Letter to Students Interested in Opera Theatre
Dear New Cal Poly Student:
Welcome to Cal Poly! As producer of Cal Poly's Student Opera Theatre, and a teacher of applied voice and performance, I want to thank you for your interest in our annual opera workshop and solo vocal performance opportunities, and congratulate you on your acceptance to Cal Poly.
Our Student Opera Theatre provides periodic fully staged productions, with professional directors, costumers, pianists and band or orchestra. Additional solo performances for voice students are provided through master classes with renowned and distinguished guest artists, annual concerts for the local "Opera Lovers" group, solo competitions, and by audition as comprimario or chorus members in Opera San Luis Obispo productions. My colleagues Thomas Davies and Katherine Arthur and I design our performances and programs to serve as many student soloists as possible, and promote training in opera/theater performance technique.
Being involved in an annual staged production will help provide you with necessary career and life skills. Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre casts a large number of student vocalists and assistants, as well as musicians, and then trains them in performance technique, aria and song study, stage direction and blocking, acting and audition technique, and possibly technician and stage techniques. Past productions include Haydn's "Apothecary," Mozart's "Impresario," Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas", "Die Fledermaus" "The Kurt Weill Show" and "Classic Scenes in Opera and Broadway." Each involved performance opportunities for 20-40 students, and the productions were fully costumed, staged and performed with student orchestra.
Cal Poly singers will be have the unique opportunity to be considered for roles and chorus parts with Opera San Luis Obispo Young Artist Program.
You may call or e-mail me with any further questions, and I look forward to working with you in the fall!
Have a great summer!
Best wishes,
Jacalyn Kreitzer, Lecturer in Music
805-528-4999