When Opera and Graphic Novels Collide

A new unit in English I encourages students to explore genres they might otherwise overlook.

Upper School English teachers Kate Gay, Danielle Goldstein, and Emily Ihrke have introduced a new unit in English I called Voice and Choice: Reading Words and Images. This past fall, students read the graphic novel “Operatic” by Kyo Maclear and Byron Eggenschwiler, which features music as a central theme. They were also visited by Cris Siqueira, owner of Lion’s Tooth Books in Bay View, Wisconsin, who spoke about the artistry behind graphic novels and gave a book talk about new titles for students to consider.

In addition, 9th grade students were invited to a presentation by Head of School Steve Hancock, who spoke about musical bias and his own preconceptions about different musical genres. He encouraged students to try something new by listening to opera. “I really liked Mr. Hancock’s lesson because we were able to experience a new teacher and learn in a new environment,” said Wyatt Cox ’25. “We could actually relate to opera music, and we learned how to read faces and understand opera.”