Professional Opera Experience

Performing in a summer production with the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre was "a perfect way to get my feet wet and meet new people in the opera scene," says senior Matt Roberts. Both Roberts and junior Ben Parker performed in the chorus of Elixir of Love by Donizetti as part of the theatre's 2007 Young Artists Program.

The experience had a significant impact on Roberts, especially. "Hearing more mature voices and singing with an amazing chorus helped me to decide that this is what I would like to do with my life," he says. 

"I had the opportunity to meet with many extraordinary people, all of them wonderfully helpful and friendly," adds Parker. 

Roberts and Parker have also enjoyed roles in Lyric Theatre productions on campus. Roberts performed as David in Samuel Barber's A Hand of Bridge, and Parker played Tobias in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. 

Both students say the college's talented and engaged faculty is the best aspect of studying music at Cornell. 

"Every time I go for a lesson or to choir practice I am amazed at how much material we can cover and just how much we can accomplish in such a short space of time," says Parker.