Young Voices member Eleanor Lucas performs an excerpt from The Lovesick Skunk. Photo by Adrift a Dream Photography for the Santa Fe Opera. Courtesy/SFO
SFO News:
SANTA FE — The Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera will present Stories that Sing! An Operatic Musical Showcase for free at 3 p.m., April 25 at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, featuring 18 students. Reservations are required at www.santafeopera.org/whats-on/young-voices-final-showcase.
This year’s showcase includes the world premiere of The Lovesick Skunk composed by New Mexico’s own Beth Ratay with a libretto by Andrea Fellows Fineberg based on the book by Joe Hayes, alongside scenes from Don Giovanni, The Tales of Hoffmann, Die Fledermaus, Hansel and Gretel, Lakmé, Into the Woods, Spamalot and The Marriage of Figaro.
Stories that Sing! also features members of the Young Technicians of Santa Fe Opera, who will provide technical support for the show in stage management, wardrobe and run crew. Under the new direction of R.L. Mirabal, the Young Technicians program has completed its first full year of programming and workshops in several years, following the pandemic. The scenes are directed by Santa Fe Opera staff members Mariah Bolla Olesen and Koppány Pusztai, and Santa Fe’s acclaimed Exodus Ensemble founding member, Zoe Lesser.
Under the leadership of Amy Owens, the Young Voices program has flourished in recent seasons, expanding participation and deepening its impact through performances, mentorship and educational programming. “The young singers involved in this program are both talented and disciplined, honing their craft in a targeted mastery program that develops character and collaboration alongside individual skill,” says Amy.
Young Voices participants will take the stage locally before traveling to New York City for a performance at Carnegie Hall on May 26, marking a major milestone in the program’s ongoing growth and national visibility. Further, the program expands its impact through a new collaboration with the National Youth Opera Academy, launching an intensive summer program for high school vocalists from July 29 – August 8. Rooted in the Santa Fe Opera’s longstanding commitment to nurturing emerging artists, this summer intensive offers advanced training, mentorship and performance opportunities alongside leading professionals, including Santa Fe Opera artists Melanie Bacaling, Will Liverman and Sun-Ly Pierce. Participants will prepare and perform in a fully staged and orchestrated opera while also engaging directly with Santa Fe Opera productions and artists. For more information or to apply, visit nationalyouthopera.com. Reflects Amy, “These new and expansive opportunities for the Young Voices are only possible because of the ongoing support of our community members who believe in this program, in these students, and in the abundant future that awaits those who are entrenched in the arts from a young age. It is thrilling to be able to broaden their scope beyond New Mexico!”
How to Join the Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera
Applications for the Young Voices program are now open and will be accepted through April 4, with auditions scheduled to take place in May. Young singers rising in grades 9 through 12 from across the region are encouraged to apply and become part of a vibrant musical community focused on artistic excellence, collaboration and personal growth. The program is a great first step in a young singer’s mastery of their craft.
For Calendar Keepers
The Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera present Stories that Sing! a musical journey of operatic and theatrical fairytales, legends and beloved stories.
What: Stories that Sing! An Operatic Musical Showcase
Who: Presented by the Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera
Where: The Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
When: April 25, 2026, at 3 pm
Tickets: Entry is FREE!
About the Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera
The Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera engages high school students with talent and passion to explore their artistic potential. Students receive free voice instruction, musical coaching and training in diction, music theory and acting from Santa Fe Opera artists and staff. Through master classes, cultural experiences, community engagement and performance opportunities, these emerging artists build confidence, develop stage presence and establish a strong musical foundation. The school-year program culminates in a public showcase celebrating their growth and achievement. Since its 2008 founding, the program has supported more than 100 young vocalists—many of whom continue to integrate music into their studies, careers and creative lives.
About the Young Technicians of the Santa Fe Opera
The Young Technicians program is designed to introduce high school students to the many aspects of technical theater employed in opera productions and the process used by creative teams to take a score/libretto from the page to the stage. Areas addressed include scenic construction and painting, lighting and projections, properties, costuming and stage management along with the understanding of aesthetic issues in performance planning, design, preparation, realization and management of the production. The studio and production program consists of after school workshops, weekend intensives, and summer opportunities taught by opera staff, and visiting technical professionals.
About The Santa Fe Opera
Named “Festival of the Year” in 2022 by the International Opera Awards, the Santa Fe Opera annually draws 85,000 people from New Mexico and around the globe. Nestled atop a mountain vista in northern New Mexico, the company’s iconic Crosby Theatre is open on three sides, allowing visitors to enjoy performances complemented by the elements. Since 1957, the company has presented over 2,000 performances of 180 operas by 92 composers spanning five centuries of opera, creating a legacy of 45 American premieres and 19 world premieres. 2026 Season tickets and information can be found at santafeopera.org.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the Santa Fe Opera
Opera has the power to speak truth, broaden perspectives and invite empathy. The Santa Fe Opera is committed to the continuous work of becoming an antiracist and anti-oppressive organization and incorporating the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Our goal is to create a joyful and engaging environment in which a diverse community of artists, staff, volunteers and audiences alike belong.