Opera

Since its inception in 1996 under the direction of Jeanne Robison, Voice Area Coordinator, the Biola Opera has presented yearly productions of fully-staged operas, operettas and musicals accompanied by piano or orchestra and a recital of staged scenes from operas or musicals. The cast is drawn solely from the undergraduate voice majors with an occasional guest artist. Past productions include HMS Pinafore, Cosi fan tutte, The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, Carousel, Don Giovanni, Hansel and Gretel, Carmen, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Into the Woods, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Little Women, Street Scene, Die Fledermaus, and Puccini's Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. Productions are directed by faculty and guest directors, such as Amick Byrum.

Alumni from the Opera Program have gone on to complete masters and doctorate degrees at top graduate schools in the United States and abroad including Eastman, Peabody, Manhattan School of Music, AJ Fletcher Opera Program, University of Southern California, University of Michigan, Boston University, Florida State, Mannes School of Music, Carnegie Mellon and Guild Hall in London. Several graduates have gone on to international operatic careers, notably Katie Van Kooten.
 

How to Audition

Depending on the production, auditions are held late in the spring semester or early in the fall semester.