Vashon Opera: A Full-Community Production

PERFORM. The Vashon Center for the Arts held the most recent performance of Cinderella. The VCA has been the home for dozens of Vashon Opera productions over the years. Photo courtesy of Mabel Pekoz.

Although our island may be small, our arts programs here on Vashon are phenomenal. After a stunning performance in September, one organization particularly stands out: the Vashon Opera. Founded in 2008, this organization has been performing on Vashon for almost 17 years, and it has grown from a small group of music lovers to a full community. Their most recent performance of Cinderella featured well-accomplished performers, musicians from across the country, dancers on Vashon, and world-class costumes. The artistic director plays a huge role in the opera’s success, as they are incredibly good at bringing a show to life.

Allison Pohl has been singing and performing for almost twenty years, and two years ago, she took on the role of artistic director for the Vashon Opera.

“At Vashon Opera, we only hire the best singing actors and we depend on them to arrive at the first rehearsal not only perfectly prepared, but also ready to add their own special skills that make the entire opera really sparkle,” said Pohl. Even though the weeks leading up to the show can be quite extreme, Pohl is extremely dedicated.

“Many people have the incorrect impression that opera is simply about singing, when in fact it is just as much about acting, theatricality, drama, and storytelling. If you haven’t experienced a live opera yet, I urge you to set about doing that,” Pohl finished.

Singers also have a unique perspective on the organization. Karen Bargelt has been a performer with the Vashon Opera for 12 years. Although she has been a musician since high school, she didn’t start her career in opera.

“I started singing in my high school choir. As an adult, I sang in church choir and eventually joined the Vashon Chorale. Our family is pretty musical, so music has always been a part of my life,” Bargelt mentioned.

Bargelt also described what it’s like to put a performance together in the final weeks before opening night.

“The few weeks leading up to the performances are pretty intense, with four-hour rehearsals many evenings and on the weekends. It's a bit of a whirlwind and then we're done,” Bargelt added.

Students are involved in this program too. High school dancers were invited to dance in the opera, Jillian Wegley being one of them. Wegley has been dancing for 12 years, starting as a three-year-old. She was very grateful to have been a part of the show.

“This is my first time dancing with the Opera, and it was really cool because we were performing with live music. I think dancing is really fun and I like being on stage,” Wegley said.

Not only were dancers involved, but a live orchestra played along with the show as well. Tommy Hawthorne, a double bass player for over 15 years commutes to Vashon from off island for opera rehearsals and performances.

“I usually take a first look at the music about a month in advance. That's my chance to make a note of any spots that will need the most practice. From there, I revisit the music more frequently the week ahead of our first rehearsal as an orchestra,” stated Hawthorne. This is extremely impressive considering the 3.5-hour length of the show.

Vashon Opera displays creativity, art, endless dedication, and passion from anyone involved. In addition, everyone mentioned above was incredibly passionate about the organization and thrilled to share their experiences. Looking forward, the Vashon Opera will be performing Hansel & Gretel in Spring 2026. The performers are committed to keep bringing this unique art form to the island.