Locals to sing with Peninsula Teen Opera Locals to sing with Peninsula Teen Opera (January 28, 2004)

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Lifestyles Editor

Playing football and singing opera arias seems an unlikely combination, but don't tell that to Derek and Todd Yecies of Woodside and Calvin Johnson of Portola Valley.

Derek, Todd and Calvin all attend Menlo School, where they are on the football team. The boys will also be performing with Peninsula Teen Opera for two evenings of opera and operetta at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31, in Spangenberg Theatre at Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto.

The programs will feature a condensed version of "The Bartered Bride." The teenagers will also perform scenes from "The Marriage of Figaro," "The Magic Flute," "La Boheme" and more.

Other local performers include Caitlin Berka of Portola Valley; Nicole Bitler of Menlo Park; Dion Diederich, Nicole Kamra and Jack Mosbacher of Woodside; and Matt Keck and Stephanie Spieker of Atherton.

Founded in 1998 by professional opera singer Allen Cathcart, Peninsula Teen Opera is an opera training program for Bay Area students, ages 13 to 19. The students study voice privately with local teachers and are accepted into the PTO program through auditions and individual interviews. Many have trained with ensembles such as Ragazzi, the Peninsula Boys Chorus. Stage experience includes performances with Palo Alto Children's Theatre and Peninsula Center Stage.

The students enter a 10-week training program and rehearse every Saturday afternoon for several hours. The culmination is two final performances, staged and costumed with condensed versions of entire operas as well as vignettes from well-known operas. PTO performs its repertoire in English.

Derek Yecies, a senior at Menlo School, was captain of this past season's football team and also plays lacrosse. He started singing with a garage band when he was in the sixth grade and has been with PTO for four years.

Derek comes from a musical family. His mother Laura plays the piano and violin. "All her family is musical," says Derek. His brother Todd, 15, plays football at Menlo, sings with PTO, and plays classical guitar. Younger siblings Margot, 10, and Adam, 8, also play classical guitar.

Derek still finds time to take part in Menlo School productions, such as "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," and "Les Miserables," and sing with the Menlo School chorus.

Derek plans to major in biology or physics in college and has already been accepted to Harvard. While he doesn't plan a career in opera, "I see myself always singing," he says.

Calvin Johnson, a sophomore at Menlo School, has been singing since joining Ragazzi boys' chorus at age 8. Today he sings baritone with PTO and is a member of the Menlo School chorus. He also plays football and hopes to go out for lacrosse in the spring, if a knee injury heals properly.

Calvin lived in Australia and Hong Kong with his parents, Ray and Leigh Johnson, until second grade when they moved to Ladera. His sister, Natalie, also attends Menlo School.

A graduate of La Entrada School, he admits his life is "definitely a challenge" with sports, homework, PTO and Ragazzi, which rehearses twice a week in Redwood City.

Calvin, who will sing in "La Boheme" with PTO January 30 and 31, saw "La Boheme" performed on Broadway, which he says was "pretty cool."

As to his future, he sees singing "not as a career, more of a hobby."

Tickets to the January 30 and 31 concerts are priced at $15 general and $10 seniors/students. Advance tickets are $12 and $8.

For more information, call the PTO box office at (408) 226-9673.

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