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Stuart’s Opera House Expands After-School Music Program
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Stuart’s Opera House is expanding its newly created after-school music program and is accepting applications from students between the ages of 13 and 18 interested in joining, but the deadline is fast approaching.
The new session starts on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15.
The opera house launched the program in the fall with the goal of creating a space where teens could gain confidence, build skills through music and receive hands-on instruction — all for free.
Students learn to play instruments, like the guitar, drums, bass, keyboards and vocals. No previous experience is necessary.
Students also are provided with homework help along with reading and writing enrichment activities based on music and art.
Brother and sister Lucien and Emylee Lent have been in the program since it launched and say it’s been a fun experience that they’d recommend to their friends. Lucien, 13, plays guitar. Emylee, 15, plays drums.
Both had musical experience before joining, but Emylee was new to the drums.
“I play the tuba in the high school band,” she said. “But I’ve been interested in playing the drums for a while. This has really improved my drumming.”
With the program’s expansion, local musician Laura Nadeau will be joining Adam Remnant in the instruction.
The program serves as one slice of the opera house’s Childrens Educational Program, which serves close to 8,000 students a year, according to Brian Koscho, marketing director.
The programs are supported by the Epstein-Teicher Philanthropies, The Ohio Arts Council, Gibson Foundation, Rocky Community Improvement Fund and the Johnny B Fund.
The after-school music class meets Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville and runs through May.
For more information and to get an application, contact Koscho at Stuart’s Opera House at (740) 753-1924 or e-mail brian@stuartsoperahouse.org.
Applications are also available at the Stuart’s Opera House office at 46 Public Square in Nelsonville, all seven branches of the Athens County Library System, Nelsonville Middle School and Nelsonville High School.