Prelude Opera

The mission of Prelude Opera is to bring opera to children. From Handel to John Adams and the Marriage of Figaro to Einstein on the Beach, operas contain some of the greatest music ever composed. Opera is a powerful artistic medium that brings together music and theater using one of the most fundamental instruments, the human voice. Learning the language of music has proven to play a compelling role in children’s intellectual development and is essential to one’s emotional well-being. Introducing children to opera exposes them to several of the greatest classical composers in the context of storytelling and theater. By enjoying family-friendly opera at a young age, children can develop a lifelong interest in this stunning musical-theatrical experience. My hope is for Prelude Opera to be a prelude to a lifelong enjoyment of opera and classical music.

Pianist Christine Pulliam Melamed performs as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist. Since moving to NYC in 2010 she has developed an opera coaching career, working for the Atlantic Music Festival, Masterworks Festival and Opera Company of Brooklyn. As music director of the opera company Dramma per Music, she directed Don Giovanni, Xerxes, Giulio Cesare, and Ariodante. She has instructed piano for 23 years and is currently a lecturer of piano and music history at The King’s College in New York City. Previously she was on the piano faculty of the Levine School of Music in Washington D.C. A fan of new music, she has premiered works by Frank Felice, Benjamin Boyle, and Joshua Bornfield. Past performances also include the Opus Nine Ensemble, Académie Francis Poulenc in Tours, France, the Vancouver International Song Institute, the Kennedy Center of Washington D.C., The Washington Sinfonietta, University of Wisconsin, and Malacañang Palace in the Philippines. A native of Indianapolis, she graduated from Butler University summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and minor in journalism. She holds masters degrees from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.