« go backBETTER THAN EVER…
LEARNING AT THE OPERA HOUSE RETURNS
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS!
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Learning at the Opera House Returns June 30th
with a Full Lineup of Educational Programs
* * *DETROIT, Michigan, May 2, 2008...This summer, Michigan Opera Theatre’s Department of Community Programs will be celebrating two landmark anniversaries: the 10th anniversary of Learning at the Opera House, and the 30th anniversary of the Department of Community Programs. Learning at the Opera House, Michigan Opera Theatre’s summer educational program, is back, running from June 30th through August 12th at the Detroit Opera House. Now in its 11th year, Learning at the Opera House's camps, workshops and classes have something for kids and adults of all ages. Under the leadership of Karen VanderKloot DiChiera, founder and director of Michigan Opera Theatre’s Department of Community Programs, Learning at the Opera House has assembled an award-winning and enriching program encompassing visual, written and performing arts. “Learning at the Opera House has something for everyone,” says Director of Community Programs Karen V. DiChiera. “We are continuing to add new and different workshops and classes as a resource for kids and adults alike. Throughout our ten years, we have continued to build a legacy of relevant and enriching educational programs.” New this year is a two-week class entitled “Acting is Fun,” a class for young people interested in acting through dramatic and comedic performance. Led by Detroit’s own “edutainer” and comedienne Fran Dent, kids ten and up are able to enroll in the program. Also new this year are Adult Poetry & Creative Writing classes. Led by published author Dawn McDuffie, this is the first time such a unique class that blends poetry, narrative, and personal memoir, has been offered at Learning at the Opera House. Lecture series for 2008 cover a wide range of topics, from rock-n-roll to architecture. First is a Margaret Garner lecture series that covers a series of topics that relate to the opera returning to the Detroit Opera House stage October 18-25, 2008. The lecture series will include topics such as the Underground Railroad, Sojourner Truth and the woman Margaret Garner. New for this year, a lecture series on rock-n-roll history will also be held at the opera house. Led by Michigan Opera Theatre voice staff member and contemporary musicologist Trish Shandor, topics covered will include “The Birth of Rock-n-roll,” “The 50’s and Early 60’s,” and “Woodstock and Beyond.” A returning favorite, the Architectural lecture series will be held this year in collaboration with Frances Grunow, Executive Director of Preservation Wayne and will surround the theme: “What makes a city?” and delves into the question, “What makes a city vital?” Featured lecturers include Mitch Cope, Gina Reichert, Rebecca Salminen-Whitt, and Mary Leonard. Also returning this year is a series of dance lectures with Detroit Opera House Director of Dance Carol Halsted, covering “Dance: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” and “What Makes a Great Dance Masterpiece?” For opera history aficionados, five opera history lectures will be given during the months of July and August from noted local opera historians. Topics will cover the composers, music and synopsis of all five operas of Michigan Opera Theatre’s 2008-09 season, including Margaret Garner, Madame Butterfly, The Elixir of Love, I Pagliacci, and Carmen. And of course, what would Learning at the Opera House be without opera? This year’s programs will also include popular opera favorites from previous years, including Opera Camp, Recital Master Class, and All About Voice for adults; Operetta Workshop for 10-17 year-olds; Create & Perform Workshop for 10-17 year-olds; and Arts Camp for 6-10 year-olds. All are facilitated by acknowledged experts, including voice technician and professional opera singer Candace de Lattre, Singing Voice Specialist Betty Lane and children’s drama and theater specialist Julie Ann Newland. Many of the programs in Learning at the Opera House include a final performance component, allowing students to display their craft on the grand stage of the magnificent Detroit Opera House. All final performances are open to the public. The Opera Camp final performance is the highlight of Learning at the Opera House, and features talented adult singers in a staged opera final performance on Sunday, August 12 at 3 p.m. Private voice instruction will also be offered this year. Voice and music lessons will be conducted by professional voice teachers Candace de Lattre, Betty Lane, Karen V. DiChiera and Trish Shandor. Private lessons are available year-round at the Detroit Opera House by appointment. To Register, or for more information on any of the Learning at the Opera House programs, log onto www.MichiganOpera.org, or call the Learning at the Opera House hotline at (313) 237-3270. CLICK HERE for a complete Learning at the Opera House catalogue. (PDF) About Learning at the Opera House
Now in its eleventh season, Learning at the Opera House has facilitated learning to thousands of young people and adults in our community with a unique offering of classes, workshops and lectures. Michigan Opera Theatre’s Department of Community Programs takes pride in providing an atmosphere where people learn and appreciate their own talents and the abilities of others. |  | | |
