Since 2005, Opera Grand Rapids has hosted a consortium of colleges and universities. Students who attend schools in the OGR Collegiate Consortium benefit from free application to the VanderLaan Prize, access to master classes and student recitals, and tickets to Opera Grand Rapids productions, among other benefits.
Schools derive benefit from Consortium membership by pooling funds with other area colleges and universities to facilitate group educational events at Opera Grand Rapids. Students are able to gain professional exposure and build community with their peers in the region at dozens of annual Consortium events.
Consortium schools must provide OGR with both a faculty point person or persons and a list of names and email addresses of all students in the voice area.
Contact
Emilee Syrewicze
esyrewicze@operagr.org
(616) 451-2741
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Level 2
Membership Price: $2,500
- Free application to the VanderLaan Prize
- Participation in two master classes with OGR artists in Grand Rapids
- Participation in two student recitals
- Attendance at vocal health lecture
- Admission to VanderLaan Prize Lectures
- Access to all rehearsals
- OGR Chorus auditions at your campus
- School recognition in all opera programs
- 20 free tickets to all Grand Operas
- 20 free tickets to all Contemporary & Explore Opera events
- Private coachings and career mentorship from OGR Artistic Staff
- Master class with an OGR artist at your campus
Level 1
Membership Price: $1,000
- Free application to the VanderLaan Prize
- Participation in two master classes with OGR artists in Grand Rapids
- Participation in two student recitals
- Attendance at vocal health lecture
- Admission to VanderLaan Prize Lectures
- Access to all rehearsals
- OGR Chorus auditions at your campus
- School recognition in all opera programs
- 20 free tickets to all Grand Operas
Average Market Price
Membership Value: $7,000
- Free application to the VanderLaan Prize $500 for 10 students
- Participation in two master classes with OGR artists in Grand Rapids $400 for 2 students
- Participation in two student recitals $250 for 2 students
- Attendance at vocal health lecture $1,000
- Admission to VanderLaan Prize Lectures $100 for 10 students
- Access to all rehearsals
- OGR Chorus auditions at your campus
- School recognition in all opera programs $750
- 20 free tickets to all Grand Operas $200
- 20 free tickets to all Contemporary & Explore Opera events $300
- Private coachings and career mentorship from OGR Artistic Staff $1,500
- Master class with an OGR artist at your campus $2,000
2023/24 CALENDAR
Week of
September 18
Chorus Auditions
On Your Campus
Schools have the opportunity to schedule chorus auditions on their campus at any point this week. Schools must provide their own pianist. Selected singers will participate in both the Chorus Concert and La bohème.
September 27–
October 11
Die Entführung aus dem Serail Rehearsals
Betty Van Andel Opera Center and Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
Students and professors may coordinate with OGR to observe any facet of the rehearsal process, from the first music rehearsal to the final dress rehearsal.
October 11
4:00 PM
Master class with an OGR artist
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
One or two students from each school may sing for and receive feedback from an acclaimed artist in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Anyone may attend. After the master class, all attendees will be served pizza and may stay for the dress rehearsal at 7:00 pm.
October 13 7:30 PM
OR October 14 7:30 PM
Die Entführung aus dem Serail Performance
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
Each school receives up to 20 free student tickets to attend either performance.
November 7
7:30 PM
Student Recital: Cabaret
Betty Van Andel Opera Center
Participating students may prepare one or two cabaret numbers to sing for other Consortium schools. Think musical theatre, jazz…burlesque! This unique performance opportunity allows students to network with their peers in the region. A light reception will follow.
January 23–
February 7
The Tibetan Book of the Dead Rehearsals
Betty Van Andel Opera Center
Students and professors may coordinate with OGR to observe any facet of the rehearsal process, from the first music rehearsal to the final dress rehearsal.
February 9 7:30 pm
OR February 10 7:30 pm
The Tibetan Book of the Dead Performance
Betty Van Andel Opera Center
Each Level 2 school receives up to 20 free student tickets to attend either performance.
Based on Jean-Claude van Itallie’s play after the Buddhist teachings of the same name, The Tibetan Book of the Dead leads us through the stages we experience after death and our transition into the next life.
February 12
11:59 PM
VanderLaan Prize Application Deadline
Virtual
All students who attend Consortium schools may apply for free to the VanderLaan Prize. Additionally, the first five students to apply from each Consortium school are guaranteed to advance past prescreening, so they will all receive detailed feedback from three adjudicators.
The application opens October 2, 2023.
February 19
7:30 PM
Demystifying the Voice Workshop
Betty Van Andel Opera Center
Dr. Rachael Gates, author of The Owner’s Manual to the Voice, is the Vocal Health Specialist for the College Music Society’s Committee on Musicians’ Health. She will cover topics from Anatomy through Z-packs in this practical presentation on vocal health. Learn what is actually happening when you “lose your voice,” explore diet and lifestyle choices to improve performance, familiarize yourself with common voice pathologies, and discover ways to optimize your speaking voice.
March 14
7:30 PM
Opera is Lit
Venue TBD
…literature, that is!
Musicologist Camellia Adams curates an event that aims to explore the connection between music and text. This year’s theme is the Greek mythological influence on opera.
Each Level 2 school receives up to 20 free student tickets.
March 18
7:30 PM pm
Student Recital: Chanson
Betty Van Andel Opera Center
Participating students may prepare one or two French chansons (secular or sacred, from any era) to sing for other Consortium schools. This unique performance opportunity allows students to network with their peers in the region. A light reception will follow.
March 23
2:00 PM
VanderLaan Prize Lectures
Betty Van Andel Opera Center
The three adjudicators of the VanderLaan Prize each give short, interactive lectures on the opera industry today. Previous lecturers have included a GRAMMY winner, artists featured in Pulitzer Prize-winning works, and a MacArthur Fellow.
March 23
7:00PM
VanderLaan Prize Concert
Betty Van Andel Opera Center
Each school receives up to 20 free student tickets.
The top ten students from around the nation compete for one of the largest purses available for undergraduates.
April
1–17
La bohème Rehearsals
Betty Van Andel Opera Center and DeVos Performance Hall
Students and professors may coordinate with OGR to observe any facet of the rehearsal process, from the first music rehearsal to the final dress rehearsal.
April 17,
4:00 PM
Master class with an OGR artist
DeVos Performance Hall
One or two students from each school may sing for and receive feedback from an acclaimed artist in La bohème. Anyone may attend. After the master class, all attendees will be served pizza and may stay for the dress rehearsal at 7:00 pm.
April 19 7:30 pm
OR April 20 7:30 pm
La bohème Performance
DeVos Performance Hall
Each school receives up to 20 free student tickets to attend either performance.
2022/23 MEMBERS
