In March, students at Rankin Elementary were fortunate to be part of collaboration with the University of Michigan-Flint’s Opera Workshop. On March 11, several UM-F students, who are studying music education, came to teach lessons about opera in Mrs. Hall’s music class. Then, on March 13, those classes and several others were invited to watch the Opera Workshop performance of The Three Little Pigs. It was fantastic and had students on the edge of their seats. UM-Flint students mixed the theatrical tale, with operatic arias from Mozart. Dr. Josua May directed the show and Frank Pitts, a UM-Flint lecturer in music, played the piano accompaniment for this production. The one act opera, arranged by John Davies, touched on topics such as bullying and literacy.

The production is part of an ongoing UM-Flint opera outreach series. It includes nine performances at area schools and venues for K-5 students, with the final show May 1 at the Flint Public Library.