Every summer, Cincinnati Opera welcomes a flood of interns to support their summer season. This gives way to an incredible opportunity for students of varying fields of study to gain real world experience in a professional arts setting. These internships range from directing and lighting all the way to philanthropy and educational outreach. I, myself, had the incredible chance to be this year's communications intern for the summer festival series and wanted to share the experience of a few other interns!
Andrea Saavedra Ferreira
Community Engagement and Education intern
Rising Junior at Northern Kentucky University with a major in Psychological Science and a minor in Spanish.
“As the community engagement and education intern, I have gotten the opportunity to connect with different local non-profits, work with youth and elderly, produce community-wide programs, create interactive activities and crafts for youth educational programs, and publish an article and a program for a community event. My favorite memory was finding out my sister and I were in Cincinnati Opera's Instagram and Facebook for student tickets ads based on a 2023 photo of my family attending The Barber of Seville! After graduating from Northern Kentucky University, my goal is to go to graduate school for school psychology in Chicago and implement the opera's education programs into school's curriculum as well as kickstarting collaborations with the arts organizations for music/art therapy sessions for special needs and sensory-friendly students!”
Callie Hartel
Costume Intern
Summer 2024 graduate from Colorado State University in Apparel Design.
“Through this internship, I have assisted the costume department with multiple tasks. I organized costumes, took notes during fittings, made paperwork and files for organization, and attended production meetings. I have been able to work closely with many different staff members to help and learn about the costume department. My favorite memory from this season has been all the orchestra dress rehearsals. These nights were the first times I was able to see the show all put together with all the costumes out on stage. It was my favorite night for every show and I hope to become a designer in the future. I am open to continuing in either the costume industry or the fashion industry with my main goal to act as a designer.”
Johnny Sebastian
Production Management Intern
Junior at the University of Dayton studying Music Technology and English.
“My job as production management intern is attention to detail! I do a variety of jobs to assist in the production process. This means that I work with all other departments to make sure they have the items, information, and financials they need to pursue a project. I also act as additional support for quick developmental changes within the Opera, which is a rapidly changing industry. I work under the Production Manager and Director of Production. My favorite memory from the season thus far has been the Intern Lunch & Learns. Every few weeks, interns get a chance to have lunch with a prominent head of a department within the opera. They discuss their background, role in the company, and advice for the interns. It has been very informative and insightful to learn from true professionals, as well as fun to hang out with the Intern class. I plan to continue to pursue work that leverages my strengths but allows me to challenge myself in a new environment. I plan to pursue teaching within the near future. I also plan to continue to play jazz bass around the Dayton area and through the Dayton Jazz Ensemble.”
Katie Lin
Marketing Intern
Entering the second year of her master’s degree in Arts Administration from Indiana University.
“I work closely with the communications intern and team. I create fun and engaging content for current and new audiences on social media, build and send emails promoting our events, create digital ads, capture footage of rehearsals, and more! My favorite event here was Opera in the Park! It was so cool to watch a lot of people experience free opera for the first time. It was a beautiful day, and everyone seemed to have so much fun! I'd love to work at a performing arts organization or in a university setting while performing on the side.”
Caitlin Zook
Communications intern
Rising senior at Miami University Oxford with a major in Strategic Communications and a co-major in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship and minors in Musical Theater and French.
“As the communications intern, I worked a lot with the marketing intern and team. I was able to publish articles and blog posts, draft press releases, plan and execute content, observe media interviews, and much more! My favorite thing that I was able to do with Cincinnati Opera this summer was interview our company photographer, Phil Groshong, and write an article celebrating his 40th year with the opera. A huge aspect of communications is collaboration, so as the communications intern I was able to observe almost every aspect of the Opera and talk to many professionals in this field. I also enjoyed the freedom I had to be silly on the social media pages and connect with the patrons. I plan to continue working in communications for professional performing arts organizations as well as continue performing.”