Sum-summer-summertime

I heart summer! I adore laying by the pool with a cool umbrella drink, I love going to the Ohio State Fair (there are usually some fine looking bulls there) and I fancy walking around Goodale Park on a warm summer evening. But, what I love most about summer is Opera Columbus' summer camp!

And, Opera Columbus has one fine summer camp, if I do say so myself! This year's camp was held in July on the campus of The Ohio State University (the alma mater of one amazing cow, *ahem* moi). Even though I no longer make the age break to be a camper, I love helping out and watching the performances. (I'm also in the process of encouraging Eric, our Director of Education & Outreach, to include a cow as the lead in next year's summer camp performance, but that's a post for a different day.)

Let me tell fill you in with some of the details of about our fun summer program. To make sure everyone gets the best experience we break the camp into two sections.

First, there is the Opera Columbus Summer Camp for ages 8 - 13. This section introduces participants to the world of opera focusing on music, drama, movement, stage craft and visual art. Their portion of the camp concluded with a performance with Opera professionals in an abridged version of Hansel and Gretel. Here's a clip of two of our professionals singing "Evening Prayer" as part of the final performance:


The second part of our summer camp is called the Opera Columbus Academy. The Academy is designed for ages 14 -18 as a pre-professional training program that provides vocal students in-depth training and helps them prepare for college auditions, etc. Their portion of the camp concluded with selections from Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance. Those young singers were amazing and I had a blast hanging out with all of them. Here I am warming up with some of the girls before the show:

So if you know any kids or calves that want to give life on the stage a try, it's not too early to start thinking about camp for next year. Shoot my buddy, Eric, an e-mail. (E-mails supporting a cow as the lead in next year's summer camp performance should also go to Eric.)

Start Spreading the Moos!

My, oh my! I do declare, I am a little flabbergasted!

I was cruising the Internet today with my co-worker, Eric (OC's Director of Education and Outreach). We were catching up on Twitter and saw that Carl had a tweet with a link to an article talking about our friends at Opera Cleveland. So of course we clicked on the link to read about Carl (have I mentioned that I adore this chicken?) and the exciting things going on at Cleveland Opera.

Eric I and were so surprised to see that yours truly was mentioned in the article!


Not just any bovine gets her name in the press! I can't wait to e-mail the girls back home about my media mention. Watch out world - this cow is going places!

I Say Hello

Moo, moo, moo, moo, moo!

I am thrilled to be typing my first blog! It took some time to convince my Opera Columbus co-workers that I was Web-worthy. But, thanks to Carl (I love you Carl!), Opera Cleveland's Opera Chicken, and some conversations at the Opera America conference in June, here I am.

(Even before I was officially hired, they put me to work. Here I am passing out programs at our Summer Camp performance.)

Let me tell you a little bit about life before Opera Columbus hired their newest, and most talented, staff member. I grew up on a farm just outside Columbus and mooved to the big city for college. After graduating from The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) I worked a few odd jobs (waitressing, temping, filing and even dabbled in real estate). During that time I got to experience a lot of the amazing things Columbus has to offer, *ahem* like Opera Columbus. But, during the same time I kept hearing people call my beloved city a *gasp* cowtown.

So when I heard Opera Columbus was looking for someone fabulous to write their blog about how awesome Opera Columbus, and Columbus in general, is I jumped on the chance.

Honey, let me tell you something. I am one cool, opera-loving, Columbus-adoring, cow. I am here to take back the cow in cowtown!