WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THEIR ITALIAN OPERATIC EXPERIENCE

I just wanted to thank you for the opportunities you provided me through the program. Focusing on my singing daily in beautiful Urbania was absolutely paradisal. Not only did my Italian near fluency while I added to my performance experience, but personally the program was an indispensable confirmation of my desire to pursue singing. Late start or no, I am going to work on it. Thank you.
Emma Vewter '09

This summer has been amazing! I have learned more in the past few weeks than I ever thought was possible. I cannot thank you enough for giving me this opportunity to perform in such a grand setting. I have met some incredible individuals, worked with geniuses, and sang music I thought I would never sing. This was all made possible by your generosity. There are no words to express my gratitude for the enormous gift you gave me so that I could be a part of this incredible experience. Because of you, I now have a full operatic role under my belt. There will always be a place in my heart for Urbania and Dulcamara. I think you for taking a chance on me, and for giving me the summer of a lifetime! I also hope that we will be able to work together again someday. Tremendous Thanks.
Robert Quintanilla (Dr. Dulcamara in Elisir d"Amore 09)
Studying in Urbania with the IOE program was one of the best summers I ever had. Urbania was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the teachers were very knowledgeable and supportive. In particular, I loved studying with Judith Haddon, as I felt that she helped me greatly to improve my technique and musicality far beyond what I could've hoped for in the span of 5 weeks. I highly recommend this program!
Anjin Stewart '09, Funai Grad Student --Cincinatti Conversatory
This is long overdue, but I wanted to let you know what a wonderful experience our daughter Lydia had participating in the Italian Operatic Experience. She may have already told you, but I wanted to add my voice as well. I was afraid she might not come home! She absolutely loved her host family (Francesco and Leonarda) and the people of Urbania. She told me that she has never felt so at home anywhere else, except home! She thoroughly enjoyed working with her voice teacher and everyone else involved with the program. She returned here to Indiana speaking Italian very well, cooking us wonderful Italian meals, and is trying desperately to figure out how and when she can return to Italia. This was her first experience overseas, and I can't imagine how it could have been better. So, thank you and all the people from the Italian Operatic Experience! Mother of a student.
Julie Schoonover '09

It truly is an Italian Operatic Experience. I gained so much linguistically and musically through being part of it. The staff of the program were very talented and knowledgeable in their fields and actually had had stage and performance experience. I fell in love with the charming town of Urbania and all of the people. It really is the quintessential little old European town. The teachers of the Scuola Italia were excellent, they really helped us in any way to learn the language. I went to Italy, only having sung Italian and having limited skills in the language, and afterwards felt very comfortable in speaking and singing this beautiful language. I practice my Italian every chance I get now with whoever I can. The program gave me multiple performance opportunities as well, in the opera, scenes, master classes, and performance class. My voice and technique also grew tremendously with daily coaching’s and lessons. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of your program. I would recommend it to anyone.
Rachel Ross '09

The Italian Operatic Experience was one of the most rewarding experiences that I have had thus far with singing. I have done other well known summer programs, but there is something about IOE that is so much more individualized than other programs. Some of these programs are massive, and when I did it there were 72 sopranos attending. It is hard to get much individual attention when there are so many people competing for time and attention from the faculty. The whole experience is very intimate. You get a minimum of bi-weekly lessons with some of the country's best teachers and at least one coaching a week. In addition there are Italian lessons, extensive scene work, and of course the opera. I was always singing when I was there. And the program covers almost all facets of performance that a classical singer does. There was a concert of oratorio, two incredible scene nights, masters classes with arias and art songs, and a fully staged opera with orchestra. The teachers were so eager to help the students with whatever they needed. By the end of the program, I had learned so much that I was a completely different singer than how I arrived. It was an incredible experience.
Karrah '09
My experience in Italy was honestly the best time of my life. Living in the culture for five weeks is not only the best environment to learn the language, but it truly inspired me to sing the Italian repertoire and helped me better communicate what I was trying to convey. The amazing faculty also helped with that. I am very proud of my improvement and I have them to thank for that, not to mention all the amazing special guests and master classes. While singing in Italy was a joy, much fun was had when not singing as well! I made very good friends over there, and I miss them to this day. The whole experience was beautiful!
Brian Patterson '09
There is a reason that some of the world's finest contributions to art, music, and thought have come from Italy, and it is not hard to find inspiration when in this beautiful country. And Urbania is a wonderful place to experience Italian life. The people in Urbania are warm and inviting, and want you to learn and be a part of their culture. It seems that every day there is a new place to discover, a new person to talk to, and new things to learn. I came to think of Urbania as a sort of second home during my 5 weeks there.

But being in Urbania was only part of my experience. Learning the Italian language, working with talented, kind, and nurturing vocal teachers and coaches, and having the opportunity to perform in the Cattedrale di San Cristoforo, the Teatro Bramante, and the Museo Diocesano were all things that made me fall in love with Italy. I was also fortunate to live with a kind and caring Italian family in Urbania, and from them I was able to learn the language and understand the culture. Because I lived with a family, I was able to meet many other locals and participate in community activities, and, in a sense, became a temporary Italian.

Participating in The Italian Operatic Experience gave me so many different opportunities like non I have ever had. My desire now is to find my way back to Italy.
Lydia Dahling '09

The Italian Operatic Experience is exactly the title: The True Italian Experience. With an excellent conductor, coaches, teachers and of course the Italian food, you can't go wrong. This program by far will teach you the experience every singer needs; Being on stage with an amazing orchestra. I had the time of my life and am so thankful I did this program.
Stephanie Kupfer '09
Thank you so much for the opportunity to take part in this “experience”. I had an amazing time. Looking back on the weeks, I realized I have learned more than I ever imagined I would. I made such wonderful connections, had great lessons, and met a ton of great people! Again, I would like to thank you for that. Also, thanks for such a fun role! I would like to be considered to return to your program next summer! Lucas Wood '08

Thanks again for the ABSOUTELY wonderful experience in Italy!
Natalie Ingrisano '08

I want to thank you for everything, I thought that this was an amazing experience in every sense. I learned so much about so many different things and I had the amazing opportunity to travel around Italy. It is like a dream, I cannot even believe it. Thank you so much for believing in me and helping me as much as you did in order for me to be there. I had the opportunity to learn Traviata and work on other things equally important … like my Italian.
Catalina Cuervo '08

The Italian Operatic Experience was a great opportunity as it gave me the chance to perform
My first lead role in a place that is completely welcoming. My experience was perfect for a young singer in a position to gain performance experience in Opera in a low risk setting, while still demanding a high degree of skill and growth.

The IOE faculty claim some great names in the opera world, and the program places you in a position to Work with them in an atmosphere unlike any other. The Italian attitude is one of relaxation or “piano, piano” As they are fond of saying! This attitude is reflected in the faculty’s approach to the student. Our needs were Never overlooked and we were never put in a position where nerves got in the way of examining our skills.

Singing aside, the language classes we took kept us busy! I learned more Italian in a month than I had learned in a year back home! The experience I had this summer was unforgettable both from a professional standpoint and a personal one!
Mark Jurgenson '08

Dear Marianne, I am writing this letter to tell you how grateful I am to have been a part of The Italian Operatic Experience in the summer of 2008. It is one of the most memorable experiences of my life and I am so glad to be able to join you again this coming summer! The program was such a great learning experience. I learned so much in the Italian language classes at Scuola Italia and was even able to have conversations with the locals! Urbania is such a great location for the program. It's a picturesque little town with great food, people and, of course, the beautiful and historical Teatro Bramante. Being able to really be engulfed in Italian culture is just one of the wonderful aspects of your program. I had the chance to not only learn Italian but to actually utilize it in my every day life! The Italian lifestyle is such a wonderful, laid back, and carefree one that even though I was there preparing a role and learning a language, I felt like I was on an extended vacation! But, despite the laid-back feel of the town, there was much work to be done! Preparing the role of Mimi in La Boheme was no easy task but with the help of the wonderful voice faculty, coaches, and conductor I was able to prepare and perform it on August 8. My voice teacher, Judith Haddon, who is on the faculty at IOE, has instilled in me wonderful technique that made singing the role seem almost easy! Having performed the role herself, she was able to provide me with all the tools and information I needed to perform the role successfully. My coachings with conductor David Searle and our wonderful pianist Theresa Kang were also a real pleasure. I felt that it was a true collaboration. The information that I learned about tempi and style will be things I will take with me and utilize if and when I perform the role again! All of the hard work everyone put in definitely paid off! The opera was a huge success! We had wonderfully talented singers and working with the Rossini Orchestra from Pesaro was such an experience. The people of Urbania filled up the Teatro Bramante and enthusiastically applauded us! It was a truly memorable moment in my life. The environment at IOE is definitely one of support. I always felt that the faculty was very supportive and encouraging and always willing to help. The students, also, were very supportive of each other. The friendships that I made at IOE are ones that I will always cherish.

I am so excited to be a part of the program again! I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to experience Italian culture, learn the language, and get the chance to work with world-renowned faculty, and perform an opera at the beautiful Teatro Bramante! Love, Vanessa '08

IOE was a life changing summer program. I learned a lot about what's involved in pursuing a career in opera performance. In addition to eating good food and making new friends, I had the opportunity to study the Italian language everyday and receive personal vocal lessons and coachings during the program. I learned how much dedication and commitment is needed in achieving my goals to be an aspiring opera singer.
Qiana McNary
The IOE program has changed me as a musician, performer, person, student, and mentor. I went into this program with an open mind not knowing...
Ashley Maria Bahri. Read more.