Southeastern Louisiana University

Vocal student selected for summer opera program in Italy

Contact: Christina Chapple

4/4/06

      HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University junior Elisabeth "Betty" Turner of Hammond has been selected to participate in “Oberlin in Italy 2006,” a summer program for singers, pianists, instrumentalists and liberal arts students at Centro Studi Italiani in Urbania, Italy.

      The vocal performance major’s selection was based on a videotape of her performance of two Italian opera arias. Turner, who is a student of Southeastern voice professor Joy Ratliff, will join young opera singers from across the country in Urbana June 3-July 1.

      Ratliff said the young singers will perform in fully staged opera productions, receive classes in Italian, voice lessons and coaching, and participate in master classes held by leading opera stars such as Mirella Freni.

      Turner said she is excited about the opportunity and plans to room with a friend from Texas, whom she met last summer when the pair participated in the New Jersey Atlantic Coast Opera Festival.

      At Southeastern, Turner has performed in numerous opera and music theatre productions, including the recent Opera/Music Theatre Workshop production of “La Divina.” She will be a featured soloist with the Southeastern Concert Choir when the university’s premier vocal ensemble performs the Bach “Magnificat” at Holy Ghost Catholic Church on April 30 at 3 p.m.