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    Columbus Makes Art Presents Dr. Marc Heeg and His Many Roles at Opera Project Columbus


    “The real dream is to make Columbus known in the Midwestern arts community as an opera incubator”

    — Marc Heeg, Opera Project Columbus
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    Dr. Marc Heeg is a concert pianist, conductor, chamber musician, accompanist and vocal coach, teacher, as well as a former professor of music in Europe. He current serves as artistic administrator, headmaster of OPC Opera Academy, Maestro di Coro, rehearsal pianist and coach for Opera Project Columbus. We chatted with him about his work with the organization.

    Leslie: You wear a lot of hats at Opera Project Columbus! Tell me about them.
    Marc: I was first invited by Maestro Alessandro Siciliani to work as a rehearsal pianist; I was then appointed as Maestro di Coro. Recently, I’ve been hired as artistic administrator, meaning I work closely with Maestro from conception through actualizing his vision for a production. I have recently stepped in as assistant conductor, directing the last production of Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief. And I work with the Opera Academy.

    Leslie: You recently held the first Opera Academy session where you serve as headmaster; tell me how that went.
    Marc: So, I was very happy with the recent overwhelming enthusiasm from our students. After the end of the first day, one of the second violinists raised her hand when I asked for questions or comments, and asked, “Is this only one time, or are you going to do this AGAIN?”

    Leslie: You are instrumental in the development of this program. How do you see this growing?
    Marc: Our next phase two is a hopefully three-week-long summer camp for orchestra and chorus, ages generally high school to earlier college. Probably three days a week to allow for practicing and enjoying life. A concert at the end. Thinking ahead, phase three in my mind would be a year-round orchestra and possibly chorus, practicing each week, focusing on opera and opera-style performance, giving a concert at the end of each “semester.”

    Leslie: What would your goal for this be?
    Marc: The real dream is to foster sufficient opera exposure and education through our diversity and academy programs to make OPC and Columbus known in the Midwestern arts community as an “opera incubator” for instrumentalists, pianists, singers and choristers. We’d have Chicago and Pittsburgh on either side of us — tremendously powerful musical centers — and in between would be fresh-faced Columbus, the “AAA farm team” for professionally-oriented musicians and singers wanting to enter the opera world.

    Marc Heeg, conducting a performance.

    Leslie: What’s the best thing about the Columbus art scene right now?
    Marc: People from outside have a certain impression of Columbus as a staid, mostly white, Midwestern, “bland food, bland people” kind of town. I think even many of its citizens hold similar views. Since I moved here in 2012, I’ve found it to be a most surprising place. We are a modern American — even world — city representing so many different cultures and attitudes. Perhaps not as nakedly obvious as NYC or LA. I am often serendipitously amazed at the variety of people practicing a rainbow’s plethora of artistic styles, trends and music. There is also great history in this town which is being revived in exciting ways. I consider it a privilege to be part of this community’s vibrant vitality.

    Opera Project Columbus performs Don Pasquale: Love or Deception? on June 10 at 7:30 p.m. and June 12 at 3:30 p.m. at the Southern Theatre. Find information on future sessions of OPC’s Opera Academy on operaprojectcolumbus.com.

    Columbus Makes Art Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting and advancing the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. The column is a project of the Art Makes Columbus campaign, telling the inspiring stories of the people and organizations who create Columbus art. Learn more about local artists, organizations, public art and events at ColumbusMakesArt.com.

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    Leslie McBridehttps://www.operaprojectcolumbus.com
    Leslie McBride is a communications and social media professional; she serves as communication director for Opera Project Columbus.
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