This intensive, well-rounded program prepares students for both New Music and Standard Repertoire and is aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students, professional singers and collaborative pianists. 

Using a team approach and focusing on skill development, our faculty work daily with students to explore and integrate movement, yoga, acting, singing, playing, improvisation, and staging. This schedule is supplemented by weekly lessons, coachings, tutorials, and masterclasses. Pianists participate in the same creative process training as do singers and take part in regular piano classes with the collaborative piano faculty. They also play for masterclasses and are assigned an operatic excerpt.

The program concludes with a performance of staged scenes. Every year, we commission a new work which is featured at this performance. Past performances include scenes from:

• John Adams (Death of Klinghoffer, Nixon in China)
• Mark Adamo (Little Women)
• Philip Glass (Akhnaten)
• Bruce Nicol (Trojan Women)
• James Rolfe (Beatrice Chancey, Fire, Swoon)
• Ann Sokolovic (Sirens, The Midnight Court)
• Marc Anthony Turnage (The Silver Tassie)
• Robert Turner (The Brideship)
• Claude Vivier (Love Songs)

We have premiered new works by Michael Matthews, Garth Hardy, Constantine Caravassillis, Tiffany Prochera, Heidi Ugrin, Jerry Semchyshyn, Luke Nickel, and Roger Marsh.

Take some time to explore the Contemporary Opera Lab pages (using the hub in the right column) to find out how much COL has to offer!

Contact:

Mel Braun, Program Director
Ph 204.474.8774
Email