Meet J. Scott Brumit of Longwood Opera in Needham

Today we’d like to introduce you to J. Scott Brumit.

Please kick things off for us, we’d love to hear the story.
In 1986 Longwood Opera was created by conductor John Balme and myself to fill a void in New England’s performing arts network. After students graduate from the universities and conservatories in the Boston area, they have the skills necessary to make a career as opera singers, but they lack the opportunity to utilize their talents.

Producing opera is a costly undertaking. Most major companies are reluctant to risk using “unseasoned” singers in leading roles. Longwood Opera gives these talented singers a chance to practice their art and to polish their performing skills, so that they may become successful artists. So far, over 500 singers have performed as members of the company over the past twenty-seven years. After a few seasons, the majority of these singers have continued onwards towards their goal of becoming professional opera singers. It has been rewarding to see the large number of now famous opera singers who began their careers with Longwood Opera. Supporting local contemporary composers and librettists is an additional goal. For our 1989/90 season we commissioned Charles Shadle to compose an opera for “children of all ages.” His delightful opera Friends and Dinosaurs has been successful throughout the United States since its premiere with Longwood Opera. For our 14th season, we commissioned Jeffrey Brody to compose The Measure of Love as a partner opera to perform with Mozart’s The Impresario. Richard Sizensky was the librettist for this exciting undertaking. To open our 25th season, in June 2011, we again commissioned Jeffrey Brody to compose an opera based on Oscar Wilde’s story The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Since 1990, Christ Episcopal Church in Needham has been our base of operations for auditions and rehearsals, as well as a venue for many performances and the summer concert series. The popular Summer concert series in the sanctuary of the church has drawn an average of 2000 people per summer and continues to grow. Every Tuesday evening during the months of July and August a different concert is performed utilizing different singers and different repertoire. The concerts feature evenings of Opera arias, Broadway melodies, Gilbert & Sullivan, as well as opera scenes. Last summer more than 60 singers had the opportunity to perform before the filled sanctuary.

Our full production operas are always performed in English. Longwood Opera has always committed to bring opera to communities throughout the greater Boston area. In the past, we have performed regularly in Acton, Arlington, Beverly, Brookline, Littleton, Medford, Providence, Salem, and Weston. Unfortunately, touring has become an overwhelming expense. Currently, the majority of our performances occur in Needham, MA. We continue to draw people from over 30 communities in CT, MA, ME, NH, and RI.

As more people want to pursue performing arts careers in a climate where opportunities are dwindling, Longwood Opera has matured into a valuable forum for the young, talented artist. Also importantly, the company is reaching people who can attend professional performances without the inconveniences of expense or travel.

Longwood Opera can be followed on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and we have our own blog. Previous production selections as well our recent productions of Rigoletto, Madame Butterfly, Carmen, The Barber of Seville, The Elixir of Love and The Magic Flute can be viewed in HD in their entirety on our YouTube channel.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
J. Scott Brumit, the co-founder and current general director of Longwood Opera, compares the training of an opera singer to that of an athlete:

Both must learn by doing.

The Boston area has plenty of conservatories and universities with excellent music programs – but provides few opportunities for young singers to practice and gain experience in their art.

To continue the sports metaphor: Longwood works as baseball farm team – the Pawtucket Red Sox of opera.

Longwood achieves its commitment to local artists by using a cooperative system.

As a result, over the past few decades hundreds of singers have had an opportunity to practice their craft as members of the company.

As more people seek performing arts careers in a climate of dwindling opportunity, Longwood Opera has matured into a valuable forum for the young, talented artist.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Longwood Opera story. Tell us more about the business.
The mission of Longwood Opera is twofold:

To prepare trained emerging singers for the next stage in their operatic careers by providing them with the opportunity to practice their art and to polish their performing skills in major roles before a live audience

To foster appreciation for opera among individuals from all walks of life in the Greater Boston communities by offering high-quality, accessible and affordable operatic experiences

Composers need support, too.

Longwood has already had the privilege of providing commissions for composers and then staging the premiers of their new works: Friends and Dinosaurs, by Charles Shadle, was first performed in 1989. The spring of 2001 marked the premier of a new work, The Measure of Love, composed by Longwood’s conductor, Jeffrey Brody, with a libretto by Richard Sizensky, commissioned and performed by Longwood Opera.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Longwood Opera appeared at the right time, in the right place and at the right time, providing many people an opera-tunity to proceed up the arduous ladder of success in the musical business. While this was achieved by lots of hard work and diligence, luck has played an important part as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: LongwoodOpera.org
• Phone: 781-455-0960
• Email: Longwood.Opera@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Longwood-Opera-362109928195/

Image Credit:
July 4th Needham Exchange Club Parade Marchers
J. Scott Brumit
Sol Kim-Bentley
Lyra Kim-Bentley
Amy Mitchell
RaShaun Campbell
Gary Thies
Evelyn Griffin

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.