Music students collaborating with CPCC for opera performance

Nine UNC Charlotte music students will join the cast of Carlisle Floyd’s opera, “Susannah,” in a production presented through a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College’s Opera Theatre program. Performances will be Friday, April 1, through Sunday, April 3, in the Halton Theater on the main campus of Central Piedmont.

The voice students — Nicholas Andruzzi, Sarah Freeman, Kathryn Goretzka, MacKenzie Hall, Sophia Marmolejos, DeLenn Rumbolo, Christian Souza, Zach Voigt and Caleb Wilson — are enrolled in Charlotte’s Department of Music Opera Workshop program, directed by Professor of Voice Brian Arreola.

“it’s a great opportunity for our students,” Arreola said. “It’s almost like singing with a professional company. The level of production and musical value that Central Piedmont’s Opera Theatre program brings to it is probably unparalleled among community colleges. It’s really, really a high level.”

“Susannah” composed by Floyd in the 1950s, has become one of the most-performed American operas. It is loosely based on the apocryphal biblical story of Susannah and the elders with the opera exploring lust, gossip, hypocrisy and ultimately a heroine’s courage in a small Southern town.

Caleb Wilson, a tenor, has a leading role as Susannah’s suitor, Little Bat McLean. Nicholas Andruzzi, Christian Souza and Zach Voigt will perform as elders of the town church, and DeLenn Rumbolo and Kathryn Goretzka, as elders’ wives, have supporting roles. MacKenzie Hall, Sophia Marmolejos, and Sarah Freeman will sing in the opera chorus.

Read the entire story on the College of Arts + Architecture website.