The UNCG Opera Theatre holds as a guiding principle that the cultural education of young children is of utmost importance to the development of their full potential. To this end, many activities throughout each year are dedicated to providing school children with the experience of a high quality operatic performance. The reach of the UNCG Opera Outreach program is extremely vast, allowing over 18,000 children in Guilford County to experience opera in person each year.
The annual “Tour to the Schools” brings a 45 minute children’s opera into public and private elementary schools over the course of two months. Over 10,000 children grades K-5 attend these up-close performances in their own auditoriums, cafeterias, and theatres, and have the opportunity to ask the artists questions directly after the performance.
Schools are also invited to attend full-length matinee performances of operas at Aycock Auditorium. Over 2500 children attend these performances each year, which are performed with full orchestra, costumes and sets. Educational materials are provided for teachers so that they may prepare their students in advance of the visit.
Finally, over 6,000 5th graders attend an “Opera at the Carolina” performance of one-act or reduced operas held at the beautiful Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro. Since 2002, UNCG Opera Theatre has provided these educational opportunities in a unique partnership with the Greensboro Opera and the Guilford County Schools. The “Write Your Own Opera!” program has been a highly successful addition, in which students compete to write a thematically relevant libretto which is transformed into a libretto by a UNCG composer and performed by UNCG students. This aspect of direct engagement teaches the children that they too, have a place in the creative world of opera.
For further information on the Opera Outreach tours or matinees, please contact David Holley, Director of Opera at: [email protected].