Harrisburg Opera Association - Home

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

Goldie Locks and the 3 Bears an Opera for Children gets its world premiere in April 2024!


Harrisburg Opera Association in a joint production with the Harrisburg Academy proudly presents its first children's opera in over two decades: the world premiere of Goldie Locks and the 3 Bears, An Opera for Children by Adam C J Klein. Not the original fairytale by any stretch, this children's opera is about tolerance for being different and embracing one's uniqueness. The opera is 26 minutes long and will be followed by a question and answer session with the cast and creative team and stars national, local and student artists.

When
: Saturday, April 20th, 2024 at 2 PM
Where: The Harrisburg Academy - McCormick Auditorium
10 Erford Road, Wormleysburg, PA 17043
Tickets: $10 for Adults and $5 for Students
To purchase tickets please go to: https://our.show/goldielocks. They are also are available at the door at half hour before the performance.

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

For more information about the Harrisburg Academy please visit: www.harrisburgacademy.org

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
  • - 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.
  • -Good Day PA!'s Amanda Peterson interviews our Executive & Artistic Director regarding our 2021 virtual production and how birding can save the world!
  • -An interview with our Executive Director and Artistic Director on WHTM ABC27th Good Day PA! Promoting HOA's 2020 Season
  • -The Patriot News / Penn Live's preview article by Sean Adams for HOA's 2020 Virtual Video Opera in the Park - Outside While Inside
  • -WHTM ABC 27's Good Day PA! Appearance Promoting HOA's 2020 Virtual Video Opera in the Park - Outside While Inside
  • -Gina Napoli's fantastic article for The Burg promoting HOA's 2020 Vitual Season
  • - 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!
  • - Check out our promo article in Pennlive!
  • - Check out our feature article heralding our comeback in The Burg Magazine here!
  • - Opera in the Park 2018 Press Release
  • - Our write up in December 2016 by The Burg Magazine on the state of opera in Harrisburg, PA is here.

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