- Apply
- Visit
- Request Info
- Give
Published on February 23, 2022
Ten students from Eastern Connecticut State University’s Music Program performed “Romance and Revenge: Love at the Opera” on Feb. 12 at the National Opera Center in New York City. The student performers are all enrolled in Eastern’s Opera Workshop under the direction of Professor Emily Riggs with musical direction by Professor David Ballena. They performed scenes from their fall coursework as well as songs and arias they are studying in private lessons.
The student performers were Emily Gillespie, soprano; Samantha Warshauer, mezzo-soprano; Caroline Sullivan, soprano; Sarah Potter, soprano; Christiana Montalbano, mezzo-soprano; Sierra McElroy, soprano; Mya Millbauer, soprano; Manuel De La Flor, tenor; Christopher Gregor, tenor; and Micah Dubitzky, tenor.
“It’s a great opportunity for these students to perform at this beautiful recital hall in New York City,” said Riggs of the venue, Marc A. Scorca Hall. “This performance was an extension of their final project for the fall semester. Students presented these scenes in an on campus gala performance in November and then worked over the winter and the first part of the spring semester to adapt them for the recital at the Opera Center.” Riggs, who specializes in voice and opera, is also an active member of Opera America which runs the Opera Center.
The program included a wide variety of works from the operatic and solo vocal repertoire. The performance gave students the chance to perform in front of an audience as well as present their personal projects that they have worked on in private lessons and the Opera Workshop.
Founded in 1970, Opera America is a professional organization that holds a membership of more than 500 institutions and 2,000 individuals. It offers artist and leadership development programs, grants, awards and more. Involvement ranges from administrators and artists to trustees, educators and more. The Opera Center is a space where singers, teachers, administrators and other opera professionals can come together to learn about and celebrate opera. The Opera Center includes several rehearsal and performances spaces, teaching studios, a score library and several general-purpose meeting rooms.
Written by Bobbi Brown