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Highland CC Students Collaborate with Wichita Grand Opera in Carmen April 27

Since 2005 Highland Community College students have been a part of a unique collaboration. Every year select students in the music program at Highland travel to Wichita to participate in a professional opera production at the Wichita Grand Opera. This year they will be featured as part of the chorus in the opera, Carmen.

Highland Community College Instructor of Vocal Music Shayna Leahy directs productions there and will bring five HCC students this spring to perform and participate in the production. “This is an experience unique to Highland.  Most music students don’t get this kind of experience until they reach graduate level courses. Our students get to work with internationally known artists, build sets, props and do backstage work with I.A.T.S.E. union theater employees, help with marketing and have even helped with fundraising events like the Opera Ball.”

Students spend 10 days in residence at the Wichita Grand Opera. Prior to that students study the music and learn the chorus parts at Highland. Leahy notes, “most of these students are really looking for a challenge and a way to get experience at the next level. Most do not have aspirations to be an opera singer but the connections and experience they gain by working in the theater are invaluable. Several of our students have gone on to be featured performers or work in arts administration at locations like the New York City Opera, Walt Disney World, or with national touring productions.”

Tickets are available for the April 27^th performance of Carmen at wichitagrandopera.org.

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