By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

City dignitaries and project sponsors for a summer opera workshop in Marion met people who are bringing the event to town Thursday evening.

“Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills” will run two weeks in July and culminate in performances Aug. 3, 4, and 5 at Marion Community Center.

Those who attended a reception with Symphony in the Flint Hills executive director Christy Davis, International Opera Workshop director Martha Sharp, and project director for the workshop Abby Triemer, heard plans made for the upcoming workshop.

Sharp and Triemer talked to sponsors about what the event will give the students who participate. Singers are enrolled from universities as far away as North Carolina and New York.

Sharp said she got involved in doing workshops because as a university instructor, she was teaching students to sing, but knew they weren’t learning as much as they needed.

“I’ve always picked small towns,” Sharp said.

Marion needs to raise $15,000 for the workshop. Marion economic development director Randy Collett said he has already reached out to potential sponsors, and will be contacting others.