About the Collective

From September through May, Guerilla Opera creates a space for a collective of artists developing texts for musical performances to convene virtually as a supportive creative community.

Meeting remotely via Zoom twice a month for eight months, these inclusive and encouraging writing groups will explore developing a completed draft of a script intended to be performed with music.

Participants will develop and hone their own unique approaches to writing musical text, have their pieces workshopped by the group through table-readings and other formats, and support one another as peers by acting as readers and providing feedback for the work of others. We will also hold regular open mics for participants to present their work.

By the end of the program, each participant will have a full reading of their completed text.

APPLY HERE

Dates

Tuesday Sessions: 8:00-9:30pm ET, every other week
November 16, 30; December 7, 21; (Winter holidays observation); January 11,25; February 8, 22; March 8, 22; April 5, 19; May 3, 17; June 7, 21

September 24; October 8, 22; November 5, 19; December 3, 17; January 7, 21; February 2, 18; March 4, 18; April 1, 15, 29; May 13, 27

Thursday Sessions: 3:00-4:30pm ET, every other week
September 26; October 10, 24; November 7, 21; December 5, 19; January 9, 23; February 6, 20; March 6, 20; April 3, 17; May 1, 15, 29

Deadline to apply

Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 11:59PM ET

Acceptance Notification

Tuesday, August 27, 2024, 11:59PM ET

Participant Fee

$969.00

We offer payment plans!

3 Payments = $323.00

4 Payments = $242.25

With respect to our extraordinary teaching artists, we cannot offer these classes for free.

We offer subsidies (scholarships) to any culturally or socially underrepresented participant based on expressed need and as funds are available. Indicate in your application if you need a subsidy and we’ll reach out to you directly!

Why?

We want to amplify your unique perspective in our storytelling community. Our vision is to infuse the music industry with stories that confront antiquated traditions and examine our world through contemporary lenses.

Guerilla Opera is the premiere ensemble for new opera in the Boston area and one of the first in the country to exclusively commission new works. Our Writers’ Collective supports writers in their journey to create new works that challenge the status quo, address social issues, empower performers from marginalized groups, and bring the stories of marginalized historical or fictional figures to light. This is an anti-racist and anti-bigotry program.

Who is this program for?

Artist exchange is so important in the evolution of an art form! You don’t have to be an “opera librettist” to apply. All writers (ages 18+) are welcome!

Although this class does look at text writing from the perspective of opera, all artists working on text for musical performances are encouraged to participate including: composers, librettists, poets, playwrights, filmmakers, stage directors, dramaturgs, vocalists, instrumentalists, designers, etc.

No previous writing experience required, although each participant should bring a proposal for a project they would like to develop to the first meeting.

We build a safe and vital space for creative ideas to be nurtured as part of a creative community. The Writing Collective allows for peer-learning, discussions, live readings, and valuable author-centered critical response and feedback sessions. Each participant will develop their own individual practice through writing exercises, experimentation, and study.

We especially encourage female-identifying artists, LGBTQ+ artists, and BIPOC artists to apply! Multi-lingual participants are also encouraged to apply, but sessions will be facilitated in English.

Program format

Guerilla Writing Collective artists will meet twice a month in video conferences through Zoom, and program materials will be shared using Google Docs and other online resource-sharing programs.

Participants must have access to a computer, laptop, or smartphone with a video camera, and a reliable internet connection.

Guerilla Writing Collective artists will be expected to complete writing, research, and other activities, including watching videos, reading, and listening assignments, between sessions so co-learning time can be used for discussions, sharing large selections of writing, and critical response processes.

Estimated Monthly time commitment

Co-Learning: 3 hours

Independent Study: 6 to 10 hours (depending on your own writing time-line)

Total: 6 to 10 hours monthly

What to expect:

Each participant will:

Have opportunities for networking
Develop an outline for a new short form or full length opera libretto
Explore character development work
Develop a complete draft of a new short form or full length opera libretto
Have temporary access to Guerilla Opera’s full video archive
Have one-on-ones with the course facilitator
Have a live reading of your completed libretto by the end of the program
Have opportunities for networking

Additional discussion topics include:

Approaches to creating:

Original libretti
Adapting pre-existing work as libretti
Libretti based on autobiography or historical events

Discussions with composers and librettists from Guerilla Opera’s existing repertoire
Methods for critical response
Writing for the voice
Story telling aesthetics for the stage
Inclusivity and diversity in opera, including:
- Representation in the opera itself
- Representation on stage and among performers
- Engaging with diverse audiences
- Working with companies of varying means
- Accessibility
- Collaboration with composers and performers

The 2024-2025 Collective

Coming soon!

The Facilitator

Kendra Preston Leonard is a lyricist and librettist who tells stories about empowerment, resilience, and compassion. Inspired by history, language, nature, and myth, Leonard has worked with numerous composers to create new opera and art song. Current opera projects include Protectress, with composer Jessica Rudman; This is Jane with composer Angela Elizabeth Slater; and she who will trouble you all night with Rosśa Crean.

Recently premiered works include Sense of Self, created with composer Lisa Neher and premiered by Opera Elect in 2021; Waters Rising, with composer Tim Hick, commissioned by Arts Capacity and Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison; Marie Curie Learns to Swim, with music by Jessica Rudman, performed by Hartford Opera Theater in 2018; and The Harbingers, with music by Rosśa Crean, premiered in 2019. In 2021, she and Neher created a series of micro-operas for Neher’s One Voice Micro-Opera Project, featuring singers Zach Finkelstein in Now Available; Margaret O’Connell in Woman Waits with Sword; Hugo Vera in Wide Awake in the New City; and Audrey Yoder in Par for the Course.