CHICAGO – Chicago Opera Theater (COT) announces its first ever city-wide education performance, “Growing Together,” featuring student-written performances from Chicago-area schools. COT’s education program, Opera for All, is now in its seventeenth year bringing teaching artists into Chicago Public Schools to educate students about classical music, singing and opera. On June 15, nine classrooms and more than 400 students from schools around the city—including Chase Elementary, Reilly Elementary, McAuliffe Elementary, Eugene Field Elementary, Disney II Magnet Elementary School, Healy Elementary, Whistler Elementary School and Langford Community Academy—conclude the school year with a performance of student-written original songs, dances and scenes. COT’s “Growing Together” takes place at The Studebaker Theater (410 S. Michigan Avenue) on Thursday, June 15 at 12:00pm. Admission is free; to RSVP for the program, click here. To learn more about Opera for All, visit COT.org/ofa.
“The Opera for All program is one of the foundations of COT’s education work, and what makes it particularly unique is that at the root of it all, the program allows for the students to create self-generated work,” said General Director Designate Douglas Clayton. “Opera for All’s programming to engage students of all ages is absolutely essential to the future of opera and to our cultural life here in Chicago.”
Opera for All brings experienced teaching artists into Chicago Public Elementary Schools to educate students about classical music, singing and opera. The program allows children ages 8 – 13 to understand the art of opera and classical music by participating in it, both in production and in performance. Each year, students participate in a 35-session program with the end goal of creating their very own unique opera. COT’s team of teaching artists pair up and work with each classroom to create the script, lyrics, music, choreography, set and costume design of the opera. Each spring, Opera for All culminates in a performance, and for the first time this year, that performance is open to the public at The Studebaker Theater.
About Chicago Opera Theater
Chicago Opera Theater is an innovative, nationally recognized opera company that inspires a diverse community through immersive and thought-provoking opera experiences. COT, established in 1974 by Alan Stone, is a founding resident company of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.
Chicago Opera Theater has carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and has reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its main stage performances, community engagement, education programs in Chicago Public Schools, as well as its renowned Young Artist Program.
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For more information on the Chicago Opera Theater and its programs please visit chicagooperatheater.org.
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