Opera Studio
TCU Opera Studio, directed by Dr. Corey Trahan, presents fully staged operatic productions, opera scenes, concerts, and collaborative projects throughout the year. Venues include Ed Landreth Auditorium, The Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU, and the TCU Opera Studio Black Box Theatre.
Tickets
To purchase tickets, please visit our online Box Office.
Credit and Enrollment
Ensemble credit is given for participation in Opera. Auditions are held bi-annually for casting purposes. TCU Opera Studio is open to all students, regardless of major. Vocal performance majors and Master of Music students are required to earn four semesters’ credit in Opera Studio. Many participate far beyond the minimum requirement. Opera Studio is highly recommended for music education students because most will likely be required to present musicals and other staged presentations during their teaching careers.
Courses
| Topic | Course(s) | Instructor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Opera Studio | MUSI 10100 MUSI 60110 | Dr. Corey Trahan |
| Techniques for the Singing Actor | MUSP 50210 MUSP 60162 | Dr. Corey Trahan |
| Vocal Coaching | MUSP 50210 | Sara Steele Mark Metcalf |
| Opera Literature | MUSI 50413 | Dr. Sanky Kim |
| Role Preparation and Audition Strategies | MUSI 50970 | Prof. Twyla Robinson Dr. Corey Trahan |
A Typical Semester in Opera Studio Involves:
- Music Rehearsals
- Staging Rehearsals
- 2-3 Productions and Concerts, both on and off campus
- Technical Theatre: Students are expected to participate in 10 hours per semester in one of the following areas: costuming, lighting, ushering/ticketing, promotion/social media/marketing, and/or set construction
Masterclasses
There are frequent masterclasses held within School of Music Voice and Opera departments each semester, with recent guests including Isabel Leonard, Jake Heggie, Jennifer Rowley, John Corigliano and David Jones.
Dido and Aeneas, 2022
Awards
The TCU Opera Studio has been the recipient of NOA awards as well as critical acclaim. In 2018, National Opera America recognized TCU’s Opera Studio in two of its eight divisions, awarding a first-place prize to the world premiere of The Falling and the Rising and a third-place prize to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A panel of 26 judges scored entries based on their music accuracy and integrity; quality of singing; diction; dramatic credibility and characterization; production concept, staging and execution; and quality of production relative to the budget.
Other recent productions include: La Tragédie de Carmen, Falstaff, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, Male Identity and Dark Sisters.
Dido and Aeneas, 2022
Learn more about the voice program at TCU.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Corey Trahan, Director of Opera Studio
3015 Merida Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76109
corey.trahan@tcu.edu