Scholars' Showcase 2025

Italian opera is certainly not the center of the overall art of Opera however, for many young musicians it is the gateway to a larger worldview of storytelling. As musicians in the arts, the main goal every artist pursues is to tell a story. In this presentation I will cover how Italian opera came to be, its history, notable composers, historic venues, singers and most importantly why Italian opera specifically is important to the music world today. How this genre impacts young singers, people currently working in the field, and how a lot of young musicians make it, and what they specifically study to be competent in this. My own personal experience abroad giving me an up-close look into Italian culture, and much of what goes into professional productions and concerts, coaching from experts in Italian language and opera pedagogy has given me much insight into this world. This presentation, through encompassing the history of opera's roots, to how these roots are still so influential to young singers today directly pertains to the interdisciplinary degree in music and social sciences I am pursuing at Graceland University.