the (small) sopranos

The four fresh-faced girls sit giggling, bouncing and trying unsuccessfully to sit still under the bright dressing-room lights. They are similarly clothed in heavy, tattered rags, stockings (under which one can make out a trace of knee pads) and black beanies that only partially contain unruly locks. On this night, the children 10-yearold Chloe Gilpin, a student at St. John’s Episcopal, her sister Sophie, 6, who attends St. James Episcopal, and Highlander School students Emmie and Julia Rose Arduino, 10 and 8 years old, respectively — have just exited the stage of the Dallas Opera’s production of Boris Godunov. Collectively, the children have just crawled on hands and knees, begged for food, teased and robbed a crazy old man, and

grab-bagLAUNCH

died, perhaps more than once. And they sang the four young sopranos belted out their lines so beautifully that the listener might question whether such bold song could emit from such a small person. They felt virtually no fear before the packed house at the Winspear and had a grand time playing the poor, starving and neglected children of 16th century Russia. When they deliver lines, they don’t really know what they are singing, says Chloe and Sophie’s mom, Beth Gilpin, who had a non-singing role in the production. Gilpin, along with Emmie and Julia Rose’s mom Natalie Arduino, who herself is a critically acclaimed mezzo-soprano, translate words for the young actors and explain the overriding themes of the opera, Gilpin says. “They don’t know what it feels like to be a starving child, or even know that there is such a thing,” Gilpin says. “Before they can play one, they have to understand.” The girls — all inspired by their talented mothers and, in the case of the younger ones, older siblings — boast lengthy résumés for their young ages: Chloe has seven operas under her belt; Emmie has three; Julia Rose and Sophie, two each. They sing for school and church choirs and act in school plays. The Dallas Opera, for children’s roles, uses kids who have had some stage experience, be it at school, church or some other form of theater. In opera, the roles of children are never gratuitous, says Dallas Opera media director Suzanne Calvin. “When children appear in opera it is always important,” Calvin says. “Boris Godunov was no exception.” Once they have been selected for an opera choir and perform well — as the older girls did in 2009’s Dallas Opera production of “La Boehme” — they will undoubtedly be cast in future productions. “Once you’re in, you’re in,” Gilpin notes. Calvin adds that it is not easy to find the right children for the job the Gilpin and Arduino girls’ talents are a “proven commodity.” Generally, the girls appear in two or three shows per year. The nights can run late — they sometimes feed little Sophie chocolate to keep her awake — and the schedule is tough, but all involved agree that it’s well worth the hard work. They spend down time backstage doing homework and then playing board games. It’s different, but not exceedingly different from the way other families invest their time, Gilpin says. “Some families have kids who play soccer; we have opera kids.”

—CHRISTINA HUGHES BABB

If You Aren’t at Your Last Job, Why Is Your 401(k)?

If You Aren’t at Your Last Job, Why Is Your 401(k)?

If You Aren’t at Your Last Job, Why Is Your 401(k)?

Leaving a 401(k) with a previous employer could mean leaving it alone with no one to watch over it.

Leaving a 401(k) with a previous employer could mean leaving it alone with no one to watch over it.

Leaving a 401(k) with a previous employer could mean leaving it alone with no one to watch over it.

At Edward Jones, we can explain options for your 401(k) and help you select the one that’s best for you. If you’d like to roll it over to an Edward Jones Individual Retirement Account (IRA), we can help you do it without paying taxes or penalties. And you can feel confident that someone is looking out for you and your 401(k).

At Edward Jones, we can explain options for your 401(k) and help you select the one that’s best for you. If you’d like to roll it over to an Edward Jones Individual Retirement Account (IRA), we can help you do it without paying taxes or penalties. And you can feel confident that someone is looking out for you and your 401(k).

At Edward Jones, we can explain options for your 401(k) and help you select the one that’s best for you. If you’d like to roll it over to an Edward Jones Individual Retirement Account (IRA), we can help you do it without paying taxes or penalties. And you can feel confident that someone is looking out for you and your 401(k).

Caught in the web

To find out why it makes sense to talk with Edward Jones about your 401(k) options, call or visit your local financial advisor today.

To find out why it makes sense to talk with Edward Jones about your 401(k) options, call or visit your local financial advisor today.

Anson V Sobers, AAMS® Financial Advisor tokeepthingswhole.blogspot.Com

To find out why it makes sense to talk with Edward Jones about your 401(k) options, visit your local financial advisor today.

7215 Skillman Suite 310 Dallas, TX 75231 214-342-0696

Anson V Sobers, AAMS® Financial Advisor

Anson V Sobers, AAMS® Financial Advisor

7215 Skillman Suite 310 Dallas, TX 75231 214-342-0696

7215 Skillman Suite 310 Dallas, TX 75231 214-342-0696 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

On any given day he might be reviewing a movie or a book, mulling over current events or pop culture, or revealing a personal experience, but all Mark Crotty’s blog posts lead to the main topic, education. And despite the fact that Crotty is the Head of St. John’s Episcopal School near White Rock Lake, his outlook on education is not as narrow as reading, writing and arithmetictype schooling. “It’s more about emphasizing that education is a human endeavor,” Crotty explains. “And because we are complex, we should be holistic in our approach to education.” That’s the philosophy behind the school that he has overseen for the past year, where he says the staff works hard to shape character and spirit as well as scholastics. Before St. John’s, Crotty worked at Greenhill School for 20 years. He started the blog (named “To Keep Things Whole”, a line from a poem by Mark Strand) as a way to let people get to know him and to reach more people — professionals, parents or students who are interested in education. He recently won recognition from the National Association of Independent Schools, which named his as a “blog to watch”, but he insists he doesn’t have all the answers. “I hope people don’t think I come across as someone who thinks (he) know(s) all,” he says. “I just want to ask questions, get people to ask questions and to contribute to a larger conversation about the purpose of education.” —Christina hughes BaBB

WHAT GIVES?

Small ways that you can make a big difference for neighborhood nonprofits

THIS MONTH, LUNCH WITH LADIES at the Healing Hands Ministries’ “Hearts and Hands

Tablescapes

Luncheon” at Wilshire Baptist Church’s community hall on Friday, May 6. This event, scheduled for the Friday before Mother’s Day, is designed to bring mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and friends together. Proceeds benefit the women’s and children’s programs of Healing Hands, where two-thirds of the more than 2,000 patients are women. Healing Hands Ministries is a non-profit clinic, which combines financial donations and thousands of hours per year in volunteer support to provide medical and dental care for families in Lake Highlands. According to founder and director Janna Gardner, the tough economy is boosting the numbers of new patients needing help, especially single mothers and their children. When they come to the clinic for cost-effective, quality, comprehensive healthcare, she says, they reduce visits to busy ERs. The clinic receives no government funding, yet saves taxpayers millions of dollars. Tickets to the luncheon are $30 and include a program, “Gathering Around the Table”, presented by Janet Denison. Guests will enjoy the “exquisite tablescapes” of 25 designers and community leaders. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wilshire, 4316 Abrams at Mockingbird. For more information about attending, designing a table or becoming a sponsor, email Jane Waters at janewaters@hhmtx. org or visit healinghandsdallas.org.

—CAROL TOLER

KNOW OF WAYS that neighbors can spend time, attend an event, or purchase or donate something to benefit a neighborhood nonprofit? Email your suggestion to launch@ advocatemag.com.