OperaDelaware’s Development Associate Sarah Asmar was able to make some dreams come true for two young opera fans over the holidays! Coordinating with parents for a trip to the Metropolitan Opera, Sarah arranged a special stage door meet up with the sisters and soprano Lindsay Ohse following one of Lindsay’s performances as Papagena in The Magic Flute. We are so excited to welcome Lindsay Ohse to Delaware this March to star as Violetta in La traviata at The Grand Opera House. Read Sarah’s guest blog below.

Greetings from your favorite opera singer turned Development Associate, Sarah Asmar!

Sarah Asmar

Development Associate, **OperaDelaware**

As a recovering singer (I will always remember my literal and proverbial turn on the Grand Opera House stage in OperaDelaware's production of Amleto) and true believer in nurturing a love of music in children, it will come as no surprise to anyone that I have had many forms of employment over the years that have combined music making and tiny tots. One day, as I considered a new adventure, I found myself researching Music Together. The Music Together curriculum is highly based in research and childhood development, which I love, but at its core is a play-based class where parents and their little ones can connect and learn through a shared musical experience. I loved watching bonds form and musical skills develop as the weeks went on, but what I now most cherish is the relationship that I built with my families and that I am now a permanent part of their lives and can continue to share the wonders of music with them outside of the class experience (I do miss those weekly classes though).

I have remained particularly close to one particular family (let’s call the children G & L) and love hearing about the new music they are listening to. As music lovers themselves, the parents are dedicated to sharing new experiences in very digestible ways. One day, mom told me that they were gifted Classical Kids cds by Grandma. The Classical Kids website describes them as “a dramatic story, a little bit of history and the world’s best-loved classical music set the scene for these fun-filled musical adventures.” All I remember is that soon G and L were hooked on The Magic Flute. What followed were hours of listening to different recordings, asking me to sing, Queen of the Night inspired Halloween costumes, and not a single one of us will forget G & L’s versions of the Queen’s Vengeance Aria.

Finally, this winter, mom and dad gifted the girls with a trip to the MET to see the holiday performance of The Magic Flute. Now, I cannot and will not claim credit, but I certainly wanted to share in the joy of the occasion. I told the girls all about the sparkly chandeliers and the big staircase in the lobby, asked for plenty of pictures both inside the theater and outside in Lincoln Center, and just basically acted as the world’s most excited “aunt.” I was determined to make this already incredible experience just a little more special if I could. I love my singer friends and know that they also love seeing young children who are excited about opera. Lindsay Ohse, who will be starring as Violetta in OD’s spring production of La traviata, happens to have an enormous heart and deep love of kids (she once babysat by niece and nephew while their parents watched me in a production of Don Giovanni, and I don’t know who had more fun). She happened to be singing the role Papagena in the MET production and I had a sudden image of what it would be like for G & L to meet her. My text to Lindsay requesting a meeting at the stage door was met with a resounding “yes” and I was able to fill in mom but we kept it a secret from the girls.

The day arrived, and G & L dressed their best. Both said that nothing except a long skirt would do for the opera and L’s outfit included a cape which I can only assume was a nod to the Queen of the Night. As I understand it the girls were captivated by the performance and requested that next time they sit closer! After the show, they were greeted by Lindsay at the stage door and the pictures speak a thousand words. There is my generous, loving friend examining L’s cape and engaged in heartfelt conversation with two little girls who consume music as a basic food group and I can only imagine that the care that was taken that day to make sure they were heard and honored was immense.

I can only say that being able to share what I love, to make a connection that heightened an already memorable day, and to see those three smiling faces at the stage door is nothing short of a core memory for me. Music and theater are magical. We are lucky everyday to be a part of its creation and we are even luckier to be able to help make lasting memories for our audiences. Let’s lean in. Every one of us. Our children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews (even honorary) want to create connections with us and there is no better glue than music.

Sarah Asmar
OperaDelaware
Development Associate

OD Blog

An extra special trip to the Opera for two young superfans!

Greetings from your favorite opera singer turned Development Associate, Sarah Asmar!