Bronxville MS Teacher to Study Opera in Israel This Summer

As students gear up for the end of the school year and look to plan out their summer activities, many area teachers are doing the same.

For Lindsey Blackhurst, a teacher at Bronxville Middle School, her summer plans have her leaving Bronxville and heading to Tel Aviv, Israel.

That's where in July, Blackhurst—who teachers drama and chorus in the middle school—will participate in the International Vocal Arts Institute almost month-long summer opera program.

"I sang classical music but never anticipated falling in love with opera," she said, "In fact, I started singing it when I moved to New York for the challenge and the enjoyment of the music. A couple years ago I discovered that I really love the combination of poetry, theatre, music, and singing that opera has the potential to be."

The program is geared towards beginners up through professionals, according to the IVAI website, with students participating in both stage productions and concerts.

In a typical week, students receive voice lessons, take master classes taught by faculty members, and participate in performances in front of a paying audience, among other activities, according to the fundraising letter Blackhurst received from the Institute.

After sending in an application, she was asked to audition in December in front of a panel of about six people, she said.

But Blackhurst, who directed this year's middle school production of Radio Mystery Theatre, is no stranger to the stage.

"I have always been singing and have always loved it tremendously," she said, "I participated in children's choirs in Colorado and continued all the way through high school."

Blackhurst, who is in her second year teaching in Bronxville, majored in voice and theatre performance at the University of Colorado-Boulder and later went on to get her master's at Teachers College, Columbia University.

While in New York, she's performed in various productions including three with the Regina Opera Company in Brooklyn: as Frasquita in Bizet's Carmen, Norina in Don Pasquale and Zerlina in Don Giovanni.

In addition, she says, "Last summer I participated in Nico and Carol Castel's New York Opera Studio's Summer Intensive and sang in the inaugural concert of the Russian Opera of New York at Merkin Hall under the direction of William Hobbs."

To help raise money for the program, two benefit concerts were held back in April—one at the Village Lutheran Church in Bronxville and one in New York City, which she says went well.

Blackhurst, whose program starts on July 6, is still accepting donations. They can be sent directly to IVAI at 163 Amsterdam Ave., #303, NY, NY, with a note indicating the donation is for Blackhurst.