Opera in the Outfield F.A.Q.

Updated 8/22/2020 at 6:00p CDT

General Info

What is Opera in the Outfield?
Opera in the Outfield is a video experience on the jumbotron at CHS Field in St. Paul. It will feature music recorded by the Minnesota Opera Orchestra, Pianists, and Resident Artist Singers, accompanied by custom animation and imagery from past MNOP productions compiled especially for this event. There will also be some fun, non-musical content featuring board, staff, orchestra, and current and former resident artists. For more info and tickets visit the MNOP Website.

Health & Safety

Please see the MNOP COVID-19 Preparedness Plan (updated 8/20/2020) and COVID-19 Orchestra Health & Safety Policy for details. Please note: COVID-19 Plans are subject to change to reflect the most current public health information. The most current Plan will always be available on this website.

Who do I contact with a COVID related safety concern?
Questions or concerns regarding the COVID-19 Plan may be directed to the COVID Plan Supervisors at any time:

  • Kerry Masek (Interim Asst. Production Director): [email protected] / 949-463-9740 cell (texts or calls welcome) / 612-342-9584 office
  • Jen Thill (Director of Human Resources): [email protected] / 612-342-9552 office

Two team members will be on-site during orchestra sessions to address safety concerns:

  • Karen Quisenberry (VP Production): [email protected] / 203-606-6490 cell / 612-342-2603 office
  • Josh Peklo (Technical Director): [email protected] / 203-494-6048 cell / 612-342-9581 office

Will I receive training in the COVID-19 Plan?
Yes. As part of Governor Walz’s Emergency Executive Orders, we are required to have a written COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in place and to provide all employees with training on the Plan, so that you can perform the precautions necessary to keep yourself and your co-workers as safe as possible. We are currently offering three training dates for orchestra, please sign-up here to receive a Zoom link to your preferred date.

How to I complete my pre-arrival health questionnaire?
Before you come to the Opera Center for each service, please complete the 1-minute COVID-19 Health Screening questionnaire on this website.

Where do I enter for my health screening?
Everyone who will be in the rehearsal room is required to complete a quick health screening before each session. Please enter via the Jones Studio exterior door, located to your right as you are facing the main Opera Center entrance.

What does the on-site health screening consist of?
A COVID Coordinator will review your health questionnaire and perform a touch-less, forehead temperature check. You will need a dry, unobstructed forehead.

When can I enter the Opera Center?
To enable social distancing at the entry point, during health screenings, and moving about the facility, musicians may sign up for a 10 to 15 minute long arrival window during the hour before each session begins. Please visit the Orchestra Entry Times page to select your preferred entry. Links will take you to the Doodle website to choose your time.

Bemis Hall

How will we social distance?
Social distancing will be maintained in the orchestra seating arrangements, assigned unpacking/instrument case storage areas (for larger instruments), and one-directional traffic flow throughout the facility. Please observe the posted signage for traffic flow – it may be different than what you are used to.

Tell me about the Bemis Hall HVAC system?
Bemis Hall has an HVAC system dedicated to this room only. It has a MERV-13 filter, and during orchestra sessions will be programmed to operate on 100% outside air, meaning that air is not recycled. The fan will always been on before, during, and after sessions to promote air circulation. The air exchange rate is approximately 4 times per hour, so about every 15 minutes.

Where do I unpack my instrument or store my case?
Because your playing area is larger than normal, smaller instruments should unpack and store their case in their assigned seating area. There will be ample room on the floor around you (and don’t worry, the floor will be disinfected between each session). Larger instruments, such as cellos and basses, will have an assigned unpacking/case storage area around the periphery of the room. Please look for the sign with your name taped to the wall.

Will musicians be separated by shields?
Wind and brass instruments will have plexi-glass shields placed around them to help prevent the spread of larger aerosol droplets. Shields can be adjusted as needed to ensure a clear line of sight to the conductor and ease of playing your instrument. For help adjusting a shield, please contact Karen or Josh in the room (see contact info above). Shields will be available for use by other musicians if desired/needed; please ask Josh or Karen for help setting one.

Will I share a music stand?
No. Every musician will have their own stand, socially distanced from other musicians. Be sure to consider this in planning your page turns.

Restrooms

What restrooms will be available?
Assuming we pass our plumbing inspection on Monday (all fingers crossed!), there will be new multi-stall women’s and men’s restrooms on the Lower Level, as well as one single-person, any-gender, accessible restroom. COVID-19 social distancing restrictions will be in place for the mulit-stall restrooms, including:

  • Women’s Restroom:
    • Maximum capacity: 3 people
    • Two of the five toilet stalls will be blocked off to enforce social distancing.  Three toilet stalls will be available, including an accessible stall.
    • One of the two sinks will be blocked off to enforce social distancing.
  • Men’s Restroom:
    • Maximum capacity: 3 people
    • One of the three urinals will be blocked off to enforce social distancing.  Two urinals will be available, including an accessible urinal.
    • One of the two toilet stalls will be blocked off to enforce social distancing.  The available toilet is accessible.
    • Both sinks will remain available as there is sufficient social distance between them.

Do toilets have lids?
Some of them do. Accessible and ambulatory toilets cannot have lids and be within code. So in the women’s restroom, two of the available three toilets have lids. In the men’s restroom, the available toilet does NOT have a lid. In the any-gender restroom, the toilet does NOT have a lid.

What is the restroom HVAC?
The Lower Level restrooms are part of the HVAC system that serves the front lobby, lower level hallway, greenroom, and lower level restrooms. It has a MERV-13 filter. The air exchange rate is approximately 3.8 times per hour, so about every 15 minutes.

Recording & Photography

Will we be audio recorded?
Yes, this presentation will feature audio recordings of the MNOP Orchestra made Aug 25 through Sept 1 at the Opera Center, working with recording engineer John Scherf.

Will we be video recorded? Are there dress requirements?
Yes, MNOP Production Team members will shoot some video footage of the rehearsal and recording sessions, to be used as occasional B-roll in the video presentation. The intent is to capture working sessions, showing how we are adapting to COVID-19 by recording in sections and in some cases with masks. There are no specific dress requirements, please dress however you feel comfortable. You do not need to dress the same from day to day. Baseball attire optional: the event is in a ballpark after all!

May we take photographs?
Yes please! We are happy to have you document our music-making activities. If you’d like to share your photos with MNOP for possible use as video presentation B-roll at CHS Field or on our social media, please upload them here.

Still have a question?

If you have a question that was not answered here, please contact: