Things to Mention About Opera @BYU
by Pollyanna Eyler, dramaturg
Be in the know by knowing your BYU opera!
- BYU 100+ years of Opera – Opera has been part of the curriculum offerings since at least 1903, when BYU was known as BY Academy. An opera producing machine, over 100 operas were offered by BYA between 1903-1916. In 1917, BYU offered their first academic major in music and they haven’t looked back. Currently, BYU’s School of Music is led by over 50 full-time faculty and offers over 550 majors. For more on this, check out this article: History – BYU School of Music.
- BYU’s Madsen Opera Theatre – The theatre is named after the husband and wife School of Music Directors, Florence Jepperson Madsen and Franklin Madsen, with their own unique love story borne of tragic events that created their family. The couple consecutively directed operas and led the School of Music for over sixty years, first Florence, then Franklin.
- BYU’s Newest Opera Director – Learn more about the 2021-2022 incoming Opera Director at BYU, Shea Owens, on 4thWallDramaturgy.
- BYU’s Next Opera – For Fall Semester 2022, BYU’s School of Music will be celebrating 50 years of opera in the deJong Theatre with the large cast of The Merry Widow! The new BYU Music Building, which began construction June 15, 2020, is expected to be completed in 2023. (Check here for construction updates.)
