Sing, campers, sing!
Pittsburgh Opera to hold first summer camp in July
There’s a new summer camp in town. On Monday, Pittsburgh Opera announced its first summer camp for high school students. Weekdays from July 10-21, students will be able to take classes on the performing arts with professional instructors, getting hands-on experience in improv, opera scenes, opera culture and more. The program ends with a final showcase for friends and family.
Students interested in singing as well as behind-the-stage roles like directing and design are invited to apply.
“We are excited to launch this camp that will explore opera, musical theater and crossover music,” said Rebekah Diaz, the opera’s director of IDEA initiatives and community engagement. “Whether you’re already an opera fan or have never heard an opera in your life, this camp will be an absolutely fantastic, unforgettable experience.”
The newly minted Bravo Academy is part of a broader push to introduce opera into America’s education pipeline. On Nov. 10, the opera gave a matinee performance of Mozart’s famous opera “The Marriage of Figaro” for thousands of schoolchildren in the area.
Unlike instrumentalists, singers’ can’t even begin to train their voices until after puberty, and a good voice matures slowly over a period of years or even decades.
Around the country, companies are experimenting with family days to introduce younger children to the instruments of the orchestra and opera singing. Exposure at a young age can spark an interest, and the hope with such programs is to inspire the next generation of artists or fans.
As many schools struggle to fund arts and music programs, many performing arts companies are stepping into the gap to provide exposure and education where they can.
Pittsburgh Opera, which doesn’t generally put on operas in the summertime, also has a training program for early career singers and directors as well as a young professionals club with around 100 members who meet regularly to socialize before shows and network.
The productions at the Benedum Center are a small facet of the company’s overall output, which is a blend of producing art and educating artists and the public.
The Bravo Academy, which has received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, will take place at the opera’s Strip District headquarters, the Bitz Opera Factory. There’s a $550 registration fee, with payment plans and financial aid available. More information at pittsburghopera.org.