Welcome back!! This blog article is part two of my 2025 Performance Wrapped! (If you haven't read part one yet, what are you waiting for!!!)
Let's recap our quick statistics:
4 operas (2 actually performed… stick around for those stories)
4 concerts
4 final exam performances
1 recital
1 masterclass
Final Exam Performances
Some of my performances from part one could technically fall under this category, but I chose to divide everything up a bit for fun. The performances I chose that best represented this category were my opera scenes performances for the Spring and Fall 2025 semesters, a piano recital (where yes, I was the one playing piano), and a concert with the Oberlin Vocal Chamber Ensemble.
My first opera scenes performance was in May to close off my time in my Intro to Opera Theater class. We combined our performance with the Opera Theater 405 class, and it was able to showcase where students at Oberlin start and end. The difference was stark, but inspiring. I got to perform as Augusta in Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe, Marcellina in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and chorus in a few other scenes. I had a blast, and loved getting to sing in Finney Chapel for the first time. My second opera scenes performance this year was to close off my time in the “big girl class” of Opera Theater 404. I was the only 3rd-year in the class among 4th and 5th years, but I loved getting to learn from them as well as our professor. This class was a bit more intense than the Intro to Opera Theater class and it consisted of both scenes and a role study (which we showcased in the scenes presentation). My role study was of the character Sesto in Handel’s Giulio Cesare. I loved getting to explore more of Handel’s music, and truly expand on my skills of playing a pants role. (The main comments I got after the performance were how surprised everyone was as to how manly I could become haha!) I was also able to perform scenes as Sandmann in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel and 3rd Spirit in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
My piano exam was probably my worst, but one of the most fun performances of my year. It happened to fall on Mother's Day so we called it "A Performance Only A Mother Could Love." Every second-year voice major had to accompany another voice major on piano. It was terrifying. I got the opera meme song "Caro Mio Ben" and was paired with my roommate. Another plot twist for this concert was that my mother came up to see it. I think she was the only one who enjoyed it, but that fit the theme of the show...
My last “exam” was with the Oberlin Vocal Chamber Ensemble in collaboration with the Monet exhibit in the Allen Memorial Art Museum. We performed solos, duets, and a trio with other vocalists, in collaboration with string quartets, flutists, and pianists. I have never worked so closely with other musicians before, so this was a wonderful learning experience!
Recital + Masterclass
I figured I would lump my recital and masterclass together as each category only has one. My recital was allll the way back in January as it was a part of my 2025 Winter Term project. (Read more here!) This recital was a performance in Hungary, consisting of music in English, Italian, French, German, and Hungarian. My Hungarian family was able to attend the performance, which meant so much to me, since they have only gotten to see me perform via video. I turned my recital into a lecture-type one, explaining the history and meaning of each of my pieces before singing them (in Hungarian of course!).
The masterclass I took part in was during my time with Chicago Summer Opera, and it was with world-renowned soprano Nicole Cabell! Needless to say, I was very very nervous. I was singing an aria from the opera Alcina by Handel, and she was about to make her Alcina debut a month later! I would soon find that my nervousness was not necessary, as she was very kind and helpful. I truly enjoyed working with her.
I hope you enjoyed my "Wrapped" for 2025! It has been an honor blogging my life here this year, and I look forward to continuing next year!!
