Do you need a one-credit honors course for Spring?

01/23/20

Contributed by Omar Stoute

Do you need a one-credit honors course for Spring? You might consider signing up for the opera immersion seminar, including a trip to NYC to attend Massanet’s Werther at the Met! This is a unique opportunity for experiential learning, taught by our excellent School of Music faculty, Dr. Timothy Johnson and Dr. Ivy Walz.

Details below and attached.

Honors Seminar: Opera Immersion, HNRS 23008 (CRN 41824)

Thursdays, 6:00-7:40pm, February 13 – April 2 (First half of the semester)

Students will study and discuss Massenet’s opera Werther, preparing for and leading to attending a performance of to see Jules Massanet’s Werther at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on Saturday, March 28, 2020.

Taught by School of Music faculty members, Dr. Timothy Johnson and Dr. Ivy Walz

What have other honors students said who have taken this course?

Hearing the music and the performers singing live actually gave me chills!
I never imagined myself humming the music (or trying to sing in French while I’m

cleaning dishes or studying for anatomy) because I didn’t think this type of music could really “get stuck in my head” like popular music does. Yet, I think this has occurred because I gave the music a chance.

Upon entering this class, I had no knowledge of opera. ... Without this class I probably would have never understood what opera really is.
I thought that opera was only for old, rich, snobby people and that I had no business going to one. However, these thoughts have all changed because of taking this class.
Overall, I am not only amazed that I was able to experience the Met and La Fille du Regiment, but I am blessed to have this exposure. I can truly say that I will never forget it nor my newfound knowledge of opera!
If you were to ask me what I thought I would have learned about opera in the beginning of the semester, I would have said something along the lines of “things about opera.” I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but boy, did I enjoy it.

Alicia Swords, Ph.D.

She/her/hers
Director, Ithaca College Honors Program
Associate Professor of Sociology
Peggy Ryan Williams Center 072
Ithaca Colleg

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