Tulsa Opera Launches ‘Soul of Sound’ Virtual Program for TPS Choir Students
DEVELOPING VOCAL SKILLS: Tulsa Opera’s virtual program called “Soul of Sound” is free for local choir teachers and students.
Tulsa Opera, the first performing arts organization established in Oklahoma and the 10th-oldest opera company in North America, has launched a new virtual program called “Soul of Sound” for Tulsa Public Schools choir students.
“We are proud to partner with school choir programs to create opportunities for students to stay engaged in performing arts, especially during this time of virtual learning,” said Aaron Beck, artistic administrator and director of education for Tulsa Opera. “Through SOS, we want to bring additional learning opportunities for students at home where they can learn skills that will help improve their singing and performing and allow them to become part of Tulsa’s thriving arts community even in the midst of a pandemic.”
The video lessons are being created by Tulsa Opera’s Filstrup Resident Artists and focus on developing young performers’ singing skills and teaching the basics of acting, diction, and even stage makeup and costuming. Each video includes a lesson on a specific topic followed by a quiz for students to test their knowledge. Current topics include warming up the voice, how to address stage fright, and courses in foreign language diction. Says Beck, “In just two weeks we have gone from five instructional videos to almost 40, and we plan to add videos until we have an unparalleled library of virtual instructional materials for students.”
Currently, “Soul of Sound” is offered free of charge for any Tulsa Public Schools student enrolled in a choir class, sixth grade and up. Choir teachers have the opportunity to incorporate “Soul of Sound” in the choir curriculum as in-class assignments, homework or extra credit.
In the coming weeks, Tulsa Opera will launch “Soul of Sound” to all schools across Oklahoma. For more information about the program and “Soul of Sound,” please contact Aaron Beck at abeck@tulsaopera.com.
About Tulsa Opera
Formed in 1947, Tulsa Opera is the first performing arts organization established in Oklahoma and the tenth-oldest opera company in North America. Composer Tobias Picker was appointed its Artistic Director in 2016, and Ken McConnell has been the company’s General Director & CEO since 2018. The company excels at producing bold, brave, and fresh productions of opera classics, and accomplishes this by identifying excellent young singers, then pairing them with conductors and stage directors who can improve their artistic talents. In 2019, Tulsa Opera made history in presenting the first Trans woman in a principal role on the operatic stage in the United States. In addition to presenting a main stage season, the company fosters young talent through its Tulsa Youth Opera and Resident Artist programs and promotes music education through outstanding initiatives such as Raise Your Voice!, a partnership with Tulsa Public Schools that brings music back into classrooms where music programs have been discontinued. Tulsa Opera, throughout its history, has articulated the desire of local leaders to create and maintain a world-class city. Opera is in Tulsa’s DNA, and communication with opera patrons confirms that the Tulsa community has a robust – and now reinvigorated – commitment to the company’s success. For more information, visit TulsaOpera.com.
