Opera 1: Secondary Schools

Opera 1: Secondary Schools

Kindly supported by Yorkshire Bank

Opera 1 is a programme of creative workshops aimed at introducing young people in secondary schools to the art form of opera. Students work with a team of professional artists on a range of music, drama and design activities before seeing a production performed at their local venue.

"The pupils gain so much from working with people other than the (school) music staff, it also adds so much to their whole experience of education. It’s far more enjoyable to learn about opera and classical music through doing as well as listening / viewing performers." Teacher, Opera 1: Macbeth project

For Autumn 2010, Opera North has co-ordinated a programme for students to work with a director, singer and repetiteur to explore the themes, plot, music and characters of Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw. This brand new production is touring the north of England in Autumn 2010.

Music and drama students at secondary schools in West Yorkshire, Manchester, Nottingham and Newcastle will learn how to sing and stage excerpts from the piece and gain an insight into how an opera company works.

To complete the cycle of their learning, participants will attend a local performance of The Turn of the Screw, equipped with the new ideas and knowledge gained during the workshops.

For more information contact the Opera North Education Department on 0113 2233557 or email education@operanorth.co.uk