Linwood A+ Elementary fourth graders create Minnesota opera that was 150 years in the making

Linwood A+ Elementary fourth graders create Minnesota opera that was 150 years in the making
3/12/2008 2:03 PM

Office of Community Relations

Contact: Howie Padilla, Office: (651) 767-8104

Saint Paul, Minn – For 150 years, Minnesota has evolved into the great state it is today. For two days this week, Linwood A+ Elementary fourth grade students will bring the state’s sesquicentennial into operatic focus.

Thursday, March 13th at 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 14 at 9:30 a.m.
Linwood A+ Elementary School
1023 Osceola Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55105

For this, the 13th year that Linwood A+ Elementary fourth graders have created an original Fourth Grade Opera, students focused on the milestone. The opera begins with a school chorus performing at a sesquicentennial celebration. Students in the chorus are suddenly transported through time and encounter farmers, loggers and fur traders, learning firsthand what life was like in the 1800’s.

It took Linwood students 15 days to create the opera, which included creating an original story, composing songs and working out the dance choreography. Students also designed the sets, auditioned and rehearsed until this point, when they are ready to perform.

Linwood A+ Elementary School is one of Saint Paul Public Schools high-demand, successful magnet programs and is set to expand in the coming school year. The focus of Linwood’s A+ program is to infuse the arts and other academic core subject areas. The fourth grade opera is a rich example of arts infusion at its best. The arts residency is an annual right-of-passage for fourth graders at Linwood A+ who collaborate with classroom teachers, art specialists and composer-in-residence Stephen Houtz.

For more information about the opera, Principal Steven Unowsky, Arts Coordinator and Vocal Music Specialist Kim Kroetsch and Drama Specialist Edward Williams, Jr. are available for interviews.