About Opera Theatre

The opera theater ensemble is open to all students enrolled at SOSU. Ensemble members are selected through an audition process. While open to all SOSU students, the majority of students enrolled in Opera Theater are music majors, particularly, vocal performance majors. The opera theater ensemble is dedicated to the advancement of the sophisticated art of opera. Students have the opportunity to perform fully staged operas from the standard operatic literature. Students are introduced to the concepts of stage and costume design and construction. Principles of staging and acting in opera are addressed. Operas are carefully chosen that are within the scope of the performance abilities of ensemble participants.

Opera Theater runs throughout the year and is divided into fall and spring semesters. Each semester yields different challenges for the ensemble. The fall semester is dedicated to producing a fully staged opera that will be performed for literally thousands of area public school children. Schools from throughout the Southeastern Oklahoma and North Texas regions are invited to campus to see 1 of 9 performances over a 3-day period. The final evening performance is scheduled for a community audience. Operas chosen for this production vary, but the subject matter appeals to children of all ages. Past children's operas have included Mozart's The Magic Flute (2006), Humperdink's Hänsel & Gretel (2003), Pasatieri's The Goose Girl (2005), and Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors (2001). In addition to the on-campus performances, the opera ensemble has created a community outreach program that allows school districts who would otherwise be unable to attend the performance the opportunity to experience this incredible art form. The opera ensemble is able to travel to the schools and perform for the students in their own auditoriums. One of the most exciting additions to the opera productions has been the introduction of full orchestral accompaniment sound tracks for all performances. Ensemble members and audiences alike have the opportunity to experience opera as it was intended, with full orchestra. Inclusion of these orchestral accompaniments allows for greater flexibility in establishing the community outreach program. Schools do not even need to have pianos for the opera ensemble, but still have the opportunity to experience the productions in their own schools.

The spring semester revolves around one of the most unique opportunities in the entire Southeastern region; The Oklahoma Opera Festival. Southeastern hosts a yearly opera festival, inviting state and regional universities throughout Oklahoma and North Texas to appear on SOSU's campus over a 3-day period in April. Each spring an artist or stage director in the field of opera is asked to serve as guest clinician for the festival. Universities are invited to bring an opera scene to campus and work on their scene with the clinician. The festival begins with university students participating in an aria competition on Thursday evening with master classes and clinician rehearsals running throughout the day on Friday. The festival concludes on Saturday with a public performance of all opera scenes by the participating universities. Guest clinicians in the past have included such famous regional opera stage directors as Paula Homer from The University of North Texas and Beaumont Glass, formally of the University of Iowa. International opera stars have included Edmund Emge, künstlerische Leitung (Artistic Director) of the world famous Opernfestspiele of St. Margarethen, Austria and Janusz Monarcha, principle bass/baritone from the Vienna State Opera in Vienna, Austria. Participating universities have included The University of Oklahoma, The University of North Texas, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, East Central Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In addition to master classes and rehearsals, students from the participating universities have several social interaction opportunities throughout the festival which has proven to be one of the most appreciated parts of the festival, according to student and faculty evaluations.

Southeastern students preparing for a career as professional singers have the opportunity to engage in several performance activities that allow them to develop their singing skills during the critical developmental stage of their late teens and early 20's. Unlike larger institutions were principle roles are assumed by graduate students, Southeastern undergraduate students have the opportunity to realize the principle roles in carefully chosen operas. Students who are preparing for careers as music educators not only have the opportunities to continue vocal development through singing, but have the opportunity to engage directly in student interaction as the public school students experience the sophisticated musical style of opera. These future music educators have the opportunity to travel to different schools to experience the possibilities when young children are exposed to exceptional music. Principles of staging, set and costume design, and set construction have added advantages for future music educators in public high schools.