It isn’t often that a middle school music teacher wins much attention or acclaim, not to mention the chance to be Cinderella at the ball for a night.
But in a scenario as intriguing as the opera plots that inspired it, Priscilla Barrow, a 22-year veteran of the D.C. public schools, has unexpectedly found herself the star of her own crowd-pleasing tale.
Curtain please! Here goes: A British opera blogger’s 140-character plot synopsis of Wagner’s Ring Cycle for a Twitter contest hosted by a Canadian music writer and judged by an Australian-American soprano garnered him a magical prize that he donated to a worthy music teacher, who therefore got to attend Washington National Opera‘s June 4 performance of Turandot and the company’s Opera Ball at the German Embassy the next evening.
There were even costumes: The Opera’s costume department lent Ms. Barrow an opera-worthy gown for the occasion.
Oregon-based Brit Stephen Llewellyn, the blogger for the Portland Opera, summed up Wagner’s masterpiece this way for the Twitter contest organized by music journalist Marcia Adair: “There was a young lady called Fricka who . . . who . . . *snore* ‘Wake up — it’s over.’ It’s good, I just wish it were quicka.”
With his winnings in hand and a desire to spread the opera wealth around, he searched out a teacher who would be sure to enjoy the prize. Barrow, who teaches music at elementary schools in Northeast D.C., is a deserving recipient. She actively engages arts organizations such as the Washington Performing Arts Society and the Shakespeare Theater to enrich her students’ education.
That’s what I call a good story. If only someone would set it to music.