Spreading the love of opera to the youth of Baton Rouge
The
Magic Flute. Die Fledermaus. The Marriage of Figaro. The
Barber of Seville. Were you in elementary or middle school when you
first saw these classic operas performed? Students of several schools across
Baton Rouge will be thanks to the Louisiana Outreach Opera Program (LOOP).
And not only are they getting to see these performances, they are participating in them and enjoying it. Members of the LOOP program perform excerpts of these operas and more, bringing opera to life for children, a group usually not exposed to the art form.
When Wendy Neikirk arrived at LSU to get her master’s degree from LSU’s School of Music, she searched for a way to get more performance experience to augment her education. Fresh from working with the Boston Lyric Opera’s educational programs, Neikirk was familiar with outreach programs.
After learning of a deficit of art programs in local elementary schools, she formulated a grand idea; she wanted to bring opera to children, while providing LSU students with performance opportunities.
She brought her plan to Professor Robert Grayson, who saw the promise in the idea and together they developed a program that would aid both the elementary students and the LSU students participating in LOOP. After testing the program in the spring of 2005, they knew LOOP would succeed. Several faculty members of the LSU School of Music have shown their support for the new program, especially Laurelie Gheesling, who is serving as the Music Director for LOOP.
With a service-learning grant from the Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership at LSU (CCELL), along with support from the Baton Rouge Opera Guild and several individuals from East Baton Rouge Parish, LOOP launched a full-scale season in the fall semester of 2005, planning performances at two local public schools: Forest Heights Academy of Excellence and Buchanan Elementary.
LSU students participate in the program as part of Music 4241, a service-learning course. They serve roles in all aspects of the process, from director to production manager to performer.
“I have gained confidence as a performer, experience as a director and being the production manager has provided me with a new perspective on this art form,” said Leanne Pettit, a doctoral student in vocal performance with a minor in opera direction.
To prepare teachers for the program, Neikirk sends each school a lesson plan filled with information about the history of opera in general, as well as specific information on the opera excerpts that will be performed.
The performers conduct a workshop with the students who will attend the show a week before the actual performance. The LSU students interact with their audience, teaching them about opera. But it is not just the facts that the LSU students share with the elementary students, they share their passion.
“I feel that I am passing my love for music on to these children, and I feel that exposing them to music other than pop and rap at an early age will help them to enjoy it more in the future,” said performer Jamie Leonard, a senior in vocal performance and vocal music education.
The workshop’s format allows for the children to get involved in several ways. Not only can they join the performers on stage during the workshop, they are also taught phrases in various languages so they can participate in the actual performance.
Although most of the LSU students involved were attracted to the program to gain stage experience, several of the opera performers commented that what truly makes them love the program is the ability to interact with the children.
“Not only are we getting practical experience, but we are also educating the next generation of potential audiences. I believe that it is extremely important for musicians to stay in constant contact with the younger generation,” said performer Patricia Moss, a graduate student in vocal performance.
The program has been hugely successful, with rave reviews from both teachers and students. However, since LOOP performs at no expense to the elementary schools, the program will have to receive more funding to expand. The performers are dedicated to the program and are determined to bring opera to as many children as possible.
This program, like most service-learning programs, helps all those involved; teachers are taught and performers become the audience. Performer Patrick Kelley-Alvarado, a senior in vocal performance, said it best, “One of the major lessons we were trying to teach the kids, we relearned ourselves: opera is fun!”
Contact LSU
Office of Public Affairs
Spring 2006
