Director: Jen Stephenson, DMA
Faculty: Kathleen Kelly and Jeffrey Peterson, DMA
Mission Statement
“We strive to cultivate authentic, professional artists through devotion to one another and our community, to commitment to scholarship and fostering the creative process.”
Opera Courses Offered
- Opera Workshop
- Develop confidence in basic skill sets for performing as a singular artist/ soloist through practical application in staging, music rehearsals and specialized lectures and lessons
- Advanced Opera Workshop
- Develop auditioning skills, and cultivate skills applicable to a career in the opera industry
- Acting for Singers
- Survey of acting techniques
- Improvisation techniques and proficiency
- Comprehend and apply fundamental principles of acting
Performance Operatunities
BOT performs three times on Baylor’s campus. In both fall and spring semesters BOT produces a staged and semi-produced Concert of Arias, Scenes Program, or One Act Opera. These performances are accompanied by piano and orchestra, depending on scheduling. In the beginning of the spring semester, BOT presents a fully staged, fully realized opera, in the original language. This main stage show is performed on Jones Stage in Hooper-Schaefer Arts Building (links for these two places are in the theatre department’s website, please include) with orchestral accompaniment. The main stage show is double cast, when possible, and staffed with professional designers and technicians.
Outside of Baylor’s campus, BOT’s performers can be seen and heard at local art galleries, and house concerts. These OPERAtunities are on a volunteer basis. More questions? Contact Dr. Jen Stephenson, or see our Facebook page.
Baylor Opera Theatre Goals
- Baylor Opera Theatre trains performers in basic skill sets to perform as a singular artist and soloist; through practical application in staging, music rehearsals and specialized lectures. Baylor Opera Theatre strives to have a supportive rehearsal environment, so that the creativity of the student performers will be uninhibited.
- It is a goal of Baylor Opera Theatre to see to it that undergraduate vocal performance majors of merit graduate with a full role, performed with an orchestra.
Opera Production Workshop
The Baylor Opera Theatre exists to provide every student who is currently a part of the Vocal Department at Baylor University and enrolled in Opera Production Workshop at least one performance opportunity that is appropriate to their current level of vocal development and personal career goals. Concurrently, students in the Opera Program are provided training in acting for the singer, stage deportment, rehearsal etiquette, technical theatre overview, taxes for artists, exposure to choreography for both dance and stage combat, basic opera history and performance practice, extensive vocal coachings and intensive individual role and aria coachings with the Director of Opera and other staff and guests, plus an array of additional areas and events too numerous to mention in this format.
Major Opera Productions at Baylor University will be double-cast, when possible, to provide the maximum amount of performing opportunities for Baylor Students. These opera productions will be chosen with the Baylor student in mind, meaning that: Opera Productions at Baylor University will be chosen to best fit the current group of voice students enrolled in Opera Workshop. Opera productions will be performed in the original language with sir-titles with occasional exceptions for specific scenes or works. All opera projects at Baylor University will be chosen collaboratively by a committee which includes, but is not necessarily limited to: The Director of Opera, Every Member of the Voice Faculty, The Conductor of the Opera, and The Director of Choral Activities. This committee will not only choose all opera projects, but will be responsible for casting these projects as well. Thus, no Baylor student should feel that his or her chances to sing a specific role are any more or less than any other Baylor student.