Dugg McDonough, director of LSU Opera, was secure in his job at Temple University when LSU first approached him to take over direction of the University’s opera program. After hearing about the strengths of the students and the program’s potential for growth, McDonough left Temple and relocated to Baton Rouge.
With Louisiana’s long history of music and theatrics, the opera program at the University has a certain standard to live up to.
In 1930, the school put on its first production, “Bohemian Girl,” performed on a shoestring budget for high school students. Though money was tight, the performance was landmark, and the school immediately began production on its next opera.
Seventy-five years later, the LSU Opera program is still going strong.
McDonough credits University and community support for the continued success of the program.
“[The opera program] matters at LSU,” McDonough said. “It doesn’t matter as much in other places I’ve been.”
McDonough was hired two and a half years ago to concentrate on building up the opera.
“[LSU] is one of the top, if not the top, in this region,” McDonough said.
He also said the focus of the opera program is not only to instruct students in performing, but to train them in what to expect in the real world, as well as to introduce them to all aspects of operatic performance.
McDonough said the program offers courses that teach audition techniques and what is expected of the performer in an audition.
He also said the school teaches students how to make good decisions for themselves by providing information about the real world.
Michael Egel, artistic administrator of the Des Moines Metro Opera, said because of McDonough’s strength as a director and a teacher, the University can attract great performers.
“The quality of voice teaching at LSU is absolutely astonishing,” Egel said. “Over the years, LSU has turned out a number of really great performers.”
Patricia O’Neill, associate professor of voice, said the opera program has grown in the 14 years she has been at the University.
O’Neill said McDonough and musical director John Keene have raised the level of the program tremendously. She said students from all over the country and the world are coming to the University to study.
O’Neill said that while the University does provide funds, most of the resources for the program come from community support, such as patrons and individual contributors.
Fund-raisers are a mainstay of LSU Opera.
Annette Seng, president of the patron board, said the board has instituted a new program to raise funds continuously.
The “75 Voices” program is an initiative to commit 75 people to pledge $1,000 per year for the next five years, which will lessen the strain of fund raising for the opera.
Seng said there is also an endowment fund in the works for the opera program, and the “75 Voices” initiative will support the opera until the endowment can be clearly established.
Seng said LSU Opera is considered a top-ten program, but does not get “top-ten funding.”
Tiffany Bostic, a vocal performance Master’s student, said the strength of the program lies in its focus on training for the real world as well as in vocal instruction.
Bostic said the quality of the productions is equal to a musical conservatory, and the strength of the faculty and program has convinced her to stay and gain more experience.
Jami Rhodes, vocal performance doctoral student, said she hopes to perform professionally, but knows she is also well-prepared to teach.
“With the experiences I’ve had here, I think I’ll be able to get and hold down a position at a university,” Rhodes said. “I would say this is one of the best university programs in the country, easily.”