Meet Antonio Cipriano, Featured Alumnus Soloist

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​We're only 3 weeks away from our annual A Winter Fantasy Concert​! Look forward to Antonio Cipriano's performance for this special 10th anniversary event on December 17.
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Name: Antonio Cipriano 
Hometown: Grosse Pointe Shores 
Seasons in MOTCC: 

• 2011-2012 H.M.S. Pinafore 
• 2012-2013 The Happy Prince 

​Antonio Cipriano is a senior at University Liggett Upper School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, This year he was the Sutton Foster Ovation Award NHSMTA Winner for the state of Michigan and was among the top four finalists in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, “Jimmy Awards”. Cipriano has also received awards for superior achievement in solo musical theatre from the Michigan Youth Arts Festival two years in a row. 
​In 2013 Antonio Cipriano played the Prince in MOTCC’s production of The Happy Prince. Since then, Antonio has performed in theatre productions with the Birmingham Village Players, Grosse Pointe Theatre and recently performed the role of Mickey McKee in the University of Liggett Upper School’s production of Hello My Baby. 

What was your experience like at MOTCC?
My experience at MOTCC was one of the biggest learning experiences of my life. I learned how to read and perform music at a very high level for my age. The opportunities that I had while being a part of this group were unbelievable. I had the privilege of performing at the Michigan Opera Theatre in a main stage opera. I also played a leading role on that stage. This all happened before I turned eleven. Not many eleven year olds get to say that. The teachers who worked with us were so knowledgeable about their craft and all they wanted to do was help us exceed expectations of regular kids. In order to do that, they treated us as professionals, and had high expectations for us. This may have been a little scary at first, but throughout my time there, I realized that they want the best for us, and they made us so much better than we could have ever imagined.
 
Is there any advice you would give to students in the MOTCC now? 
Be a sponge. Soak up all the information and knowledge that is being given to you. As I stated before, the experiences you will have while you are in that program will stay with you for a lifetime. When I was younger, I didn’t necessarily realize the amazing opportunities I was getting. Now that I am older, I finally realized how lucky I was to have had those opportunities, and some of them have actually inspired me to pursue music as a career.
 
What are your future goals and aspirations? 
​I plan on majoring in musical theatre in college. Even though I will be studying musical theatre, I really want to do all forms of the art such as film and opera as well. I have just been cast in a show that is slated to go to Broadway next year, so depending on where that show goes, that will determine this next year of my life. MOTCC was a big part of why I want to pursue performing as a career because of the amazing professionals that worked with us every day inspiring us to push for more than just the ordinary.