Gawason ’25 Excels in Sante Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program, Wins Award

Travis Gawason ’25 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Production – Costume Design) served as a stitching and wardrobe apprentice at the Santa Fe Opera (SFO), a unique outdoor opera company in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this past summer. This apprentice program offers instruction, practical experience and hands-on professional training. Gawason stitched the costumes during the day and at night, worked wardrobe on “La Traviata,” “Don Giovanni” and the premiere of “The Righteous,” as well as “Der Rosenkavalier” and “The Elixir of Life” as part of the SFO’s 2024 season.

“One of the best parts of working wardrobe during the performances was watching the sunset on the mountains while listening to the beautiful operas,” said Gawason.

Gawason was awarded the Gustave and Jane Baumann Technician Award for his work during the apprentice program. The Gustave and Jane Baumann Technician Award is given in memory of the celebrated Santa Fe artist and his wife. While in Santa Fe Baumann became known as a master of woodcuts and marionette-making, also producing oils and sculpture. His work depicted southwestern landscapes, ancient Indian petrographs, scenes of Pueblo life, and gardens and orchards. Baumann married Jane Devereaux Henderson on June 25, 1925. Jane served on the SFO Board for many years. He remained in Santa Fe for more than fifty years until his death there in 1971.