Cafe performances to accompany opera school tutorials

The 2012 Opera School at Collegiate starts on January 4 with students scheduled for specialist tutorials.

These include: In a tutorial: either singing/Italian or other language/acting; Watching or singing in a masterclass; Working with an accompanist on an aria you are learning; Engaging with Wendy Dawn Thompson (visiting from England), who will talk about life as a professional opera singer.

Voice tutors are Paul Farrington, Barry Mora, Margaret Medlyn and Richard Greager.

Movement tutors are Sara Brodie assisted by Kararaina Walker.

Italian language tutors are Luca Manghi and Flavio Villani.

Pianists are: Bruce Greenfield, Iola Shelley, Greg Neil, David Kelly, and Travis Baker (London, also Estill tutor).

Conductors are Michael Vinten (Opera House) and Travis Baker (Chapel).

The organist is Nicholas Grigsby.

Two interns from Auckland University, Somi Kim and Grace Francis will also be present.

The Sarjeant Art Gallery Concert on January 5 is arranged by the Opera School's support organisation, Wanganui Opera Week. (Wow ). It will start around 12.30pm.

The singers who traditionally perform are the NBR New Zealand Opera, Emerging Artists.

On this occasion the singers will be: Stephen Diaz, Emma Fraser and Moses McKay.

Café performances will be held on Thursday, January 6 where three Wanganui cafes will host singers from the school. This is entirely voluntary. An accompanist will be provided to each group of three or four singers to sing well-known works to the diners.

There will be masterclasses every day in the Prince Edward Auditorium, conducted by Professor Farrington.

The two on January 8 and 10 will be public. Paul Farrington will run these,a master at relaxing and entertaining everyone. It is a matter of etiquette for students to dress appropriately for all evening masterclasses, public or otherwise. Jeans and T-shirts are inappropriate.

All attending singers will form the choir for the In Praise of Music church service and will sit in the chapel choir stalls.