Down the Rabbit Hole: A One Act Opera based on Alice in Wonderland

Down the Rabbit Hole is a one act opera that retells the story of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland. The performers, all undergraduate voice students at the University of Georgia, will bring to life such familiar characters as the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, and many others as they sing their way through Alice’s story. The performance will be about one hour long and is perfect for both the young and the young at heart. 

Ramsey Hall on UGA’s campus at 5:30pm. All performances will be free to the public. Created by Abigail Head, a doctoral student in vocal performance at UGA, with the help of Bryan Wysocki, DMA student in composition, and Julien Berger, fourth year composition student, this musical experience aims to introduce audiences to opera as an art form through the use of familiar stories and fun rhythms and melodies. 

What to Expect: • A Fun Retelling of a Familiar Story • About 1 hour of Music • Opportunity to ask questions and interact with performers.

Creator Bios: Abigail Head, a soprano from Roanoke, Virginia, received her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Samford University in 2016 and her master’s degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in 2020. Abigail is currently working on a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Georgia. During her time at UGA, Abigail has performed in opera scenes programs, both as a performer and a director, as well as performing the role of Despina in UGA Opera Theatre’s production of Cosi Fan Tutte. Down the Rabbit Hole is part of Abigail’s dissertation project for her doctoral degree. In all her work, Abigail keeps Bach’s signature in mind: Soli Deo Gloria. 

Julien Berger is a composer and saxophonist originally from the Washington, D.C. area. He currently resides in Athens, Georgia, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance and Composition with Drs. Connie Frigo, Brandon Quarles (saxophone), Peter Lane, Emily Koh, and Adrian Childs (composition). His music on both the saxophone and on paper is emotional and programmatic, providing the audience a unique glimpse into his artistic vision. 

Bryan Wysocki (b. 1995) is a Maryland-born, Atlanta-based interdisciplinary musical artist who is interested in exploring the blurry relationships between time, memory, and perception in the music of today. He started his musical journey as a percussionist, primarily interested in drum set and the marching arts. From there, he became interested in the worlds of jazz, north Indian classical music, and contemporary percussion literature. Bryan is currently a doctoral student in music composition at the University of Georgia, where he is a Graduate Research Assistantship with the Ideas for Creative Exploration, an interdisciplinary arts research catalyst based in the Lamar Dodd School of Art. He holds a Master of Music in Percussion Performance and a Masters of Music in Composition from Georgia State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Music Composition from Hofstra University. His percussion teachers include Stuart Gerber, Sean Ritenauer, and Montgomery Hatch. His composition teachers include Emily Koh, Peter Van Zandt Lane, Nickitas Demos, and Herbert Deutsch.