5th Grade Performs Original Opera

4/28/2016

The Different Voices Opera Company of Dwight-Englewood School (D-E) announces a special one-night only performance of their original opera production, “The True Test”, tonight, Thursday, April 28. The performance will take place at 7:30 PM in Hajjar Auditorium. This opera will be performed by the fifth grade class of D-E Lower School, and students have created literally each and every aspect of the production.

Students auditioned or applied for opera jobs in October, and started working immediately. The writers wrote a full-length script, while the composers wrote music for the lyrics. Costume artists designed costumes, depending on the personality of each character. The set designers designed the settings for the opera, and the carpenters built and helped paint the backdrops. Electricians built a light board, and will run lights for the production. The stage managers have rehearsed with the performers, and will cue them during the show. Historians have gathered information all along the way and will make their display on exhibit during the performance. The Production Manager held company meetings and made sure everything ran smoothly. The actual performance of “The True Test” will be run completely by all the 5th graders, with no adult involvement or supervision.

The theme of “The True Test” is ‘pressure’. According to 5th grade Public Relations Officer, Brooke Sonkin D-E ‘23, “this theme was chosen because pressure falls into our everyday life, into categories including school, activities, sports and maybe even home.” Her colleague, PR Officer Anya Ganeshan ’23, adds, “in the beginning of the year, students thought stress was part of our daily life. They felt that they had to live up to their parents’ expectations and do well in school.”

D-E Lower School Music faculty member Mary Heveran, who has led the D-E 5th grade opera program for 30 years, finds this year unique. “Compared to last year, this is a much smaller class, comprised of 34 students instead of 52. I’ve learned you can do more with less. I think this group works very well together.”

This production is part of the ‘Creating Original Opera’ program from the Metropolitan Opera Guild. Lower School music teacher Lisa Dove, who is new to D-E this year but had previously worked with the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s ‘Creating Original Opera’ program adds, “I’m excited that this program still exists in schools like Dwight-Englewood, and I love working with this group of students and teachers!”

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5th Grade Performs Original Opera