The UTC Opera Theater won two of three award categories at the National Opera Association convention.
The National Opera Association holds an annual convention featuring performances, panels, workshops, and other continuing-education opportunities for opera educators, professionals, and students. Additionally, they hold an annual Opera Production competition with the winners being announced at the national convention.
There are five categories for opera submissions in the competition, beginning with piano accompaniment only and moving up through various orchestral categories, with the top category being a full orchestra.
Three operas, all of which were presented by the UTC Opera in the academic year 2008-2009, were submitted for consideration by Ron Ulen, Director of Opera at UTC. In the piano accompaniment only category, Naomi in the Living Room and La Verbena de la Paloma, and in the full orchestra category, Die Fledermaus.
The UTC Opera Theater was awarded first place for Naomi in the Living Room and second place for La Verbena de la Paloma in the piano accompaniment only category, thus becoming the first university opera program ever to be named a double winner in the same category. It is important to note that the piano only category is perhaps the most popular for entrants given that it is the simplest and the least costly.
“We expect to see more great things from this organization in years to come, and we certainly look forward to the UTC Opera Theater taking home more prestigious awards in the future,” said Ulen.
The National Opera Association was founded in 1955. It seeks to promote a greater appreciation of opera and music theatre, to enhance pedagogy and performing activities, and to increase performance opportunities by supporting projects that improve the scope and quality of opera.
