Opera For The Youth 2011-12

by SuzyP on April 9, 2012

This season, the Ogden Opera Guild had the pleasure of presenting free tickets to a dress rehearsal of an opera to Bonneville High School, Youth Impact and Mount Ogden Junior High School. Along with student tickets, adult tickets were provided for chaperones and the Guild offers to pay for any buses needed to transport the students to the Capitol Theater.

Here are some comments from letters received from students – unedited…..

These schools attended “Rigoletto”.

From Youth Impact…
“I thought the opera was the best show I have ever seen…..the Capitol Theater was very nice looking….I would love to come back and watch more operas because the actors were great along with the orchestra…Once again, Thank you!” Alexis D.

“……and the thing I liked the most was that it was in the whole thing I liked there language that they were speaking in that’s why I liked it and I would really like to go again. Love, Alysia R. I really love the opera and thanks for inviting me to the opera it was really cool.”

“I loved the opera I love the way of the story went thing I loved most was the theater I loved theband….I wish I could go here again someday. Love, Hope M.”

“I loved the Rigoletto opera that you invited Youth Impact to. I want to thank you for inviting us. I enjoyed it. The scenes they were very impressing the brick house and it was very cool to watch 3rd row seat to the front of the theater. Sincerely, McKensie B.”

And from one of the Youth Impact adult chaperones”:…..Personally I really enjoyed the opera and would love to go to another one….once again I would like to thank you and on behalf of Youth Impact for inviting us. We would enjoy going again. Sincerely……”

Letters from Bonneville High School – 50 choir students and 8 adults attended Rigoletto. Here again are a few snippets in their own words:

“Thank you so much for letting us come to the Opera! It was such an amazing experience for all of my friends and I. I really enjoyed myself and was so impressed with Rigoletto and all of the amazing talent it had….” McKahl K.

“Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to go to the opera. Rigoletto was my first opera and I was questioning a little if I would enjoy it. But I had a very good time. The music was incredible and the singers were unbelievable. I have a new-found appreciation for opera. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Rachel B”

” I would like to thank you for letting us come experience the Opera! I really enjoyed it. The whole performance was really good and it got me excited to pursue this career. Jared J”

“….thank you so much for giving us the chance to go to the opera. This was the very first opera I’ve ever been to and it wasn’t bad. I really liked it….thank you again for the great experience and opening up that wonderful talent to me. I’ve been listening to opera music a litle bit more for entertainment now that I’ve heard and experienced it. Thank you. Sincerely, Gatlin C.”

And a note from the Director of Choirs: “Thank you for selecting our school to attend the opera. We appreciate your willingness to pay for our tickets and buses. It was a treat for many of my students and several have never seen opera “live” on stage. You are providing a wonderful service and educational opportunity for our students. Thanks again! Mishy K”

To our many supporters and Guild patrons….your generous donations help us to provide these educational opportunities for the next generation of potential opera lovers.

….It is a joy to be part of an organization which helps our educators work toward their goals of excellance by providing for their students the experience of a wonderful opera produced in a magnificient setting by one of the nation’s finest opera companies!
Sincerely, Suzy Patterson, Education Chair

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

We Cheer You On!!

by RPVand on June 1, 2011

Surely we all agree that Suzy’s post concerning introducing youngsters to opera is welcome. I for one speak frequently about my concern that we must do much more if we do not want to experience the demise of opera and classical music (classical art, literature, and all the rest as well…i.e. THE ARTS). A heart-warming post indeed. Judy and I recently attended a meeting of Opera Volunteers International in Miami. AND…a long session was devoted to teaching students in the Miami region to understand, appreciate, even write opera, such as Red Riding Hood. Excellent pedagogical approaches and devoted, consumately prepared teachers have resulted in most encouraging outcomes.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Ogden Preparatory Academy students enjoy “Little Women” dress rehearsal

by SuzyP on June 1, 2011

Firty students, along with eight chaperones, attended the dress rehearsal for Utah Opera’s production of “Little Women” . Many students wrote very nice letters of thanks to the Ogden Opera Guild for providing this experience for them.  Because space is limited, I’ll use  a few excerpts from these letters – I think you will enjoy them.

      To begin, however, I’d like to share the letter received from Melanie Astorga, the choir and string teacher at Ogden Prep.  She writes (in part)….”We participated in your outreach program and attended the dress rehearsal of the opera “Little Women”.  it was such a pleasure for me to share this opportunity with my students!  Most of them had never been to the Capitol Theater before and many had never seen a live performance.  Certainly none had experienced a live opera!  I truly enjoyed the performance and loved observing my students enthusiasm in being there. Thank you once again! Warmest regards,” Melanie Astorga.

    Now let’s hear from the students( using their words and spelling) :

“I really enjoyed the whole thing and I hope we can have the opportunity again real soon. Thank you from Ashley T. ” (huge letters at bottom of the p age..IT WAS AWESOME !!)    From Vanesssa: “My overall favorite thing about the production was watching the conductor in the crowd.  It was like watching a groom whatching his bride come down the isle. He was certainely into it & it was mezmerising to watch him.  Thank you   so much once again!  Extremely grateful.”

“I liked hearing the live orchestra. I learned that self-discovery is sometimes a hard trail to go down.  Once again I want to thank you for the tickets.”  Christina

“…..what I really enjoyed was the music. When I heard it, I could just feel happiness. Thanks again.”  Jasmine

“Thank you so much!  I loved the opera.  It was so amazing!  I really liked the voices. The scenery and background was put together beautifully.  The house and roof with all the shadows on top was amazing, so again I say thank you. I wouild love to learn how to sing that way…… with love”, Amanda

“…..thank you for giving us the tickets and providing the nice seats, it means so much.” (couldn’t make out the first name)  

“….I learned that opera isn’t just singing but also a play that tells a story.  I enjoyed the show and I’m glad that it had some comedy in it. Sincerely,”  Yerenia

 ”….thank you for letting us go especially because the tickets were expensive. I learned about the story of little women and I liked it a lot.  Thank you sooo much!   Sincerely,”  Nicole

There were more letters but this gives you an idea of how the students felt about the experience.  The Principal of the  Academy called me to express her appreciation also and told me how excited the students were the next day about their evening at the  opera. 

     It is truly a privilege to be part of helping to bring to the upcoming generation the great beauty that is opera and to receive their genuine expressions of thanks for the experience.

Suzy Patterson, Education Chair

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Know what it really means?

by RPVand April 17, 2011

Many persons listen to, hum along with and even know the English equivalents of a word or two of their favorite arias but never understand the entire piece. Not good…since they are missing an opportunity to better comprehend the opera, and to progress toward learning the language in which a given opera is written. In [...]

Read the full article →

Utah’s liaison with Opera

by RPVand February 10, 2011

As youngsters my LDS acquaintances and I sang, groaned under the weight of musical instruments and participated in “Road Shows.” A Mormon belief was being cultivated: divine inspiration is aligned with “great” music. The music of a Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven should play a vital role in our lives, for it was kindred to inspiration. [...]

Read the full article →

Maestro Scrowaczewski…Genius

by RPVand January 19, 2011

German literary critics term the works of Bertolt Brecht and some others as “Denkspiele” (thought-provoking pieces). I relate the term to Stanislaw Scrowaczewski who recently conducted the Utah Symphony in SLC. It was he who years ago “opened” Abravanel Hall when that maestro was ill. Deep “denken” is engendered as we experience the genius conductor [...]

Read the full article →

“Il Postino,” Plácido, and More”

by RPVand October 2, 2010

Is it proper to write about a new lyrical opera performed outside of our own guild’s sphere? My answer is certainly a resounding “yes” for Daniel Catàn’s lyrical fourth opera, “Il Postino” (Postman). Judy and I as well as guild members David and Linda Lundstrom traveled to Los Angeles for a most rewarding experience: a [...]

Read the full article →

A Spiritual Experience? A Thrill? Witnessing the Impossible?–What?

by RPVand July 1, 2010

I began singing at age five or so, and I came to know local singers of my age group. Some were very impressive. They sang at school, at church and as they got older for social clubs, funerals, weddings, and….well, you know. One went on to a career in Hollywood and Las Vegas. BUT, NEVER, [...]

Read the full article →

June 2010

by JHHeide June 13, 2010

I hope you saw and heard the Utah Opera singers at the May 2 Symposium in Ogden. Michael Wanko gave a forecast of the title role of Gianni Schicchi the scamp who out schemed the scheming relatives anxious to inherit in the desperate times following World War 11. His bass baritone is commanding and his [...]

Read the full article →

Toi, toi, toi!

by Mary Lee Carl June 7, 2010

At the end of the interview of Placido Domingo by Rene Fleming in the Met Simulcast of

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries