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Cypress College invites students interested in exploring the world of opera to enroll in Introduction to Opera (Music 118) online, which includes field trips to Opera Pacific’s Fall 2008 Opera Season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. This course is taught online with four one and a half hour Saturday meetings. The Saturday meetings will allow students to see films of the opera before attending the performance and include first hand interviews with singers.

Under the guidance of music professor Helena DeCoro, students will study the opera The Barber of Seville by Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868). The texts for the class include a full libretto (script) and CD of The Barber of Seville starring Beverly Sills as Rosina and Sherrill Milnes as the Barber Figaro. In addition, the class will use the humorous and practical book, Opera for Dummies by David Pogue and Scott Speck. “This book is a great beginning text for the novice and provides students with an easy and understandable view into the world of opera,” said Professor DeCoro.

Professor DeCoro is a former singer with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the San Diego Opera, and the Southern California Lyric Opera. She has taught this class for many years and has captivated hundreds of both new and long time opera lovers. “Opera is a delight to the senses. The new opera student needs only guidance to understand the drama and the music. Soon they will enjoy a lifelong musical theater experience,” commented Professor DeCoro.

The online class begins the week of August 18 and students may register through September 6 which is the day of the first on campus meeting from 12:30pm to 2pm in Fine Arts Building Room 112. Online admission, registration information and a complete course schedule may be found at old.cypresscollege.edu, or get help by calling (714) 484-7346. For additional information contact Professor DeCoro at (714) 484-7143 or hdecoro@cypresscollege.edu .

Cypress College has motivated the minds of nearly a half-million students — including actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses and teachers. Cypress College has been a springboard to their dreams. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice and for others it provides essential training for a rewarding career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.

Cypress College’s 14,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. The college, founded in 1966, serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Stanton. Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22 and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.

Cypress College offers 58 university-transfer majors, 141 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 51 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs just $20 per unit — just $60 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships also are available to qualifying students.

More information about Cypress College is available by calling (714) 484-7000 or by visiting the campus Web site at http://CypressCollege.edu.

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