Senior Samuel Jarzab performs in the 2024 Opera Workshop.
Courtesy | Emily Douglass

Immerse yourself in the world of music with “Melody in Motion,” Hillsdale’s annual Opera Workshop, filled with well-known opera excerpts, on Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. 

This year, 28 Hillsdale vocalists will fill McNamara Rehearsal Hall with repertoire from grand opera and operetta sung in Italian, French, German and English composed by Mozart, Donizetti and Strauss in the Opera Workshop, according to Emily Douglass, voice area coordinator. 

“Regarding repertoire, another unique aspect of this year is that we are including a scene which features a men’s chorus, in addition to our usual chorus scenes with mixed male and female chorus,” Kristi Matson, instructor of voice, said.

The Opera Workshop helps develop necessary skills for an opera performance, according to Douglass. 

“Through expressive singing and dramatic staging, the performers bring to life the timeless themes that make opera so powerful and moving,” Douglass said. “The program includes intimate, small ensembles such as duets and trios as well as larger scenes featuring the full cast. Opera Workshop offers students the opportunity to develop their skills in acting, movement, language, and musical expression while working collaboratively in a fully staged performance environment.”

Sophomore soprano Lili Whitaker said she cannot wait to perform Mozart’s celebrated opera “The Magic Flute,” where she will play one of the Three Ladies from Act 1, Scene 1. 

“I’m so excited to share this with people because I just know they’re going to be thoroughly entertained,” Whitaker said. 

Junior soprano Lily Ferrell, who has been participating in Opera Workshop since her freshman year, said rehearsals began on Sept. 15. Ferrell will be singing with Whitaker as well as junior Mara Seeley and senior Joe Duncan in “The Magic Flute.” 

“It’s such a fun scene because Tamino, played by Joe, is very dramatic at the beginning; he faints,” Whitaker said. “And then to see the reactions of the three ladies to Tamino fainting is the funniest and most entertaining and dramatic thing I’ve ever seen in an opera.”

Through various rehearsals and a variety of vocalists, the Opera Workshop provides student singers the opportunity to work with fellow peers.

“It’s cool because we all rehearse independently within our parts, and then get to come together during tech week to see everybody’s scenes and how they’ve been working together,” Ferrell said. “I think it’s unique because you get a variety of different bits of the best operas out there and it’s really fun to see that collaborative artistry comes together from different operas, time periods and composers. I think it’s effective because you’re able to work with different people who are also highly trained and are performing at such a high level at this school.”

The repertoire being performed is difficult because of its complex rhythms and harmonies according to Whitaker. For some of the singers, performing this kind of opera is different from previous vocal training and pushes them to learn new skills in a supportive and positive environment, according to Matson. 

“It’s intimidating because I have done a lot of solo performances and so this is a little more out of my comfort zone,” Whitaker said. “It’s helped me train my ear through listening and getting my notes from the page as well as sightreading.”

Whitaker also said that growing up, she played violin and sang soprano, and as a result, she became accustomed to only singing the melody. Her part in “The Magic Flute” has difficult harmonies, requiring her to practice new techniques. 

For the performers, the Opera Workshop is an exciting step in their musical endeavors during their time as students at Hillsdale. The music department fosters an encouraging environment for singers to concentrate on various classical techniques within small and large groups. 

“Students develop valuable performance skills like stage presence, ensemble collaboration, memorization strategies and the ability to adapt in live performance settings,” Douglass said. “Additionally, students gain practical experience in stagecraft, rehearsal etiquette and professional performances practices in a supportive and creative ensemble environment.” 

Because students dedicate so much of their time and effort into Opera Workshop at the start of the fall semester, many of their friends and family members come to support them and see their final performance. 

“My family has come to town to watch it every single year,” Ferrell said. “My mom and sister are coming this year all the way from Reno, Nevada. 
My mom and my grandparents came my freshman year, and my parents, sister and my little brother came last year.” 

Opera is one of the most expressive forms of classical music because of its theatrical elements such as animated characters and speech-like arias, according to Whitaker. Professors Matson and Douglass work hard to convey opera’s relevance to the audience by working with students on their storytelling. 

“If anyone thinks that opera is too stuck up or not engaging enough, they should try Opera Workshop because I think many people will be surprised at how powerful and exciting opera can be,” Whitaker said. “Douglass and Matson do a great job at picking pieces that connect with everyone in the audience and making opera extremely relevant to our modern times.”

In “Melody in Motion,” the music department will showcase the vocal students’ work embodying their characters through opera. Whitaker and Ferrell hope that through the pieces they perform, the audience can still understand the story despite the language barriers. 

“Music to me is something that connects regardless of language and can speak to people of all nationalities, places and different walks of life,” Ferrell said. “It’s cool to see that reflected in these beautiful operatic pieces.” 

The Opera Workshop is a supportive event where students have the chance to practice their musicianship and bring their characters to life through music.

“It’s something I look forward to every single year,” Ferrell said. “It really is my favorite part of the music department.”