Drake Opera Theatre has a distinct mission: To help every student as they find their own unique path in the arts and through life on and off the stage. This mission guides us as we select repertoire, assign roles, and create learning and development opportunities in our productions and beyond.
Drake Opera Theatre has two productions every year:
A fall scenes program
A full spring production
Fall scenes present a variety of works from across the repertoire, giving students a chance to learn about both old masterworks and new compositions alike.
Spring productions are full productions with an orchestra, focusing on staple works, as well as new compositions. Past productions include Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte, Verdi’s Falstaff, Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, Ned Rorem’s Our Town,and Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel.
The Drake University voice area has frequent masterclasses with industry-leading performers, teachers, directors, and coaches. Recent clinicians include:
Eric Ferring: Metropolitan Opera tenor, a former Ryan Center artist, and recipient of the George London Award.
Allen Periello: Coach/pianist/former Head of Music at Minnesota Opera; current Director of Artist Administration at Des Moines Metropolitan Opera.
Melissa Wegner: Executive Director of the Lindemann Young Artist program at the Metropolitan Opera
Francesca Condeluci: Director of Classical at UIA Talent Agency.
What Makes Drake Opera Theatre Unique?
Drake Opera Theatre has the best of both worlds: quality productions and the chance to gain real experience. Don’t be forced to pick between competing with graduate students and missing out on leading roles or being limited to black box productions with piano. Drake Opera Theatre gives you both quality and accessibility.
Opera is more than just performing and the ensemble offers learning opportunities that go far beyond performance, including assistant conducting and directing, and aiding and learning about various elements of production.
Drake Opera Theatre is about more than just performing opera. We connect and empower students, the Department of Music, and the wider Des Moines community through powerful performances and outreach.
The Drake Opera Theatre Team
One of the things Drake Opera Theatre prides itself on is the sense of community and collaboration. We are stronger together and have turned the Drake Opera Theatre into a truly communal effort, dubbing ourselves the Drake Opera Theatre Team.
Christine Blanner: Director of Drake Opera Theatre
Cassie Makeeff: Musical Director of Drake Opera Theatre