Voice faculty and students are bringing a bite-sized opera experience to campus with the annual opera workshop.

The workshop will be at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 and 26 in McNamara Rehearsal Hall at Howard Music Hall, with no tickets required. 

Student vocalists will perform scenes from various operas and musicals in the original languages, said Instructor of Voice Kristi Matson. Student and faculty pianists will provide piano accompaniment for the singers.

“We are presenting these scenes with no sets and minimal costumes, props, and lighting,” Matson said. “Instead of a full orchestra, we have a piano for accompaniment.”

Entitled “Highlights in Harmony,” the workshop’s theme this year explores musical theater, operetta, and opera, said Emily Douglass, voice coordinator, opera director, and artist-teacher of music.

“The scenes selected highlight how music brings stories to life,” Douglass said. 

From freshmen to graduate students, there are 25 students singing in the workshop, with two students accompanying on the piano, Matson said. 

“The students have been rehearsing their scenes weekly with their scene partners and pianist since early September,” Matson said. “Each singer has also worked extensively with their respective voice instructor in individual lessons.”

Senior Eva Lindsay said this is her second year performing in the opera workshop. This year, Lindsay said she will be playing the role of Susanna in a duet from Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.”

“I love doing the opera workshop because most often classical vocal music is performed solo at Hillsdale,” Lindsay said. “With the opera workshop, I get to share something I love not only with an audience, but also with other singers.”

Lindsay said she enjoys acting while singing. She said she especially enjoys performing Mozart, who basically composed sitcoms.

Matson and Douglass co-direct the scenes program each year for the opera workshop.

People often have misconceptions or preconceived notions about opera, Matson said. The scenes program makes opera approachable because it’s short.

“We have many comedic scenes and many scenes in English,” Matson said. “The emotions the characters experience in these scenes are relatable.”

Matson said attendees should find the opera workshop will make for a lively and fun evening of music, and it won’t take much time. 

“This is not a four-hour Wagner opera with supertitles,” Matson said. “In addition, you will most likely recognize some of the performers as fellow students and you will definitely recognize some familiar melodies.”

Douglass said opera workshops are educational programs giving students the opportunity to gain experience performing opera after learning vocal technique, character development, and the dramatic and musical aspects of opera.