June 28 - July 4, 2026
Handel’s Revenge
The Beggar’s Opera revisited… this time with HANDEL’S glorious masterpieces
Julianne Baird and Drew Minter - Baroque Vocal Style and Ornamentation
Jeffrey Grossman - Musical Director
Peggy Murray - Stage Director and Baroque Gesture
Dongmyung Ahn - Baroque String Specialist
BOWQC will offer a one-week intensive Baroque opera training program for pre-professional and professional singers, continuo players, and string players, culminating in a performance of selected Handel opera arias set ironically within the narrative of The Beggar's Opera by John Gay, a ballad opera written in 1728.
***Learn more about the adversarial nature of The Beggar’s Opera and Handel’s opera seria HERE.
For Singers:
• Daily masterclasses in Baroque vocal style and ornamentation with Julianne Baird & Drew Minter
* Daily coachings with our vocal faculty - Drew Minter
• Daily classes in Baroque gesture for opera singers - Peggy Murray
* Daily music rehearsals with full continuo - Jeffrey Grossman
***For the staged production: Each singer will be given a featured solo from Handel’s opera repertoire and a smaller assignment such as a duet, trio or a chorus sung one-on-a-part. Small solos may also be part of a secondary assignment.
For String Players:
• Study of Baroque repertoire and ornamentation for strings with Dongmyung Ahn, violin; and viola da gamba & cello with Lisa Terry
For Continuo Players:
• Instruction in basso continuo based on 16th and 17th century sources for Baroque harp, Christa Patton, Baroque keyboards, Arthur Haas theorbo & Baroque guitar
For Dancers:
• Daily classes in Historical Dance with Dorothy Olsson
TUITION: • Singers: $725 • Strings and continuo instruments $625 • Auditors: $70 per day
HOUSING: On-campus housing at the Summit: $75 per night
To Apply:
The Baroque Opera Workshop at Queens College uses the YAP Tracker application process for our program.
You do not need to be a paying subscriber to YAP Tracker to use the application form, although you will need an account (guest accounts are available; see the website for details).
Application: https://www.yaptracker.com/applications/baroque-opera-workshop-2026
Deadline for Singers – April 15, 2026 , Deadline for Instrumentalists & Dancers - April 30, 2026
All classes take place at:
Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College – CUNY
65-30 Kissena Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11367
For further information, email: baroqueoperaworkshop@gmail.com.
Concerts
Faculty Soirée
Our stellar teaching artists offer a blend of music and insightful commentary
in a relaxing atmosphere with wine and cheese.
Date TBD
Choir Room 264
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Final performance
Handel and the Beggars
Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
LeFrak Concert Hall
All events take place at the
Aaron Copland School of Music Queens College CUNY
65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing, NY 11367
Tickets: $20 - $15 seniors and students