New Rochelle Opera Presents Programs In Schools

[February 22, 2006] “Awesome” . . . “amazing” . . . “surprising”. These were just a few of the adjectives used by students who attended a performance of All About Opera presented by New Rochelle Opera, Inc. at New Rochelle’s Albert Leonard Middle School, Isaac E. Young Middle School and New Rochelle High School on three days in February. Fifth graders from the surrounding elementary schools were also bussed in for the program.

Under the aegis of Dominic Guastaferro, Supervisor of Art and Music for the school district, co-founders of New Rochelle Opera, Camille Coppola and Billie Tucker, brought four singers and a piano accompanist to the three schools to introduce youngsters to opera. Featured in the program were soprano Meredith Barber, mezzo-soprano Joyce Ottinger, tenor Sung Chun Park, baritone Lawrence Harris, and pianist Renee Guererro Harris. Mrs. Coppola introduced the selections and provided brief opera commentary.

One Fifth-grade girl was impressed with how the singers “hit the high notes without making their voice so screechy,” while a boy said, “I learned that opera can be fun.”  Another student spoke for many with her parting words, “I hope to see you perform again.”

(Right) Camille Coppola, artistic director of New Rochelle Opera, fields questions from the students as the four singers readily answer them.
Meredith Barber singing "Adele's Laughing Song" from "Die Fledermaus."	Sung Chun Park singing "La Donna e Mobile" from "Rigoletto."
Joyce Ottinger singing the "Seguidilla" from "Carmen" to a besotted Don Jose, played by Dominic Guastaferro, Supervisor of Art & Music for the New Rochelle School District.	Lawrence Harris singing Figaro's "Largo al factotum" from "Barber of Seville."