Program Overview
Explore ground-breaking and genre-defying operatic experiences.
A sign language production? Collaborative operatic improvisation? Our award-winning opera studies program creates musical performance experiences unlike any other. You will combine technique-building workshops with productions with your peers to hone your skills as a singing actor.
Opera Studies Experience
With both a focus on building an individual repertoire and crafting a versatile onstage presence with your peers, our opera studies program aims to develop you into a well-rounded singing actor. The complex emotional and technical demands of opera are mastered through many performance opportunities, including the mainstage opera performed annually with a full orchestra.
Performance Opportunities
In addition to a winter mainstage production, during fall and spring terms, opera scenes allow you to explore individual scenes from many operas to gain exposure to a wide variety of operatic repertoire.
Award-worthy Performances
Lawrentians have gone on to win major competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition, and more. Our on-campus productions are regularly recognized by prestigious awards like the American Prize.
Advising
At Lawrence, academic advising helps you shape an educational experience that reflects your interests, goals, and aspirations. Your faculty advisor will support you as you plan your path, connect with campus resources and communities, and make informed decisions that prepare you for a meaningful and fulfilling future.
Faculty
Engage deeply and collaboratively with professors who are experts in their field and committed to supporting your education.
All Faculty
Kristin L. Roach (she/her)
Assistant Professor of Music
Kristin Roach is a Grammy-nominated pianist and international conductor with 40+ new operas and 20+ world premieres under her baton. She has received nine American Prize nominations, including first prize…
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Copeland Woodruff (he/him/his)
Mary and Michael Jaharis Director of Opera Studies and Associate Professor of Music
copeland.woodruff@lawrence.edu
Copeland Woodruff is currently the director of opera studies at Lawrence University, Conservatory of Music. He has been on the directing and production staffs of the New York City Opera,…
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Operatic Sign Language
Exploring Communication Through Opera. Twenty-one members of the Lawrence University Opera Theatre Ensemble spent two weeks over their winter break learning American Sign Language (ASL). Why would opera singers need to know ASL? In a twist on the original production of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, Director of Opera Studies and Associate Professor of Music Copeland Woodruff incorporated a Deaf character into the production, resulting in an exploration of communication breakdowns when opposing sides work to understand each other and move forward together.
