Jun 29, 2022

OPERA CLASS ANYWHERE LAUNCHED

Throughout the winter and spring of 2022, teaching artist soprano Jessica Kos-Whicher worked with Education & Community Engagement Coordinator Scott Miller to develop a version of our Opera Class workshops that could be presented remotely to schools anywhere in Manitoba. The result is Opera Class Anywhere.   

Designed to introduce students to the multi-dimensional art form of opera in a fun and engaging way, Opera Class Anywhere is a unique opportunity for students to virtually discover opera with the guidance of a professionally trained opera singer. In a 45-minute Zoom workshop, students participate in voice and movement exercises, learn activities which explore storytelling through music, and experience the power of live operatic singing through a performance by the singer, followed by a Q & A.  

Unlike many virtual presentations, students are active collaborators who contribute directly to the success of Opera Class Anywhere. The storytelling portion of the workshop features slides with artwork created by students in the participating class so that they see the story come to life through their own imagination and the imaginations of their classmates. Teachers prepare students to participate in the workshops with the help of teacher’s guide provided several weeks in advance of the program. 

Students at Deerwood Elementary School in Thompson and Linden Lanes School in Brandon participated in the Opera Class Anywhere program pilot. These classes were the very first to experience this remotely delivered live workshop. Students answered questions about opera, learned vocal warmups, and even sang and acted their way through an opera-inspired version of The Three Little Pigs. Afterwards, classes and teachers contributed valuable feedback to help refine the program.   

Opera Class Anywhere was made possible by generous support from TELUS for our Opera Class programs.  

“I think this is a fantastic concept. One of the best ways to introduce and expose young people to different genres of music is to really get them interacting, moving and listening with the music.  With all this newer technology, it will really help us teachers as we are often rather limited in what we could do.”

– Peter Frigo, Music Teacher, Deerwood Elementary School