Creating Pathways to a New Profession

By Danica Fisher ’05, December 8, 2021

New Opera Direction Certificate at Ithaca College.

Chuck Hudson staging rehearsal for the Hermann Goetz opera Der Wilderspenstigen Zahmung (The Taming of the Shrew), 2012 at WAAPA in Perth, Australia. (Photo submitted)

The new Opera Direction Certificate at Ithaca College provides a focused way to develop the necessary skills for directing an opera production and aims to support those interested in becoming a confident, successful opera stage director. The program will host its first class during the spring 2022 semester, which will run from January until May.

“The launch of the Opera Direction professional certificate is an exciting first step for the new Graduate and Professional Studies focus within the college,” said Christina Moylan, associate provost for graduate and professional studies. “It steps outside of our traditional educational model to bring the incredible expertise of our faculty and access to our beautiful campus facilities to a new global audience. The creativity that Dawn Pierce brought to this effort exemplifies the type of innovation that we are committed to supporting in alignment with the college's strategic plan.”

Dawn Pierce, the artistic and faculty director of the program, first started thinking about this program four years ago as she was preparing to co-teach an opera workshop. At the time, she felt like there was a lack of resources in the area of opera direction.

“I started to research what was out there, but the only options I found were longer degree programs. I already have an advanced degree, so I wasn’t sure I wanted to go that far,” said Pierce. “I started thinking that there really should be something at Ithaca College to fill this need.”

“I think what I love about the program most is the idea that we're building this brand-new thing that has never existed before."

Dawn Pierce, the artistic and faculty director of the Opera Direction Certificate program.

Pierce brought the idea to the college’s 12-month campus committee. One of their tasks was to think of ways to utilize campus during traditional down times and Pierce thought an opera direction program would fulfill that need. The certificate is earned by completing a hybrid program involving two levels; level one is completed during the spring semester as a virtual, online course in stage direction, while level two is completed as a 10-day in-person summer residential workshop on IC’s campus.

The enrollment will be kept at around 20 to ensure that participants receive individual attention. Pierce expects that people from all different aspects of the industry will be interested, from singers and stage managers to someone who is teaching drama or doing musicals.

“We want to help participants grow in their skill and nurture their artistry because we suspect people will be coming from different kinds of backgrounds,” said Pierce. “We want to make sure that we can individualize each person's experience.”

“I am very excited about this certificate program,” said Hudson. “It is something I have wanted to create for some time now."

Chuck Hudson, stage director and master teacher.

Chuck Hudson, stage director and master teacher, will work one-on-one with directors to implement their creative visions and practice their directing skills with accomplished opera singers and rehearsal pianists during the workshop portion of the program.

“I am very excited about this certificate program,” said Hudson. “It is something I have wanted to create for some time now. Directing in general seems to be an elusive pathway – imagined to be an innate talent that evolves only through experience. I believe it is a skill that can be learned and developed, but there really isn't a specific curriculum that instructs the particular needs for directing opera. There are subtle differences between directing a play or a musical and directing an opera that directors usually experience only in a professional setting, unguided and under pressure. It is particularly that lack that I am addressing with this certification program.”

Pierce admits that the biggest challenge is defining this program to other people.

“I think what I love about the program most is the idea that we're building this brand-new thing that has never existed before,” she said.

Pierce added that they are already receiving emails and questions about the certificate, proving that this is a skill that is needed and wanted. Additionally, she has spoken with Opera Ithaca and hopes to form community partnerships with this program.

“This program is something I’m genuinely excited about so I’m really grateful that people are taking interest,” she said.

“Since we announced the program, several opera companies have contacted me about offering assistant director positions to people who complete the certificate, which is exactly the pathway into the profession I hope to create with this curriculum,” said Hudson.