25/26 Holland Highlights
Reflections on the work and daily wonders of the Holland Community Opera Fellowship
December 2025
Fellows had the wonderful opportunity to offer a variety of activities, discussions and projects to MICAH House, a temporary shelter that supports individuals facing homelessness. Over the course of eight weeks, we built on the theme of “The Stories We Create,” using every individual’s artistic voice.
Participants explored the ‘layers’ of characters, stories, sounds, and colors within productions. These different layers prompted participants to think about their own preferences and interests! It also made for good conversations and relationship-building among Fellows and ladies in the room! In one session we looked at color in light production and how it affects mood and ambience. Participants created light catchers by gluing cutout cellophane onto plexiglass. We brought an old overhead projector for participants to see their finished work and share it with each other. It was amazing to see the ladies rediscover an idea and express it through their own artistic lens!
Our time with participants provided relief from their circumstances but also empowered them to use their artistic voice as a form of expression. We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with them and can’t wait to see them again in spring!
-Chloe Janae Gormely, Holland Community Opera Fellow
November 2025
HCOF recently finished up another round of fun and creative workshops with QLI. QLI is an incredible rehabilitation facility that provides services for adults living with traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries. The Fellows are honored to play a small part in providing an encouraging and welcoming space for these participants to explore their creativity through all the elements of opera.
In the workshops, we leaned on Opera Omaha’s season opener, Il Barbiere di Siviglia to introduce our curriculum. Fellows opted to take some notes from Rossini’s post-retirement life as an exquisite gourmand! Rossini is credited with having said that “…eating, loving, singing and digesting are, in truth, the four acts of the comic opera known as life.” Much like a Michelin star dish is layered with many seasonings, textures, and flavors, workshop participants focused on discovering their “zest” and “spice for life. " Participants wrote their own recipe poems that share the ingredients and experiences that make them unique and feel alive. They also used their artistic skills to create their own “spice jar” shaker instrument and filled it with all sorts of colors, sounds, and scents, that represent them and their own special signature blend of Zest!
Our participants at QLI never cease to inspire us and spark joy in our day. Our workshops are always full of thoughtful insights, smiles and laughs, and a sincere appreciation of the arts!
-Aiden James Poling, HCOF Fellow
October 2025
At St. Joseph Tower, our Stories at Our Fingertips workshop series became a routine of reflection and laughter. Each week, residents gathered around the table to write and share stories from their lives — memories that ranged from childhood adventures to the friendships that shape who we are today. Our sessions blended creative writing, conversation, and visual art - all important elements of opera. We began with prompts that unlocked sensory memories like smells, sounds, and textures, and turned them into poetry, short reflections, and pages for each participant’s own mini-memoir book. As we worked, we talked about how storytelling and art help us notice the small, extraordinary moments hidden in everyday life.
What struck me most was how naturally the residents supported one another. They encouraged each other through hesitation and celebrated each other’s stories and perspectives. By the final session, the room felt like a small community of writers, each voice distinct & each story an artifact of the human experience.
-Abz Cameron, Holland Community Opera Fellow
September 2025
In our first workshop with the Sarpy Juvenile Justice Center this season, we highlighted creative problem solving as a necessary tool in performing arts. We started with an active opinion game, highlighting ways you can have an opinion about something and justify it. Then, we challenged the youth to solve a production problem that could easily happen in a real opera! The youth came up with smart solutions and unique ideas all while maintaining the integrity of the show. After solving one of the problems, one youth commented that they "should be an engineer or something," while another youth identified how much they loved art and drawing and could someday be a professional artist. We shared that those are real jobs in the opera industry! It was fun to inspire these youth and show them that art and opera could give them a sense of belonging and ideas for the future!
-Tobias Garcia, Holland Community Opera Fellow