SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Opera and students might not seem like they go together, but that’s just the case for the Syracuse City School District and the Syracuse Opera. The performance, based on the history and life of runaway slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, aimed to introduce opera to a younger audience with a goal to help them learn history, equity, and inclusion. The Syracuse Opera visited five high schools in the area with fine arts students at Corcoran High School.
Opera is a unique art form to present history; however, Anthony Knight, writer and creator of “No Cowards in Our Band”, understands the different ways of learning.
“It’s really clear to me that a lot of us learn in very different ways”, Knight said. “So perhaps this performance is one way that will reach students for whom it’s an ideal way for them to learn”.
High school students in attendance seemed to still appreciate the performance and history lesson, despite the unfamiliar format. Corcoran Senior Ella Roerden was surprised by the performance.
“I was not expecting the narration from the Fredrick Douglass character that’s just spoken. I kind of thought that the whole thing was gonna be your stereotypical ‘ahhhh’ like the entire time,” Roerden said.
The Syracuse Opera hopes the performance will open younger audiences up to the art of opera and allow them to learn about history, equality, and inclusion. Masud Olufani, Syracuse Opera performer, plays Frederick Douglass in the opera. He said there’s something unique about the performance of history that doesn’t happen with a traditional textbook.
“Art has the capacity to bring history to life,” Olufani said. “It has the ability to contextualize human experience and make it dynamic and hopefully makes it entertaining.”
(Piano playing and singing begins)
Sarah Russo: Students at Corcoran High School gathered in the auditorium not for the usual pep rally or band concert, but instead for opera. The Syracuse opera decided to visit five local high schools to share the story of Fredrick Douglass through song. Senior Ella Roerden says she wasn’t sure what to expect.
Roerden: I was not expecting the narration from the Fredrick Douglass character that’s just spoken. I kind of thought that the whole thing was gonna be your stereotypical ‘ahhhh’ like the entire time
Russo: While most classrooms use textbooks to teach students about history, Anthony Knight creator and writer of ‘No Cowards in Our Band’ says music can be just as influential.
Knight: It’s really clear to me that a lot of us learn in very different ways so perhaps this performance is one way that will reach students for whom it’s an ideal way for them to learn.
Russo: And while this stage might not look like much, the performance of “No Cowards in Our Band” didn’t need much else besides their voices to fill up the space.
Russo: The Syracuse opera hopes the performance will educate younger audiences on history, inclusion, and equity… performer Masud Olufani who plays Frederick Douglass says opera is one unique way to do so.
Olufani: Art history has the ability to elevate the narrative. to experience history in a different way that can inspire and motivate people to learn more.
Russo: And although it was the typical music concert, the art of opera seemed to be appreciated by the students…
Anna McDemitt-Wise: I loved the way that they had it and how it was simple but it said a lot.
Roerden: Just reinforcing the idea that music can really tell any story.
Russo: Reporting in Syracuse, Sarah Russo. NCC News.
