The Worth of a Man: The Life of Winfield Scott Stratton

The Colorado Springs Conservatory presents

The Worth of a Man: The Life of Winfield Scott Stratton

An original one-act opera composed by the students of the 2009 Summer Performing Arts Intensive at Central City Opera.

Doors open at 12:00 Noon for Family Activities

Tickets $10 per person, $25 for families of three or more at the door.

All proceeds benefit the Pioneers Museum.

The students from the Colorado Springs Conservatory/ Central City Opera Summer 2009 Performing Arts Intensive will be reviving their original opera about Winfield Scott Stratton. Students from the program include the auditioned students ages 14-19 years old from across the country, state and region. Students collaborated under the mentorship of Mr. Roger Ames, Internationally renowned composer and educator. This twenty-member student team explores the life of this extraordinary man who was so critical in the creation of the city of Colorado Springs. The opera brings Stratton and many other historical personalities to life while coming to terms with the larger question of “legacy” and what it means.

The Colorado Springs Conservatory (CSC) and Central City Opera (CCO) have offered this unique summer program for students ages 14 to 19 years of age since 2002. Students audition for this two-week intensive. Students room and board at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) and may receive college credit for the learning experience. While at UCCS students participate in daily theater, dance, and music classes and workshops as they relate to musical theater, opera, and drama. A scenes program is created from these classes and includes material that coincides with the annual theme. The 2009 theme was “Rags to Riches” and coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Gold Rush in Colorado. Students were able to study various stories relative to their own culture here, in the Pikes Peak region. Material from the various mediums is explored, rehearsed and performed under the guidance of the assembled staff of brilliant artists and educators. Alongside the scenes program are workshops where students collaborate and compose their original opera with Mr. Ames. “The Worth of a Man” was received with critical acclaim both in Colorado Springs and in Central City. Both the scenes program and the original opera are performed for the public and various youth groups.

For more information, call the Colorado Springs Conservatory at 719-577-4556 or visit www.coloradospringsconservatory.org.

For information about the Summer Performing Arts Intensive, visit our Youth Education page.