NEW DATE:  JANUARY 31

Young singers from across South Arkansas will have the unique opportunity at auditions on Wednesday, January 31 to be a part of a professional production when the South Arkansas Arts Center teams up with the South Arkansas Symphony to present the children’s choir in the “Hansel and Gretel” opera this spring. Led by instructor Charlsie Langley, the youth choir will perform alongside the world-class professional musicians and special guest of the South Arkansas Symphony under the direction of maestro Kermit Poling on April 27, 2024.

“This is a unique opportunity for rising young singers to perform alongside professional, adult musicians,” said SAAC’s executive director Laura Allen. “This collaboration with the South Arkansas Symphony is a great way for students to experience singing on a new level.”

The children’s choir is open to students in grades 2-8, and auditions will be held on Wednesday, January 31 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The singers who are selected will meet weekly with Ms. Charlsie at SAAC during the same Wednesday time period until the production. The performance will be held at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, with a few additional onstage rehearsals in the days immediately prior.

“Hansel and Gretel” was written and composed in 1890 when the well-respected German composer Englebert Humperdinck was approached by his sister with the idea of setting some of her songs to music and telling the story of the Brothers Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel. Their collaboration turned it into a full-length opera, and it is a masterpiece that continues to be performed by opera companies all over the world.

Poling said, “This will be the first opera produced by the symphony in my 30 year tenure. We have a terrific cast, so anyone who participates will get to be a part of this with some of the finest voices in the region. Our amazing symphony will be performing the score, of course, and we have a terrific New York based director – Patric McWilliams – who will stage the opera.”

For auditions, students should be prepared to sing a brief selection of their choice. Call SAAC at 870-862-5474 with any questions.

Students are ask to visit the Arts Academy class registration portal below to pre-register before audition so we know to expect you on January 31. But walk-in are welcome too!