Sksksksksk

One-Act Opera // 2022

Summary

Sksksksksk follows two snakes, Slivver and Hithh, as they hunt for food in the hot, hot California hills. When a family sets off an ill-advised Fourth of July firework during a celebratory picnic, the hillside is suddenly engulfed in flames. Both Slivver and Hithh must escape the fire, but not before snatching the last remnant of food in sight: a hot dog dropped by the fleeing picnic-goers. As they both latch onto the hotdog, flames encircling quickly, they must work together to bring the hotdog to higher ground or die trying.

Producer

Strange Trace

Role

Composer

Type

Production

Instrumentation

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Piano, Percussion, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

Collaborators

Librettist // Lauren D’Errico // Music Director // Clover Nahabedian // Video Editor // Clover Nahabedian // Stage Director // Clover Nahabedian // Newscaster 1 // Erin Matthews // Slivver // Erin Matthews // Synth // Clover Nahabedian // Newscaster 2 // Frances Kruske // Hithh // Frances Kruske // Percussion // Dan Reifsteck

Production Details

Pitching

My writing partner, Lauren D'Errico, and I wrote a pitch for this project which included the phrase "hot snake love." Our proposal was chosen out of 150+ submissions for production.

Writing

I was in graduate school for design when composing this piece, so I wrote it primarily during the holiday break. In nine days, we had a full first draft. The music flowed easily due to the rhythmic ostinato used throughout — it was a groove from start to finish.

Pivot

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this piece was produced as a video and streamed for the Stencils Festival. Our director, Clover Nahabedian, pivoted deftly and crafted a video performance.

Challenges & Opportunities

Time

Time is neither plentiful nor constant. Unless users set aside and protect their time, they will rarely — if ever — invest in their own careers during the workday.

Solve

Streamline

Let the platform do most of the thinking. Streamline the browsing, reading, and recommendation features so users can get in and get out more easily.

Undo

Energy

Energy wanes naturally over time. While users feel inspired to pursue their career goals after WFF's conference, this energy doesn't last throughout the year.

Solve

Inspire

Show users a path toward their goals using inspirational narratives from women in similar situations; create role models.

Undo

Benefit

Career growth is not a linear path; nor is it purely a question of ability. Often, users will focus on more immediate wins rather than invest long-term because of this ambiguity.

Solve

Reframe

Rather than incentivizing users through results-first language, reframe the benefit around relationship-building and feminine community.

Undo

Sounds Great!

but...can I listen to it?

Want to Produce or Peruse?

Please direct all inquiries about this piece and others to the composer (it's me! Email me! Send me a little note, it'll make my day).

Contact the Composer

Sksksksksk

One-Act Opera // 2022

Summary

Producer

Strange Trace

Role

Composer

Type

Production

Instrumentation

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Piano, Percussion, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

Collaborators

Production Details

Pitching

My writing partner, Lauren D'Errico, and I wrote a pitch for this project which included the phrase "hot snake love." Our proposal was chosen out of 150+ submissions for production.

Writing

I was in graduate school for design when composing this piece, so I wrote it primarily during the holiday break. In nine days, we had a full first draft. The music flowed easily due to the rhythmic ostinato used throughout — it was a groove from start to finish.

Pivot

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this piece was produced as a video and streamed for the Stencils Festival. Our director, Clover Nahabedian, pivoted deftly and crafted a video performance.

People say,

"My personal favorite was Would You Eat Me? I'm not sure I've ever attended such a short opera that felt so complete."

People say,

"The masterful singing of these two very emotional pieces left me in tears and more in touch with myself. The two pieces complimented each other perfectly."

Challenges & Opportunities

Time

Time is neither plentiful nor constant. Unless users set aside and protect their time, they will rarely — if ever — invest in their own careers during the workday.

Streamline

Let the platform do most of the thinking. Streamline the browsing, reading, and recommendation features so users can get in and get out more easily.

Energy

Energy wanes naturally over time. While users feel inspired to pursue their career goals after WFF's conference, this energy doesn't last throughout the year.

Inspire

Show users a path toward their goals using inspirational narratives from women in similar situations; create role models.

Benefit

Career growth is not a linear path; nor is it purely a question of ability. Often, users will focus on more immediate wins rather than invest long-term because of this ambiguity.

Reframe

Rather than incentivizing users through results-first language, reframe the benefit around relationship-building and feminine community.

Sounds Great!

but...can I listen to it?

Want to Produce or Peruse?

Please direct all inquiries about this piece and others to the composer (it's me! Email me! Send me a little note, it'll make my day).

Wireframing

A Peronsal Browsing Experience

Visual Design

Aspirational Graphic Language

Branding

Articulating WFF's Value Proposition

Outcomes

Overall platform usage by Members increased 42%.

as of December 2023.

Annual membership renewals by Partners increased 12%.

as of December 2023.

WFF Conference attendance is at an all-time high.

projected for the March 2024 conference.

Thank You

for your time and energy.