ROCopera, a new opera collection, was created to broaden opera’s reach in the Rochester area by reimagining and reinterpreting existing classical vocal music through a contemporary lens; by promoting new works for the classical voice; and by bringing opera out of the concert hall and into everyday spaces. The goal is to create opera that is with, by, and for the people of Rochester.
ROCopera is the brainchild of three professional opera singers. Elisabeth Halliday-Quan, Soprano, works with established and emerging composers to commission and premiere new classical vocal repertoire. She is co-founder and artist of the New York City-based commissioning opera ensemble Rhymes With Opera and trained at the Peabody Conservatory. Heather Holmquest, Soprano, is a singer, music theorist, and voice pedagogue who has established herself as a sacred and early music specialist. She is the soprano choral scholar at Third Presbyterian Church and trained at Knox College and the University of Oregon. Kerri Lynn Slominski, Soprano, dominates the stage with commanding force, delightful comedic timing, and continues to create memorable performances throughout the United States and Italy. Trained at the Peabody Conservatory and Boyer College of Music and Dance, she strives to make opera accessible to all generations by providing “no-holds-barred” experiences.
Together, these women have assembled a growing team of local professional opera singers and instrumentalists, creating a regional opera collective. ROCopera will be both a producing organization and a mechanism for promoting and supporting the work of our local artists.
ROCopera’s inaugural season will begin online. The trio is excited by the challenge of bringing a traditional medium into the digital age, exploring community collaboration and audience engagement in the time of COVID-19.
To learn more, connect with ROCopera on Facebook (ROCopera), Twitter (@ROC_opera), or Instagram (roc_opera).
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