Three music students who helped bring UAB Opera back after the pandemic are graduating

Reagan Martin
Photography: Ian LogueThree graduating University of Alabama at Birmingham music students who helped bring UAB Opera back to the stage after returning from the pandemic closure are set to graduate this fall.

Reagan Martin, Austin Green and Sierra Frazier have played important roles in the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Music. After in-person classes and performances resumed in fall 2020, the Opera Workshop was the last of the department's active ensembles to return to normal rehearsals and performances. The three studied voice with Assistant Professor Lara Wilson, DMA, who oversees the opera program at UAB, with Frazier studying for several years with Associate Professor Won Cho, DMA.

Reagan Martin, center, in white, and Sierra Frazier, center left, with ukelele, in UAB Opera's production of "Trial by Jury."Upon first returning to campus that fall, vocal and instrumental ensembles were deemed some of the most high-risk activities, because of the spread of droplets associated with singing and playing wind instruments. Choirs and bands were socially distanced, with special masks for singing and playing wind instruments. These ensembles rehearsed and performed in outside spaces, or made recordings to post on social media, as public audiences were not yet allowed back on campus. Most of the program's experienced opera students graduated in April 2020.

Because of the close contact and movement required onstage, Opera Workshop did not function until spring 2023, when six students presented a program of scenes from opera and operetta. Later that fall, two full operas with piano were presented on the stage of Hulsey Recital Hall with Wilson as stage director and Professor Patrick Evans, D.M., as conductor.

Reagan Martin performs at the UAB Department of Music's Prism concert, accompanied by Chris Steele, DMA.Finally in April 2024, for the first time since November 2019, the Department of Music presented two fully staged one-act operas with costumes, lighting, sets and orchestra in the Alys Stephens Center's Sirote Theatre. All three seniors performed in those productions. Martin and Green have been actively involved since that first scenes program in 2023, with Frazier joining later.

"These students have been integral to helping us revive the opera program at UAB after the pandemic," Wilson said. "They have given a lot of their time and energy, learned so much, and encouraged others to participate. I could not be prouder of them."

Martin, of Cullman, Alabama, is earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in music this fall and will also perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the morning commencement. A soprano, she has performed for UAB Opera as Lucy in "The Telephone," Helga in "Gisela in her Bathtub" and the Defendant in "Trial by Jury."

Martin won first-place awards in the Classical division at the Alabama National Association of Teachers of Singing competition and was named a finalist at the Southeastern Regional NATS Competition in Classical and Musical Theatre for the past two years. She won first place and a voice scholarship in the Birmingham Music Guild Competition, and has received the Bush Hills Music Club Scholarship, the Stroup Music Education Scholarship and the Paul Mosteller Voice Scholarship.

Reagan Martin and Austin Green in UAB Opera's production of "Giselda in Her Bathtub."Martin was the soprano section leader in the UAB Concert Choir for two years and secretary of the UAB Student Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She gave her senior capstone recital Nov. 8 and after graduation plans to pursue a master's degree in vocal performance and a career in opera.

Martin will perform in the Opera Scenes program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in Hulsey Recital Hall, portraying the mother in Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and "The Countess" in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." She will be joined by 13 other music and musical theater majors who have continued to grow the trajectory and reach of UAB Opera since its recent rebirth.

Austin Green
Photography: Ian LogueGreen, of Brookwood, Alabama, is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. He is a member and graduate teaching assistant of the UAB Concert Choir and has performed with UAB Opera in "Gallantry," "Gisela in Her Bathtub," "Trial by Jury" and other scenes.

In February 2023, Green won first place in the fourth-year Tenor, Baritone, Bass category at the Alabama NATS auditions. He was president of the student chapter of NATS at UAB, president of American Choral Directors Association at UAB and secretary of Collegiate National Association of Music Education at UAB.

Green gave a senior capstone recital performing classical and contemporary repertoire in April and has performed the national anthem for the university's commencement exercises. Green will continue his studies and pursue a Master of Arts degree in music education through the alternative master's programs at UAB.

Sierra Frazier
Photography: Ian LogueFrazier, of Madison, Alabama, says a big part of her undergraduate experience was in the UAB Concert Choir and UAB Gospel Choir, in addition to portraying the Foreperson of the Jury in UAB Opera's "Trial by Jury" in April. In February, Frazier placed second in the senior category at the Alabama NATS competition, and in March placed second in the 83rd annual Scholarships of the Guild of the Birmingham Music Club, winning a $1,500 scholarship.

Each April, the UAB Department of Music hosts an annual honors recital, and after an evening of auditions, faculty members nominate students to perform. Frazier was honored as an outstanding student for the UAB Concert Choir and was recognized for her excellence and accomplishments as a valued leader in the choir. She was chosen by the entire voice faculty in the Department of Music to receive the Paul Mosteller scholarship

Frazier traveled to Italy with voice faculty and students in June and gave her capstone senior recital Nov. 15. She will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the afternoon commencement. After graduation, Frazier plans to continue her education at UAB in the Master of Arts in Education program and teach music therapy.

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