SCHOOLS AND ARTS PROGRAMME

Opera South is a charity which provides valuable training and performance opportunities for singers who are beginning their professional careers. Youth and education are supported in the form of master classes, lectures and workshops, providing opportunities for singers and staff to share their experience of opera and musical theatre with young people aged 7 to 19 years.

We aim to expand our schools programme by encouraging teachers and youth group leaders to use Opera South as a resource for their own professional development. Opportunities arise for children and students to appear before live audiences and improve their confidence in public performances.

OUTREACH & EDUCATION

Opera South's Silver Jubilee Project
In 2009 Opera South celebrated its Silver Jubilee Year with an exciting community youth project. On 26th February an invited audience of 270 children attended an abridged matinée teaching performance of Martha by Friedrich von Flotow. Participation was encouraged through the provision of scores of an easy and tuneful chorus, to the five schools attending, so that 40 children (8 from each school) could rehearse prior to the performance.

In addition people from Residential Homes for the Elderly and, among others, the Blind Club and Tandem Club also attended the matinée which was enhanced by the children's singing. The chorus served tea and biscuits in their colourful costumes at the end of the performance. The matinée was made possible by part funding from the Community Foundation for Surrey and the Haslemere Challice Fund.

school children performing on stage

Schoolchildren singing on stage during a special matinée performance of Martha on 26th February 2009

St. Ives School on stage

St. Ives School performing on stage, 2009

On 14th May 2009 Opera South launched the Haslemere Festival with a musical afternoon performed by children from Primary and Infant schools. The event was introduced by the Mayor of Haslemere.

The Project covered age ranges from Year 1 to Year 6 and gave children of all levels of musical ability the chance to participate by singing with professionals or experiencing a fully staged production in their local area.

The Project has continued to flourish with children participating in the teaching matinées of La Périchole in 2010 and Peter the Great in 2011.

Teaching matinée with local school children

School children on stage with Peter the Great, February 2011

The cast serving tea at the matinée performance 2011

The cast serving tea to members of the Blind and Stroke clubs after the matinée performance, February 2011

Singing presentations by schools took place again in A Celebration of Children Singing in the 2011 Haslemere Festival at Haslemere Hall on 23rd May.

With your financial help we can unleash the power of young voices.

If you are interested in any aspect of Opera South's work with schools and the community, please contact
Carolann Martys Community & Schools Development