Bellissima Opera
  • Home
  • The Transcendence Operas
    • Future Perfect Opera >
      • Future Perfect 2014-19 Workshops
    • On Call: COVID-19 Opera
    • Outside the Ring Opera
    • Reconciliation Opera
    • Transcendence Composer & Librettist
  • April 2021 & Jan 2022 Premieres
    • Casts, Artistic & Production Team
    • Tickets
  • About Us
    • Artistic Team & Consultants
    • Our History
    • Working In Concert
    • Press & Publications
    • Bellissima Opera Outreach
  • Donate & Contact
FUTURE PERFECT WORKSHOPS
with 1,300 Chicago area Youth
The five years of Future Perfect Project Workshops (from 2014-2019)
were entirely funded by a grassroots campaign generating
donations from individuals and local organizations.
Thanks to all who supported and participated in this program.
Picture
Future Perfect Workshop Details: 2014-2019
Bellissima Opera Artistic Director & Project Producer - Christine Steyer
​Bellissima Opera is indebted to the amazing poets, musicians, teachers, volunteers and 1,300 students who gave their time and talents to this project.
Nicholas Senn High School, Chicago: 10/24/14
        Teachers                     Diane Piette
        Artists                         Maureen Kwiat Meshenberg, poet & writing exercises
                                              Christine Steyer, soprano
                                              Franco Martorana, tenor
        Videographers           Paul Geiger
                                              Rebecca Keehner
        Typists                         Jeanette Mancusi
        Writing Prompts        Labels
                                               Opposite of Love
                                               Speaking One’s Peace
                                               Unsung Heroes

                                               Pick any Word
 
Brookdale Senior Center, Ages 7-26, Oak Park: 10/18/15 
        Artists                         Maureen Kwiat Meshenberg, poet
                                              Juliana Engle, crafts
                                              Christine Steyer, soprano
        Videographers            Brian Bator
        Craft Project               Students decorate sashes and armor shapes for costume pieces
 
Nicholas Senn High School, Chicago: 1/13/17 
        Teachers                     Diane Piette
        Artists                         Maureen Kwiat Meshenberg, poet & writing exercises
                                              Reginald Eldridge, poet
                                              D’angelo Robinson, student poet facilitator
                                              Imani Brunson, student poet facilitator
                                              Christine Steyer, soprano
                                              Franco Martorana, tenor
                                              Anatoliy Torschinsky, piano
        Videographers           Christine Steyer                               
        Typists                        Jethra Kapp
                                              Molly Allsheid
                                              Diane Scott
                                              Jim Price
                                              Susan Huizinga        
        Writing Prompts       Every Picture Tells a Story
                                              If You Were King, Queen or Ruler for a Day
                                             The Colors in Your Life
                                              In a World Without Limits I Would…
                                              At a Rate of 200 Million Cells Per Minute, I am Becoming...
                                              Who am I? I am…
 
Lane Tech College Prep High School, Chicago: 4/3/17 
        Teachers                     Paul Carrera
                                             Mark Carrera                        
        Artists                         Maureen Kwiat Meshenberg, poet & writing exercises
                                             Christine Steyer, soprano
                                             Franco Martorana, tenor
                                             Anatoliy Torschinsky, piano
                                             Karen Tlusky, sound                        
        Videographers           Christine Steyer                   
        Typists                        Cindy Senneke
                                             Jim Price
                                             Catie Withers
                                             Susan Huizinga                    
        Writing Prompts       If I Could Live My Life Out Loud
                                             The Most Beautiful Sound
                                             The Universe Sings
                                             Diversity Heals 
                                             My Space Capsule
                                             Choosing to Transcend
                                             A Message to Future Generations
                                             Change Begins with Me                                             
                                             My Song for Humanity
 
Lincoln Elementary, 3rd Grade, Oak Park: 5/9/18 
        Teachers                     Claire Bartell            
                                              Julie Anderson         
        Artists                         MG Bertulfo, poet, author & writing exercises        
                                             Christine Steyer, soprano                             
        Videographers           Cory Andersen                     
        Typists                        Susan Huizinga                    
        Writing Prompts       My Superhero of the Future
                                              Crazy Plants
                                              Too Much Technology–People Forgot
                                              Stadium Invasion
                                              Mysterious Mural
 
Lane Tech College Prep High School, Chicago: 6/4/18 
        Teachers                     Paul Carrera
                                             Mark Carrera                                    
        Artists                         MG Bertulfo, poet, author & writing exercises
                                             Christine Steyer, soprano 
                                             Sugar Blue, harmonica
                                             Mark Burnell, piano                                                             
        Videographers           Christine Steyer                   
        Typists                        Katie Rub
                                             Anneliese Ayers        
        Writing Prompts       The Mandala is My Universe
                                              I Release My Mandala
                                              My Blues Song Is
                                              If You Take Time to Know Me, You Would…
 
Al Raby High School, Chicago: 6/12/18 
        Teachers                     Teneisha Huley                    
        Artists                         Carlos Jiménez Flores, poet & writing prompts       
                                              Christine Steyer, soprano                             
        Videographers           Christine Steyer                   
        Typists                        Christine Steyer
        Writing Prompts       Love of Self                
                                              Love for Other
​                                              Love of Other Things

 
Unity Temple, Unitarian Universalist Youth, Various Ages, Oak Park: 7/29/18 
        Teachers                     Juliana Engel           
        Artists                         Paul Geiger, narrator
                                              Christine Steyer, soprano 
                                              Peter Storms, piano
        Videographers           Christine Steyer       
                                              Paul Geiger
        Craft Project               Students discover the chrysalis and the butterflies and create their own
 
John Kinzie Elementary, 6th Grade, Chicago: 5/9/19 
        Teachers                     Shannon Torres                    
        Artists                         Christine Steyer, soprano                             
        Videographers           Regina Janczyszyn                           
        Craft Project               Students design costumes for opera characters
 
Unity Temple, Unitarian Universalist Youth, Various Ages, Oak Park: 7/28/19
        Teachers                     Juliana Engle                       
        Artists                         Susan Sensemann, visual artist
        Videographers           Juliana Engel                       
        Craft Projects            Students create a flower mandala and study the concepts of impermanence
 
John Kinzie Elementary, 8th Grade, Chicago: 10/7/19
        Teachers                     Shannon Torres
        Assistants                   Regina Janczyszyn
        Artists                         Juliana Engel, artist & project workshop leader
                                             Christine Steyer, soprano                 
        Videographers           Christine Steyer
                                              Juliana Engel                       
        Craft Project              Students design costumes for opera characters
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
“Transcendence” 
 
Transcendence.
What we’ve done before 
doesn’t serve us anymore.
 
Like a tree’s unwanted leaves
my tears fall down.
Like broken-heart shaped needles
my tears fall down.
Transcendence.
 
I pray for a better day
I may never see.
I cry myself to sleep,
I need help along my way.
 
Transcendence.
What we do today
The world is yearning for.
 
 Transcendence.

Picture
Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.