Marella Martin Koch (Cycle 24)
Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program alum Marella Martin Koch (Cycle 24) and her collaborator Nicolas Lell Benavides were the recipient of the prestigious West Edge Opera Aperture Commission for their project DELORES which was inspired by living activist Dolores Huerta.
Over the past 8 months, Koch and Benavides and six other Aperture finalists participated in 'Sprints' in which creative teams developed their projects and submitted weekly videos updating subscribers and curators on their progress. With subscriber input, the Aperture curators arrived at a decision to award the commission of the opera DOLORES.
DOLORES tells the story of activist Dolores Huerta, and the powerful 24 hours following the assassination of Bobby Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles On June 5, 1968. One day earlier, Kennedy had won the California primary due in large part to the work of Huerta and the United Farm Workers. Composer Benavides is a cousin to Huerta and has spent time with her, learning her story.
With West Edge Opera, the opera Dolores will receive a concert performance in summer of 2023. Until then, Benavides and Koch will engage in research and workshops bringing the opera to life.