The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish – Public Workshop Performance
Date
March 26th, 2024
Time
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Location
Pensacola Opera
Details
Pensacola Opera is creating a brand new, original children’s opera! With music by local composer Matthew Fossa and a libretto by Joshua Borths, The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish will premiere this fall as part of our 2024-25 education tour.
This special workshop presentation will be the culmination of a two-day process of rehearsing, working, and conferring with the composer and librettist. Our 2023-24 Jan Miller Studio Artists will present a look at where the piece is at this point, previewing some of the songs and dialogue ahead of the premiere this fall. Attendees will also have a chance to learn about the composition and commissioning process and take part in a Q&A session with the creators and artists. This performance is free and open to the public, no reservations required.
The commissioning of The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish is made possible by Diane Appleyard.
ABOUT THE CREATORS
A native of Upstate New York, Matthew Fossa has been a prolific composer for decades. Since attending college in the mid 1990s, he has been constantly composing and arranging music for himself and his many musical colleagues and friends. He has written works ranging from solo instrument pieces to compositions for full band and orchestra. An oboist by trade, Mr. Fossa has been the Principal Oboist of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra since 2002. In 2007, he was appointed to the same position with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and, additionally, has been in the oboe section of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra since 2004. More about Matthew and his work: http://twinreedsmusic.com/
A native of Upstate New York, Matthew Fossa has been a prolific composer for decades. Since attending college in the mid 1990s, he has been constantly composing and arranging music for himself and his many musical colleagues and friends. He has written works ranging from solo instrument pieces to compositions for full band and orchestra. An oboist by trade, Mr. Fossa has been the Principal Oboist of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra since 2002. In 2007, he was appointed to the same position with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and, additionally, has been in the oboe section of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra since 2004. More about Matthew and his work: http://twinreedsmusic.com/
Joshua Borths is a stage director, writer, educator, and administrator with over twelve years of experience in the opera industry. He has directed over twenty-five professional productions, given over five hundred public lectures, and written more than eight children’s operas that have introduced hundreds of thousands of young audiences to opera across the country. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Borths is currently the Resident Scholar of Virginia Opera and the Preview Lecturer of Des Moines Metro Opera. Borths comes to Virginia after having served as the Director of Opera & Musical Theater and Professor of Music History at Capital University in Columbus, OH and as Director of Education at Arizona Opera. More about Joshua and his work: http://operaclassroom.com