Thanks to the generosity of a parent of a Perpich alum, Perpich students in several arts areas attended a special dress rehearsal performance of the Minnesota Opera’s “The Snowy Day” on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Students studying Music, Theater, Musical Theater, and Dance were immersed into the operatic world with the stage production adaptation of Ezra Jack Keats’ iconic book. The Student Matinee Performance invited students, from age 4 to college, to Ordway Center for the Performing Arts to experience a winter wonderland alongside young Peter. The audience followed his footsteps as he explored his snow-covered neighborhood, leaving tracks with his feet and a stick, all while enjoying the crunch of snow and the quiet of a winter day.

Production photo of “The Snowy Day” Photographer: Lynn Lane

Kevin Hohlstein, Music Instructor, said, “It was great to be able to take our students to this level of a production. It isn’t often that our students get to experience a live orchestra and opera singing. And it was nice for them to see this show as many of them read the book when they were young. It was also fun to see them excited about getting to meet some of the musicians when they visited the pit before the show. Overall, I think it was a fantastic experience for them to see an opera and get to go to the Ordway. I am looking forward to being able to take them again in the future.”

Ruth Civettini (Musical Theater 2026) was impressed with the musicians. “I really liked the musical components of the opera,” said Ruth. “Going to see the pit beforehand was amazing! Getting to see how all of the musicians interact with each other and getting to talk to a person in the pit, getting our questions answered, them helping explain the process to us, was really cool. We learned about the process of how they interact with the actors on stage and it was astonishing to get to hear about their experiences. There is such a variety of instruments, like oboes, trombones, cellos, harp, etc. You got to visually see them and also hear how the instruments interacted with each other. It was really cool!”

Left to Right: Ruth Civettini (Musical Theater 2026), Audrey Tuite (Musical Theater 2026), Rebecca Bullen, Principal, and Kevin Hohlstein, Music Instructor

Noah Gips (Music 2025) thought the experience was really fun. “It was a really playful opera! It was so cool to see a bunch of younger kids having a blast there,” said Noah. “They were really enjoying it. It was obviously a children’s opera, so less suited for an older audience, but certainly it’s very fun to see kids having a good time.”

Livi Solinger (Theater 2025) was unfamiliar with the children’s book before seeing the show. “I thought it was really magical!” said Livi.

Audrey Flug (Music 2025) was grateful for the event. “It was an awesome experience to see professional musicians and actors at the Ordway,” said Audrey. “I really enjoyed the field trip and thought it was an amazing opportunity to learn about opera.”

The experience was a gift from Deborah Jiang-Stein, parent of 2013 Media Arts graduate, Xiaoye Jiang. Deborah is a member of the MN Opera Board of Directors. “I’m serving on the board especially since I want to open opera into more accessible spaces and communities,” said Jiang-Stein. Deborah’s gift definitely made an impact on the Perpich students and they were thrilled with the opportunity.

Minnesota Opera is a leading American company, admired as an innovative creator of compelling opera productions, programs, and new works.

“The Snowy Day” – In the fresh snow, every footstep is marked with magic. A young boy wakes to find that the first snow of winter has fallen overnight– an exciting day of adventure awaits. Peter delights in making footprints in the snow and meeting new friends, before returning home to the cozy embrace of Mama and Daddy. Based on the Caldecott Medal-winning book by Ezra Jack Keats, Joel Thompson and Andrea Davis Pinkney’s “The Snowy Day” brings centerstage the fleeting but indelible magic of childhood. The show is running February 8–16, 2025.