Elon students and alumni participated in an International Opera Program in Florence, Italy.
This past month, six Elon students and alumni participated in a summer Opera Workshop course at Accademia Europea di Firenze in Florence, Italy, led by Senior Lecturer in Music Polly Cornelius.
The students, Tara Venkataraman ’25, Matt Boyle ’24, Katherine Kapp ’25, Sadie Margolis ’25, Aidan Levinson ’23 and Eva Pierce ’23, performed solos and ensemble numbers on two public opera and jazz concerts in Orti di Pinti and the famous Saint James Church. The program culminated with the students singing in the ensemble and smaller roles in a performance of La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi.
They performed alongside other students from around the world who also participated in the course, as well as regional professional Italian opera singers who sang the leading roles.
Rocco Sharkey ’19 is living and performing in Italy and sang the leading tenor role of Alfredo. The production was accompanied by a string ensemble, “Il contrappunto,” and conducted by Cristiano Manzoni.