Reagan and Wagner: The Flying Dutchman

This past Sunday, Reagan students were honored to see "The Flying Dutchman" from the Florentine Opera. Wagner is always a composer that is a privilege to hear, especially in opera. The students thoroughly enjoyed the performance and were impressed by the vocal abilities of the performers. We are grateful to the Florentine Opera for continuing to partner with us to bring opera to the youth of Milwaukee. Congratulations on a wonderful performance, and thanks again!

IB Celebration and the Opera!

This weekend 50+ Reagan music students and their families headed down to the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts to see Handel's baroque era opera Julius Caesar. Before the Sunday show, the IB Higher Level seniors celebrated the successful completion of their IAs over lunch with the Reagan music faculty. 

Florentine Opera Masterclass

Florentine Opera chorus master Scott Stewart and Education & Outreach Coordinator Sarah Jones hosted a vocal master class for Reagan IB music students.  Three of the IB Music seniors presented vocal selections and received coaching in front of an audience of Reagan voice/choir students.  We are so appreciative of the continued support of the Florentine in our growing music program! You are invited to see these students (and others) perform in the IB Senior Recitals on March 6 & 13 at 6pm in the Reagan auditorium.  

Students Visit Florentine Opera Center!

On Monday March 11, thirty Reagan Students from IB Music and all five choirs attended a workshop at the Florentine Opera Center in Riverwest.

Students learned about the background and musical features of the Florentine's upcoming performance of Benjamin Britten's chamber opera Albert Herring.  The opera company's four studio artists presented short scenes from the opera to set the stage.

The students also had the opportunity to interact with the costume and makeup designers for the show.  A few students got to experience stage make up and wig fitting just like the opera singers!

Fifty Reagan music students from all of the performing ensembles will be attending Albert Herring this Friday at Vogel Hall in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Milwaukee.  Special thanks to Education & Outreach Coordinator Sarah Jones for creating and sustaining such a wonderful partnership with the Vera J. Zilber Music Department!

For more information on the Florentine Opera, please visit:
http://www.florentineopera.org/

A Night At the Opera

This past Friday, 50 Reagan Music students attended the Puccini opera Turandot at the Performing Arts Center performed by the Florentine Opera and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The students attended a pre-concert lecture and demonstrated excellent concert etiquette during the performance. For the majority of the students, this was their first opera and first time at the Performing Arts Center. The students were inspired by the amazing singers and instrumentalists. The students will also have an opportunity to interact with four of the singers from the performance in an exchange at Reagan later on this month.

A HUGE thanks goes out to the Florentine Opera for making it possible for these students to attend this unique event! We are excited about this new community partnership and its impact on our young Reagan musicians!