Apprenticeship Program Starts Third Season

The Madison Opera High School Apprenticeship Program kicked off its third season last night with a new round of participants. We could not be more thrilled to have 8 new apprentices joining us for this exciting season! Coming from a wide range of local and regional schools, these impressive juniors and seniors in high school are all interested in learning about how opera is produced and what it takes to become a professional opera singer, or in one case, conductor. Without further ado, the 2010-2011 Madison Opera High School Apprentices are:

• Sami Elmer (Oregon High School)
• Claire Lamberty (Waunakee High School)
• Kelly Noltner (Monona Grove High School)
• Tiffany Orr (Abundant Life Christian School)
• Joshua Sanders (Sauk Prarie High School)
• Alannah Spencer (Verona Area High School)
• Mikko Utevsky (Madison East High School)
• Bayley Waters (Edgewood High School)

At last night's staging rehearsal for The Marriage of Figaro, the apprentices met each other for the first time and reviewed the story of the opera. They also heard from our stage manager Jill Krynicki and director A. Scott Parry before observing our chorus and principal singers at work. The night finished off with Figaro's famous aria, "Non piu andrai."

Over the next few weeks, the apprentices will see the evolution of the staging and learn about the production process by attending a variety of rehearsals and the final full performances, in addition Opera Up Close: The Figaro Preview this Sunday. They'll also get to have dinner with a guest artist, and learn about the many paths one can take to become an opera singer. It's always a ton of fun, and we're looking forward to an exciting year ahead!