On Rooftop’s 40th birthday, Friday, May 4, from 10:35-11:30am in the Mayeda Amphitheatre, the 6th grade “Art Is…” classes presented “On the Rooftop,” a world-premiere original opera, created with the support of San Francisco Opera’s ARIA Network Education program.
Written, composed, staged and performed by our students, this original work celebrates Rooftop’s past, present and future. We use music to tell the story of the very first day – Thursday, May 4, 1972 – when seven teachers came together to “open the door” to Rooftop School.
On The Rooftop Opera (2012) Audio Files
Audio files created for “On the Rooftop,” an original opera, created by the 6th grade “Art Is…” classes at Rooftop Alternative Elementary School, with the support of composer Candace Forest, pianist Eric Stein of San Francisco Opera’s ARIA Network Education program, teaching artist Andi Wong, and Rooftop School founding teachers Ernie Baumgarten, Gus Kearney and Bob Beckstrom.
- Prelude
- 01 Open the Door – Ernie plays his harmonica
- 02 On the Rooftop – Ernie, Gus and Bob on the First Day of School – Original student compositions by Andy Chao, created with GarageBand
- 03 On the Rooftop – 10pm
- 04 On the Rooftop – 8am – Recorded rehearsal tracks for “On the Rooftop” – Eric Stein, pianist. Composed by 6A & 6B; with Candace Forest, San Francisco Opera ARIA
- 05 Piano – Here On the Rooftop
- 06 Piano – It’s the First Day of School
- 07 Piano – Livin’ In the Golden City
- 08 Piano – Here on the Rooftop (finale)
- 09 Piano – On the Rooftop (Complete Score)
On The Rooftop Opera (2012) Musical Score
Accompanist copy of the musical score for “On The Rooftop,” an original opera created in 2012 by the 6th grade students at Rooftop Alternative School with the support of teaching artist Andi Wong, composer Candace Forest and San Francisco Opera’s ARIA Network Education Program.