version of Pinocchio, which will provide basic music appreciation skills for children via engaging songs and an interactive script that brings students into the performance.
The production is offered to schools in a six-county area of Southern Oregon – Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Coos, Curry and Douglas counties – as well as some schools in Del Norte County, and Siskiyou and Shasta counties in Northern California. Many schools have scheduled performances to date, and openings are still available.
Funding for Opera in the Schools comes from donations, grants and sponsorships that are available to individuals, groups and businesses. Sponsors may select the school of their choice in the Rogue Opera Opera in the Schools service area in which to hold a performance. This is an opportunity for parents, grandparents, school organizations and community members to be involved with bringing music appreciation to youth, collaborate with schools and school support organizations, and at the same time help youth understand and learn how to be truthful and handle bullying and harassment.
Andrew Brock is the Education Coordinator for Rogue Opera. He holds Master’s Degrees in Voice and Music Education from the University of Oregon, and has an extensive background of music and operatic performances throughout the state. Currently, he teaches music at Walker Elementary in Ashland and is an instructor of voice at Southern Oregon University. During summer break, he directs and choreographs productions for the Oregon Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves youngsters ages 6 to 18 years old.
The 2011-12 cast members for Opera in the Schools include young singers from the Southern Oregon region as well as out of town singers:
Steven Gutierrez, baritone, is a South Medford High School graduate and recent graduate of the University of Oregon School of Music, a veteran of RO mainstage productions and last year's Opera in the Schools production, and will sing the roles of Wolf and Dr Dulcamara in Pinocchio
Andrea Shupack will sing the role of Pinocchio. A mezzo soprano, Andrea is a professional singer and teacher with a voice studio in Ashland, and teaches and sings as a synagogue Cantorial Soloist. She sings in the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, and has performed in several opera choruses and musical theater ensembles. Andrea first experienced opera in the 2nd grade when an opera in the schools program came to her school. She was completely taken by it, and has pursued music ever since.
Michael J Morgan-Serface sings Gepetto and Cat. Michael, a tenor, is thrilled to be performing with Rogue Opera’s Opera in the Schools program. A veteran of community theater, Michael has appeared as Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Captain Walker in The Who’s Tommy, Asher in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and Orphan in Celebration. Other credits include Kismet, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, The Boyfriend, 110 in the Shade, Will Rogers Follies, Sweeney Todd and Heartbeats. In December, Michael will be seen as Hal in Camelot Theatre Company’s production of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Kendra Taylor sings the roles of The Old Blue Lady and Olympia. Kendra performed as a chorus member in Rogue Opera's productions of Le nozze di Figaro and La Traviata. She sang in Rogue Opera's Opera in the Streets program as well. She has a B.S. in Music Education and is currently working on her Masters in Teaching. Most recently she performed as Johanna in Camelot Theatre's production of Sweeney Todd. She has also performed with SORS, SOU Choirs and Bands, Siskiyou Singers, Ashland City Band, Raiders of the Lost Art, YSSO, OFAM, Sauerkrauts German Band, and The State of Jefferson Sometimes Marching Band. She plays flute, cello, piccolo, trombone, piano, and Dr. Mario.
Crew members for Opera in the Schools include:
James Ward: Technical Director, Stage Manager, Narrator, Road Crew
Heather St. Louis: Costumer
School teachers and administrators interested in bringing this performance to their schools may contact Rogue Opera at office@rogueopera.org (preferred) or 541 608 6400.
Rogue Opera wishes to thank the following for their generous support of the OIS Program:
The James and Marion Miller Foundation, The Carpenter Foundation, The City of Ashland, Central Point Arts Commission, Trust Management Services, Jackson County Cultural Coalition and Patricia Cook-Harrington
