Fall Opera Workshop

Thank you for the many inquiries I have received about auditioning for fall term's Opera Workshop. I'm looking forward to hearing you sing. For Fall Term we are merging the Opera Workshop auditions completely with the general Vocal/Choral Auditions, which begin on Saturday, September 25. In other words, one audition will serve for voice lessons, placement in a choral ensemble, AND Opera Workshop. If you are interested in Opera Workshop this fall, please bring an opera aria, if at all possible, as your prepared audition piece. If you do not have an opera aria worked up, please sing a classical art song. 

Opera Workshop rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 to 3:20 p.m. You will seldom be called for the full period, but you do need to have those hours open. In the case of singer-actors performing small roles, the artistic staff may consent to deal with minor conflicts in your schedule, but I cannot make any promises in that regard. If you would like to take part in Opera, I encourage you to do everything possible to clear TTh 12:30 to 3:20 in your schedule. Because of the unusual type of show we are doing this term, we will not be using a chorus. Therefore, this fall's Opera Workshop will have a smaller enrollment than we've had in recent terms. However, if you were hoping to break into OpWoSH (Prof. Marion Rossi's name for it) in the chorus or with a small role, don't worry. We'll return to larger format scenes during winter term. 

In addition to the regular class times, you need to be available Thursday, November 18, 6-10 p.m. and  Sunday, November 21, 1-10 p.m. We are also planning a one-day retreat. I will announce the date of that retreat at the time of your audition. This term's performance is going to be something new and fun. Our program is called Delight, Despair, and Dessert. We will present two performances on Sunday, November 21. This event is a dessert-and-coffee benefit for Friends of OSU Opera, the organization that funds much of our opera activities. And the borderline between your performance space and the audience's dining space will be...well, blurry. Much of the action will weave in an out of the tables as you both serve your audience and sing for them. This style of performing is challenging and fun.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to write me at rpoppino@oregonstate.edu  

Enjoy your last weeks before school starts. I look forward to seeing you soon.