Projects Overview
In the 2017-2018 school year, Little Opera's core programming continued to focus on serving students in grades K-5 after-school at West Portal Elementary School in San Francisco. We spent the full school year with three cohorts: The Puccinis (Grades K-1), the Humperdincks (Grades 2-3), and the Wagners (Grades 4-5).
Our biggest change in programming was for our oldest group, the Tchaikovskys (Grades 8-9) who engaged in intensive production-based music video creation workshops. Students in this age group also had the opportunity to become involved with Little Opera as teaching assistants, both during the school year and over the summer. We continued our partnership with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which generously hosted our Winter Preview Concert and annual Gala. During the winter and spring, we were joined by Conservatory grad student Erica MacLeod, who worked as a composition teaching artist apprentice from January through May. |
The After-School Program
A SNAPSHOT of the after-school program in numbers:
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Highlights from the operas our students created this season:
The Puccinis | Grades K-1
with composer Jenny Hanson
Performed at Magic Theater in San Francisco, May 27th, 2018.
The Humperdincks | Grades 2-3
with composer Jenny Hanson and composition apprentice Erica MacLeod
Created and performed by Little Opera's Season 7 Humperdinck class (Bianca Rosenthal, Eleanor Wilson, Jason Yu, Kathy Kwan, Lylah Cutler, Miles Perez, Noelia Sapper, and Zia Libicki), led by teaching artists Eva Langman, Jenny Hanson, and Albert Montañez. Accompaniment created and performed by Erica MacLeod.
Watch the full opera at: https://vimeo.com/273606290
Performed at Magic Theatre in San Francisco, May 28th, 2018.
The Wagners | Grades 3-5
with composer Danny Clay
Created and performed by Little Opera's Season 7 Wagner class (Danah Aroonchaipirom, Delia Hodak, Emmy Cutler, Isabel HoFogo, Joey Zhao, Joseph Bogart, Katie Lott, Kimi Williams, Pia HoFogo, Robyn Hahn, Sappheirra Ellison, Serena Fan, and Solveig Libicki), led by teaching artists Erin Bregman, Danny Clay, Suzanne Vradelis, Naya Chang, and Albert Montañez. Accompaniment created and performed by Danny Clay.
Watch the full opera at: https://vimeo.com/273610216
Performed at Magic Theatre in San Francisco, May 28th, 2018.
Music Video Projects
Emptiness — Little Opera Workshop — April 2018 from Little Opera on Vimeo.
A one-day music and film-making project with Little Opera. Written and performed by Yaidra Brown, Charlotte Chanezon, Ivy Dubiner, Sofi Stimpson, and Gertrude Stookey, with Alex Stein and Erin Bregman. Shot and edited by Emily Richan.
Fast Car (Tracy Chapman cover) from Little Opera on Vimeo.
A 3-day summer project by Gertrude, Charlotte, Ivy, and YMB. Vocals and audio editing by Gertrude, Charlotte, and Ivy. Video edited by YMB. Cinematography and guitar: Jon Fischer. A project of Little Opera.
Alumni Teaching Assistants
Gertrude StookeyGertrude Stookey (9th Grade) became the first Little Opera alum to officially join the Little Opera teaching team. Starting in January 2018, we hired Gertrude as an assistant teaching artist, and she worked with 2nd-5th grade students in everything from choreography to voice lessons.
Gertrude began her tenure as a Little Opera student when she was in 4th grade, and spent 5 seasons as a member of the after-school company. We look forward to working with her again in Season 8! |
Ivy DubinerIvy Dubiner (8th grade) joined Little Opera director Erin Bregman at the Randall Museum Summer Camp as a teaching artist trainee. For two weeks, Ivy led small groups of 3rd & 4th grade students through all parts of the opera creation process, including vocal training, lyric writing, music composition, and staging.
Ivy began her Little Opera tenure as a 5th grader, and spent 3 seasons as a member of the after-school company. Ivy began high school this fall as a classical voice major at San Francisco's Ruth Asawa School for the Arts. We look forward to singing with her again soon! |