Sixteen Lynchburg College music students and five members of Cantate, the Children's and Youth Choir in residence at Lynchburg College will appear in Opera on the James' spring production of Puccini's La Boheme April 18 at 7:30 p.m. and April 20 at 3 p.m. in the Academy of Fine Arts Warehouse Theater in downtown Lynchburg.
Matthew Vickers, a junior music major from Telford Pennsylvania, will sing the role of Parpignol, a toy seller, and other students will portray minor roles in the opera.
"This is a unique opportunity for our voice students to be a part of fully staged professional opera production and is a good example of one of the many opportunities the LC music program offers," said Dr. Jong Kim, LC professor of music and director of choral activities, who serves a chorus master for Opera on the James. "We have been a partner with this professional opera company since its first production, and our students have performed in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci and Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. As this partnership continues, our voice students' musical growth will be greatly enhanced," he added.