(Photo credit: Ivan Seligman)

Opera Naples Youth Summer program is set to present Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado.”

The two-week summer music enrichment program makes performance arts accessible to young students, providing them with invaluable skills that extend far beyond the stage. Participants build on vocal and theatrical skills in a demanding but supportive environment. In addition to rehearsing the production, students participate in masterclasses and workshops focusing on vocal technique, acting, improvisation, and prop construction. All participants are accepted into the program and perform in the production regardless of experience or audition. The program is led by New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players veteran, Louis Dall’Ava, Stage Director, and Opera Naples Director of Education, Robin Shuford Frank.

For this production, Michele Peppe donated of a performance-quality Schimmel grand piano. In a press release, Frank emphasized the importance of the donation by saying, “All our educational programs and vocal training have seen a significant enhancement thanks to this instrument,” states Robin. “The presence of a high-quality piano is crucial in the world of music education. It allows students to experience the nuances of sound that only a superior instrument can provide, setting a standard of excellence and inspiring them to reach their full potential. Having lost several pianos in the hurricane, we are deeply grateful for this donation, most recently used during our student “Lemonade!” program. The impact of this gift will continue to resonate through the upcoming performances of “The Mikado” and beyond.”

“The Mikado” will be presented on July 19 and 20 at 7 p.m., and a matinee performance on July 21 at 2 p.m. at the renovated Wang Opera Center, featuring newly installed stadium theater seating.