Nearly 200 people gathered at Southport Community Building on Sunday, March 2 nd to
enjoy performances by UNCW’s opera outreach program, known as WOOP!
The always entertaining Dr. Nancy King, Chair UNCW’s music Department, regaled the
crowd with stories about Johann Strauss II’s comedic operetta, Die Fledermaus. A cast
of talented college students then performed songs from the operetta, mainly in English,
to the audiences’ delight. We were also treated to a beautiful number by the
enormously accomplished Beth Stoval-Gazda, who runs the musical performance
program at UNCW and is also stars in productions for the Wilmington Opera Company.
Up your Arts, a Southport non-profit dedicated to increasing awareness and
opportunities for local musicians and artists, was introduced as the future host of Opera
Sunday. Although FOLSOI will bow out to focus on more literary events, the show will
go on!