LA GRANDE – For the past several years, Portland Opera To Go has made an annual trip to Eastern Oregon University and in February the group returns to join the EOU Opera Club, “Cantanti Voce,” in bringing two nights of opera to La Grande.

Portland Opera To Go is an educational tour and outreach program dedicated to sharing the power of opera and the importance of music with thousands of children and schools throughout Oregon.

The group will be on campus Feb. 4-8, providing a unique and priceless educational experience to EOU music students and the local community.

“We are very fortunate that the Portland Opera To Go members are willing to come to EOU each year,” said Peter Wordelman, professor of music at EOU. “The week is always very fast paced and exciting for our students.”

On Tuesday, Portland Opera To Go will perform a 50-minute, English-language adaptation of “La Bohème,” which is considered to be one of the most popular and well-known operas by Giacomo Puccini.

Additionally, the EOU Opera Club will perform on Friday, Feb. 8. Both performances start at 7:30 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre. Concert tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.

During their weeklong stay, the touring group will provide workshops, master classes and opera coaching for EOU music students. The sessions will not only help students prepare for their own opera performance, but also provide them with an educational experience that is vital to the program.

“I look forward to this week every year,” said Allison Bassett, a junior at EOU and president of the EOU Opera Club. “Each time they come back, they bring new experiences and people to gain knowledge from. I look forward to pushing myself and improving.”

Seth Olson, also a junior at EOU, echoed Bassett’s enthusiasm.

“The experience was fun but hard work,” Olson said of his experience participating in a previous workshop. “The Portland Opera singers are great people and we learn a lot from them.”

For more information contact Wordelman at pwordelm@eou.edu or at 962-3352.