The Department of Music at Eastern held a fundraiser for its opera theatre program in the form of an elegant silent auction and cocktail hour on March 8 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC). Themed “Under a Starry Sky: An Evening of Songs from the Great American Songbook,” the event showcased music students and alumni in a series of vocal performances.

The evening began with a cocktail party in the FAIC Art Gallery where guests could begin their silent auction bids on a myriad of prizes, including theatre tickets, spa treatments, and tickets for regional sports events. Professor Emily Riggs commenced the evening by giving a background of the opera program’s 12-year legacy and acknowledging the performances they’ve done. 

“From the very beginning, Eastern opera has been dedicated to producing opera that's open and accessible to audiences of all ages,” she said. “Over the past several years, we've expanded this commitment to programming youth and community opera, beginning with our production of 'Hansel and Gretel' in 2022.” 

According to Riggs, the concept of an opera program came from music alumna Alexis Kurtz ’15, one of the night’s guest performers, who wrote a proposal as a first-year student about starting an opera program at Eastern.

Riggs, then a first-year professor, put the plan into action starting with modest stage productions in Shafer Hall and gradually boosting the performance venues over the years. 

“Since then, opera programming (has) included a series of (events) at local schools and libraries, collaborations with after-school programs run by Eastern’s Center for Community Engagement, and on-campus productions that introduce the youngest members of our community to the magic of opera,” said Riggs. 

After the cocktail hour, the guests congregated in the FAIC Concert Hall, set to fit the theme with a starry backdrop illuminating the stage. Vocal performances included “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Somebody, Somewhere,” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”  

By the end of the evening, the participation in the silent auction had far exceeded the fundraising goal and the singers concluded the show with a group performance of “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” Riggs also announced an English translation of the opera "Cinderella" as the premier performance of the upcoming fall 2025 semester.