The Learning Commons is still reverberating from the soprano and tenor voices singing the word 'love' from Puccini’s La Boheme Act I to sixth graders during their advisory lesson on March 29. The soprano Soula Parassidis, tenor Norman Reinhardt, and research professor Christos Makridis not only brought opera to the forefront but also addressed well-being and how classical music meets technology through the applications of AI.

Together they have formed a team that blends technology and opera through the Living Opera platform. The platform strives to see people find their purpose and live their full potential. Each one of them shared their personal stories about their life journeys, their fears, and struggles while sixth-grade students listened carefully. The presenters also shared a technique students can use to discard bad thoughts and overcome fear. Students were inspired, asked many questions, and seeked to learn more by staying during their lunch. The presentation ended with middle school students stomping their feet and clapping their hands to the beat of the song “Ring of Fire”. The whole presentation was a treat and a joy to experience.