A few weeks at the opera

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Forty students are busy singing, acting and

building their own sets and costumes for an opera version of “The Piper

of Hamelin.”

The fairy tale is part of Opera Pacific’s and the Academy of

Performing Arts’ first opera and technical camp at Huntington Beach High

School.

Though many students already have an idea of how an opera works,

they’ve spent almost three weeks learning more than they could imagine

from experts in the field. Among the teachers are stage director Roberta

Kay, vocal coach Sarah Krieger, pianist Kevin Weed and chorus master and

camp director Henri Venanzi.

Kids 9 to 16 are receiving an education in music, acting and technical

theater. Teachers have also been training them in stage movement, set

building, costuming and props.

The opera camp “doesn’t reach as many kids, but the experience is much

more meaningful,” camp spokesman Kevin Crysler said.

Throughout the three-week session, campers have worked on the

production of a “The Piper of Hamelin,” a children’s opera by John

Rutter. The opera will be performed at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Huntington

Beach High School theater.

Though already impressed with the quality of kids attending the camp,

the staff has seen growth in the children as performers, Crysler said.

“Children need to learn how to think, imagine, learn how to solve

problems and work with others. Opera does all that,” Crysler said.

Opera Pacific hopes to make the opera camp an annual program.