AIC students to perform in New Orleans

Students from American International College will be heading to New Orleans, not for any Super Bowl celebration party, but to perform at a different celebration: Fete Francaise, a festival on March 20, featuring French and Cajun food, music and art French.

The festival is becoming a staple of the Spring festival season, with thousands flocking each year to eat authentic moules et frites and hear French and Cajun music. The festival is presented by New Orleans' French immersion school, Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orleans.

The students were invited to perform at the festival, using marionettes in a variety show. Professor Jan Grimaldi, who teaches Opera Appreciation at AIC, said they were chosen to perform at the festival by the New Orleans' French immersion school, Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orleans. "I put my name as an emerging artist on a website that promotes French language learning," she said. "Sure enough, I get a call from this school inviting us to perform and they are paying for the whole trip for me and three students."

Arina Tsikhotskaya, Professor Jan Grimaldi, Joseph Brown and Alba Coton rehearse for the upcoming Fete Francais Festival in New Orleans.

The students, Alba Coton of Springfield, Joseph Brown of West Windsor, N.J., and Arina Tsikhotskaya of Worcester, will perform nine musical numbers at three performances during the day.

The show features a puppet acting as emcee who introduces a variety of acts, much like Jay Leno or David Letterman. During the show, Professor Grimaldi and the three AIC students will have solos. One act involves a puppet who plays the trumpet, and in another, a marionette stops and has to be wound up during the solo.

Grimaldi began incorporating marionettes into her opera class several years ago. After teaching math at American International College for more than 20 years, she decided to follow her passion and teach young students about opera. She has spent time with opera legend Luciano Pavorotti and studied in Europe, learning how to make marionettes from marionette masters.

She says the marionettes have become a big hit with students. "I think it is important to not only let the students see and hear an opera, but to let them become involved in one, as well."