Education & Outreach
Opera North’s Education & Outreach program introduces opera to communities that might not otherwise have access to opera. The program focuses on under-served regions of the New Hampshire and Vermont Upper Valley, where funding cuts have severely impacted music and arts education.
Through live performances and informative discussions, thousands of local elementary, middle, and high school students in the area have the opportunity to experience opera and musical theatre each year. All presentations are provided free of charge.
In the spring and fall, the Education and Outreach tour takes relevant, age-appropriate opera to area schools and libraries. Opera North’s Resident Artists perform short operas or selections from musical theatre and are available to interact with students during discussions. Eight to ten schools participate in each tour and 2,500 students are reached each year.
In December, schools are invited to a special school performance of a holiday classic with a question-and-answer period after the show. Tickets are available to students, teachers and home school groups at no charge and bus scholarships are provided for schools that are unable to pay for transportation
The Education & Outreach Committee creates study guides for all E&O presentations, which are available to teachers in advance of the shows.
Education & Outreach presentations have included:
- In October 2018, students at three area high schools – Hanover High School, Lebanon High School, and Kimball Union Academy – had the opportunity to hear from composer Derrick Wang about the creation of his new opera, Scalia/Ginsburg. Students also heard musical excerpts performed by Opera North’s Resident Artists.
- In April 2017, about 450 students at nine area high schools and the Norman Williams Public Library (Woodstock, VT) were treated to excerpts from Kurt Weill’s Street Scene.
- In December 2016, 935 students and teachers attended a free or low-cost performance of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors at Lebanon Opera House and Capital Center for the Arts.
- In April 2016, an updated version of Menotti’s The Telephone was seen by almost 400 high school students at nine schools as well as at the Norman Williams Library in Woodstock, Vermont.
- In December 2015, over 700 students and teachers attended a sold-out show of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors at Lebanon Opera House. In addition, the show the production was performed – for free – at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD).
- In May 2015, Seymour Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood was presented to over 1,300 elementary students at schools in Vermont and New Hampshire.
- In December 2014, Opera North hosted multiple performances of Amahl and the Night Visitors at Lebanon Opera House.
- In October 2014, over 800 students from 10 high schools saw performances of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene.
- In April 2014, performances of Little Red Riding Hood were given at 13 schools and 2 libraries to over 1,800 elementary students.
- In October 2013, almost 1,200 high school students saw selections from Mark Adamo’s opera Little Women, which is based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott.
For more information on Opera North’s Education & Outreach program, or to book a school tour, contact info@operanorth.org