Oklahoma City University OPERAtions is a student-run organization that focuses on learning about and performing operas and is headed by co-executive directors Maeve Sullivan and Camryn Creech.
Creech described it as, “an opportunity for people to perform,” as well as explaining that “it’s a way for people to get something under their resume, do something for the fun of it, or even just be introduced to opera.”
Her co-director Sullivan added to this by saying, “OPERAtions is about having fun in opera.”
Both are senior vocal majors who have some experience with the organization, Sullivan explained that she performed for OPERAtions her sophomore year and cited one of her reasons for stepping up to the director role as, “wanting an experience to direct because I haven’t gotten to do that since Covid-19.”
Creech explained that this is her second year on the OPERAtions team, saying, “I was assistant director last year, but then I kind of got shifted to director.”
The pair opened up about how auditions work for the organization, with Sullivan explaining that the two sit through opera auditions for the Wanda L. Bass School of Music and contact students who caught their interest.
Those students then need to go through callbacks and, if they make the cut, start rehearsals, but Creech explained that others can audition for the organization by submitting a form on the OPERAtion Instagram bio.
Sullivan explained that after the cast is selected, they go through a three-week rehearsal process with two weeks being music rehearsal and one week of staging.
Sullivan said that, “we usually perform in the Petree Recital Hall in the Wanda L. Bass School of Music, but we are also planning on trying to do master classes and using different rehearsal spaces that are available to us.”
She explained that OPERAtions is looking to expand their events, with jam sessions and opera movie nights.
Sullivan explained the jam sessions in more depth by saying, “they’re open to literally anyone, just bring your own instrument, go to Petree and make music for fun. Not just opera, anything, we’re trying to get away from major genres in the School of Music and just do music for fun.”
Earlier this year OPERAtions held their first performance, “Opera’s Greatest Hits,” which Creech described as, “songs you wouldn’t know just by hearing the name, but when you hear them you’d be like, ‘Oh, I know that.”
Sullivan said, “everyone who is interested in music should reach out,” and said the main goal of OPERAtions is to, “let people know that there are contemporary opera composers that make really great music and that it can be fun and silly.”
Creech added to this by saying, “opera has a stereotype of being boring and long, but it’s an old stereotype. It is so beautiful and fun, it is an art form and I think it’s really important for people to understand that.”
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