Artistry, Originality, Diversity, Community, Philanthropy Located in the state capital of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg Opera Association has mounted over 50 productions with seasoned veterans and emerging young performers from opera companies including The Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera and also Broadway.
HAPPENINGS
Opera in the Park - Icons of Music on Sunday 8/18/2024, 4 PM at Italian Lake Park, Harrisburg, PA
UPDATE 8/17/2024 - WE STILL ARE HAVING THE CONCERT IN SPITE OF SPOTTY SHOWERS! DETAILS BELOW!
At Opera in the Park 2018, we had drizzle. Still over 80 of you showed up to our concert! That stated, we are going to have this concert tomorrow, too! Tomorrow's forecast is "hit or miss" showers as quoted by weatherman Brett Thackara of ABC27. That means, for those of us familiar with Susquehanna Valley weather, there's a good chance that we won't get rained on at all. Those are much better odds than 2018. So come on out, bring a rain slicker and umbrella just in case, for a moment of moisture, and revel in our Icons of Music free, educational outreach concert with worked curated just for you!
Harrisburg Opera Association presents our annual educational, outreach program Opera in the Park - Icons of Music on Sunday, August 18th, 2024 at 4 PM at Italian Lake Park, Harrisburg, PA. "Icons of Music" promises to be a celebration of culture and inspiration. As always, casual attire and picnicking are encouraged! This concert is free to the public, but donations are greatly appreciated. We are also honored to have Metropolitan Opera Mezzo-soprano Mary Phillips making her debut with us! Throughout history and culture, music has meaningfully impacted our lives. Come hear some of the works that have inspired us to live, love and achieve.
Goldie Locks and the 3 Bears by Adam C J Klein is Now on Youtube!
Harrisburg Opera Association in a joint production with the Harrisburg Academy presented its first children's opera in over two decades on Saturday 4/20/2024 at 2 PM. With robust attendance, the children and adults in the audience greatly enjoyed the performance and it is now on HOA's Youtube channel!
To view just click HERE: A suggested donation of $10 to view it is greatly appreciated. Donation information is on the Youtube video page.
The world premiere of Goldie Locks and the 3 Bears by Adam C J Klein was not the original fairytale by any stretch, but rather a children's opera about tolerance for being different and embracing one's uniqueness. Harrisburg Academy students who participated in this production received academic credit and worked with professional HOA and HA teaching artists who provided real world professional performing arts experience.
The opera is based on a story that children are already familiar with and therefore is not too foreign to them. Additionally, it is in their native language so the all too frequent language barrier in opera is eliminated. The music is in an accessible style while respecting the seriousness of the operatic medium and also at a reasonable length for young audience members. Historical figures and a significant event are also included in this work. Parents and teachers have the option to teach or encourage children to study these figures and event which include the following:
Susan B. Anthony, Ludwig van Beethoven, Mary McLeod Bethune, Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Pericles, Queen Elizabeth - and Brown v. Board of Education. Said figures and event have furry counterparts that are mentioned in the opera.
Students participating in this production receive school credit and get real world experience working in a professional performing arts situation in keeping with Harrisburg Opera Association's goal of providing educational opportunities attached to our events.
Cast (in order of appearance) and Creative Team: Papa Bear - Nathan Bahny, Bass-Baritone
Mama Bear - Christyan Seay, Tenor
Baby Bear - Hadley Qualls, Soprano
Goldie Locks - Kimberly Sogioka, Mezzo-Soprano
Adam C J Klein - Composer/Librettist, Jembe
Elizabeth Hastings - Music Director, Pianist
Tami Swartz, Stage Director
Michael Gamon - Production Manager
Would you like to receive our newsletter? Just drop us a line at info@harrisburg-opera.org with your email address and we'll be happy to add you.
Philanthropy
HOA did a thing! We donated three songs to a fundraising dinner to benefit Ukraine, hosted by Rubicon in Harrisburg, PA on April 19, 2022.This video presents the three songs performed, plus images from Ukraine. Adam C J Klein edited this most excellent video. To learn more about the evening and where to donate click on the link at the top of the video where is says "Harrisburg Opera Association". It will take you to YouTube where you can view it full screen. Ukraine still needs our help so HOA will keep this video up until the war is over.
HOA's Original Video Production - Birding for a Better World
Including elements of our Opera in in the Park concerts and our educational program for students participating in our mainstage productions, Birding for a Better World premiered on 8/28/2021 at 7:30 PM. It is now in permanent reruns and you can view it here. Suggested donation is $10 per viewer. This original story is about an ornithologist who believes birding can save the world, his colleagues who organize his movement and one newcomer who is inspired to bring this message to young people. If you need a family oriented evening this highly enteraining video with well known and original music comes with a program full of learning oppportunities in the areas of music and nature. It is currently being presented as curricula at The Harrisburg Academy, at Hendrix College in Conway, AK and soon at The International Rescue Committee.
Auditions
For those artists who have been inquiring, thank you for contacting us. We are not currently holding auditions, but hope to do so in the future. We will post notices when we do!
Publicity
-We visted with Good Day PA! on 4/16/2024 where the cast of the original children's opera Goldie Locks and the 3 Bears performed and was interviewed by Brett Thackara. Video of our visit is here.
- On 8/7/2023 Tami Swartz & Michael Gamon joyfully visited with Brett Thackara on Good Day PA! promoting Opera in the Park 2023 - Make Em' Laugh!
-HOA's returns to live performances with Opera in the Park 2022 - Songs of Freedom. View the promotional interview on ABC27's Good Day PA! here.
- Penn Live's generous preview article from 8/11/2020 promoting our 2020 virtual season can be found here.
- We had a fantastic time visiting with everyone at WHTM ABC27's Good Day PA! talk show on 8/8/2019. Executive Director/Artistic Director Tami Swartz and Adam Klein talk about HOA's first season in ten years and perform one of the pieces that was featured in our mainstage production, An Artists' Journey. If you missed it the link is here.
- Penn Live's generous article from 8/7/2019 promoting our 2019 season can be found here.
- Executive Director and Artistic Director Tami Swartz returns along with Adam Klein for an informative and fun interview on Tom Richards "By the Way" radio talk show promoting our 2019 season which aired on 8/4/2019. You can catch the interview here.
-Hanna Martin's lovely article in The Burg Magazine announcing our 2019 Season.
- Here's our entertaining and informative INTERVIEW featuring Executive/Artistic Director, Tami Swartz and Michael Gamon on Tom Richards "By the Way" radio talk show which aired on Sunday 8/12/2018 on Fun 101.3 FM.
- Tami Swartz's 8/11/2018 live interview with Logan Wilson on ABC 27 regarding HOA's comeback!
At Opera in the Park 2018, we had drizzle. Still over 80 of you showed up to our concert! That stated, we are going to have this concert tomorrow, too! Tomorrow's forecast is "hit or miss" showers as quoted by weatherman Brett Thackara of ABC27. That means, for those of us familiar with Susquehanna Valley weather, there's a good chance that we won't get rained on at all. Those are much better odds than 2018. So come on out, bring a rain slicker and umbrella just in case, for a moment of moisture, and revel in our Icons of Music free, educational outreach concert with worked curated just for you!
Harrisburg Opera Association in a joint production with the Harrisburg Academy presented its first children's opera in over two decades on Saturday 4/20/2024 at 2 PM. With robust attendance, the children and adults in the audience greatly enjoyed the performance and it is now on HOA's Youtube channel!
Including elements of our Opera in in the Park concerts and our educational program for students participating in our mainstage productions, Birding for a Better World premiered on 8/28/2021 at 7:30 PM. It is now in permanent reruns and you can view it