Music

Opera at Simpson

Welcome to opera at Simpson College. If you are an aspiring singer, pianist, conductor, stage manager, lighting designer, stage director, set designer, costume designer, or vocal coach, or if you are interested in musical theatre and seek a broad liberal arts education, you can do no better than begin at Simpson College. We offer a unique opera program that is fully musically and technically resourced, supported by a professional orchestra, in an intimate, purpose-built theatre. For instrumentalists there is the invaluable opportunity to partner professional players in the orchestra for Simpson productions. We boast an internationally-recognized professional opera company in our backyard, where students can gain their first professional experiences. All of the voice, coaching, and conducting faculty have professional careers, national and international credentials as performers, and are a close-knit team dedicated to developing the tradition of excellence established over many decades. This performing tradition within a liberal arts context explains why Simpson College punches massively above its weight in the number of professional singers, artistic administrators, choral directors, conductors, and music educators it has produced.

Simpson College enjoys a historic close partnership with the Des Moines Metro Opera. It provides Simpson students with the invaluable opportunity to experience professional opera on their doorstep, and to serve as interns and production staff in the summer opera festival. Many singers from Simpson have taken part in the DMMO Apprenticeship Program, an opportunity afforded usually to only the most talented graduate students and young professional singers from all over the United States.

Whether you are a prospective student, parent, teacher, audience member, a newcomer to opera, or a longstanding fan, or an alumnus/alumna, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Sincerely yours,

Bernard McDonald
Director of Opera
G. Dewey and M. Maine Larsen Chair in Opera and Musical Coaching
bernard.mcdonald@simpson.edu
515-961-1371

Die Fledermaus, Johann Strauss
October 28 and 29, 2011 at 7:30 pm
October 30, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Musical Direction by Bernard McDonald
Stage Direction by Bruce Brown
Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center

Albert Herring, Benjamin Britten
February 18 and 19, 2010 at 7:30 pm
February 20, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Directed by Robert L. Larsen
Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center

The Magic Flute, Mozart
October, 2010
Musical direction by Cara Chowning
Stage direction by Bruce Brown
Interview and Video with cast members.

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