Joliet West High School is one of a rare group of high schools in the United States which has an opera scenes program.  Each year, students perform 3-4 scenes from various operas, using proper performance technique.  Obviously we must be judicious in the scenes we select, for example heavy works like those of Wagner are off limits, however, we strive to create as authentic of a program as possible.  We perform with only piano accompaniment, which enables us to perform without the assistance of microphones.

In the 7 years since we began our program we have selected scenes from:

The Barber of Seville (Rossini)
Carmen (Bizet)
Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart)
Der Freischutz (Von Weber)

The Dialogue of the Carmelites (Poulenc)
Dido and Aeneas (Purcell)
Don Giovanni (Mozart)
Gianni Schicchi (Puccini)
Hansel and Gretel (Humperdink)
La Bohéme (Puccini)
L'Elisir d'amore (Donizetti)
Macbeth (Verdi)
The Magic Flute (Mozart)
The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart)