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While most teenagers bask in the summer sun, a group of Norwin students practice melodies and perfect stage blocking.

As part of the Youngtimers Touring Opera Company, their idea of summer fun is singing opera.

"This is giving them something to do, instead of being lonely all summer," says Maria Pealstrom, who organized the group's formation. "This is getting them all together. It's been a pirate party all summer long."

Pealstrom, whose daughter Erika performs in the company, has helped tutor performers for various productions at Scull Elementary School and Norwin High School. As a stay-at-home mother, Pealstrom has used her free time to guide her children and their friends into performing.

Pealstrom studied voice and performance at Carnegie Mellon University before singing with the Pittsburgh Opera. She gave up her musical career for marriage and children, but she never forgot the joy of performing. That is a gift that she has passed on to her kids.

Erika says she's been singing "ever since I was pretty much born."

Pealstrom realized how talented the students were as she watched them perform in Norwin High School's spring production of "Les Miserables." Believing those talents should not go to waste, she created the Youngtimers Touring Opera Company. The company's motto is "Why talk when you can sing?"

Pealstrom developed the idea of a youth opera company that would stage operatic productions and sing at various community functions. This summer, the Youngtimers have performed at the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society and at some church services. They hope to plan performances at local nursing homes as well.

"It's a nice youth group," Pealstrom says. "They're doing some outreach work."

Pealstrom personally recruited the 32-member cast, which includes three elementary students. Erika was one of the first to agree to perform, although she was rather skeptical about the endeavor.

"At first, I thought she was crazy," says Erika, who will start her junior year at Norwin in the fall. "It was just too much."

Creating an opera company was an overwhelming responsibility. Pealstrom held rehearsals in her home, the former Westmoreland City Elementary School. She purchased the music and supplies. She has struggled to keep a cast intact, while dealing with family vacations and other schedule conflicts.

The 32-member cast has practiced most weekdays, often starting as early as 7 a.m. so some members could attend morning practice sessions for the Norwin Knights football team. Afternoons and evenings were spent making props and sewing costumes. Pealstrom has used hand-me-downs and scoured thrift shops to fashion the costumes. Every piece has been sewn and adjusted by Pealstrom, cast members or a few mothers who volunteered to help. They have used anything they could, from bed sheets to blouses from the Salvation Army store.

"Girls are learning how to sew as well as sing," Pealstrom says with a laugh.

"It's a lot of work to put on a show," Erika says. "It was really busy around here. Not so much free time."

Pealstrom chose the popular Gilbert and Sullivan work "Pirates of Penzance" for the company's first production.

"Gilbert and Sullivan music is really a good teaching tool for young voices," Pealstrom says.

The cast is finding that performing an opera can be a wonderful challenge.

"I didn't understand everything I would be doing, so it has been a bit of a surprise," says junior Bill Boyer, who has never performed in a musical. "I don't think (my parents) expected it to turn out as well as it turned out to be."

The summer's work is surprising a number of people, especially the students, who are finding talents they never knew they had.

"They're young, and they're finding all these new techniques," Pealstrom says. "They didn't know they could do it. When they find out they can do it, they are surprised."

The group's debut performance was held earlier this month at Central Presbyterian Church in McKeesport. Its next performance will be at the Calvary Assembly Church in Irwin on Friday and Saturday.

"I've always loved singing," says Justin Los, who graduated from Norwin in May. "Getting up and getting the energy from the audience is amazing."

"This is meant to be an educational experience for them," Pealstrom says.

The experience is working. Several of the kids have developed a love for opera and musical theater.

Sophomore Rachel Meister never listened to opera before this summer. As the group's pianist, she has been indoctrinated into the classic genre.

"It's weird. I never watched an opera before," she says. "I like most of the songs. I just like to play."

Some, like Boyer, are now willing to audition for the school musical this year. Others have developed a newfound kinship with their castmates.

Junior Mike Mihalevic explained that everyone enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the ability to sing again. "It's a lot of fun," he says.

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