A philanthropic legacy in arts education started by Jack Wheaton of Tryon in the 1990s continued when Tryon Fine Arts Center’s Arts in Education outreach recently invited area high school students to attend Rossini’s comic opera “La Cenerentola” at Bob Jones University’s Rodeheaver Auditorium.

 

This operatic take on the traditional Cinderella story was presented by a cast featuring six opera professionals, instructors and students of the university well known for their fine arts department.

 

Tryon Fine Arts Center purchased the local students’ tickets. Chapman Chorus teacher Rebecca Rostron commented on the opportunity by saying, “We really appreciate the opportunity to see a world class performance!”

 

Polk County students, and teacher Matthew Guffey, were joined in Greenville by chorus students and Ms. Rostron from Chapman High School. The students had dinner together before the comic opera began.

 

Leading up to the evening at the opera, the talented team of vocalist Brenda Quilling and pianist Dr. Elizabeth Child traveled to Polk County, Landrum and Chapman High School as well as Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy to present a program preparing the students for the performance at Bob Jones.

 

Quilling, whose 13-year operatic career spanned Europe and the United States, shared stories with the students as well as her thoughts on how music, particularly classical music, is a companion for life.

 

The opera program, in its fourth year as part of Arts in Education at TFAC, was begun 30 years ago by Jack and Margaret Wheaton of Tryon to help provide young people with cultural opportunities normally associated with larger cities.

 

For more information call 828-859-8322 ext. 211.

 

-Submitted by Susan Brady