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A summer serenade: Drake to host Des Moines Metro Opera orchestra

Des Moines, IA—Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) and Drake University will be working in harmony this summer. Orchestral musicians from DMMO—a major American summer opera festival and one of Iowa’s largest performing arts organizations—will live and rehearse on Drake’s campus as they prepare for the 2023 Mainstage Season at Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola.

The collaboration will provide DMMO’s Festival Orchestra with much-needed housing and rehearsal space due to multi-year renovations of the orchestra’s usual summer accommodations.

“We are honored to host such esteemed musicians at Drake,” said Drake University President Marty Martin. “Creating a thriving culture where students and the community have opportunities to be exposed to the arts is a top priority for us. This unique partnership will make the arts more accessible and bring exceptional talent to our campus.”

Michael Egel, DMMO Linda Koehn General and Artistic Director, expressed his gratitude for the University’s generosity. “We are incredibly thankful to Drake University for stepping in to fill an unexpected gap in facility needs this summer,” Egel said. “Having a dedicated space for our orchestra to rehearse and live at Drake allows us to focus on creating exceptional productions for our audiences.”

As the vibrant energy of music and art come together on Drake’s campus this summer, the University looks forward to growing its collaboration with DMMO as the two organizations share a passion for prioritizing and protecting the value of the fine arts.

Learn more about DMMO’s 2023 Season, including the “Stars of Tomorrow” concert at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium July 12 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature more than 40 artists from DMMO’s Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist Program.

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About Drake University

Drake University is recognized as one of the finest national liberal arts universities. A distinctive and distinguished private university in Des Moines, Iowa, Drake enrolls nearly 3,000 undergraduate and more than 1,800 graduate students. Students choose from more than 70 majors, minors, and concentrations and 20 graduate degrees offered through seven colleges and schools. In addition, Drake offers a range of continuing education programs serving working professionals, community members, and area businesses. Drake recognizes the importance of its location in Iowa’s capital city and seeks to connect its teaching and learning to the wealth of cultural, recreational, and business resources it provides. At the same time, it weaves global thinking and intercultural learning into everything it does, preparing students to lead in an increasingly interconnected world.

About Des Moines Metro Opera

Lauded by the Chicago Tribune as “one of the most enterprising summer opera fests in the nation,” Des Moines Metro Opera is a nationally renowned opera company that has taken its place among America’s leading opera festivals. Founded in 1973, it’s one of the largest performing arts organizations in Iowa, annually producing over 100 performances in the metro area and across the region.