OPERA FOR THE YOUNG

Opera for the Young, Inc. (OFY) is a leading provider of arts-in-education services in the Midwest, as well as a pre-eminent producer of opera for children in the United States. Each year OFY brings opera to more than 70,000 children. Winner of the 2003 Marvin Rabin Youth Arts Award, OFY focuses on arts education (educating children about the value and beauty of the arts) and also arts-in-education (using the arts as a springboard to teach other core curriculum subjects).

Opera for the Young brings live, professional opera to elementary school audiences with annual Fall and Spring tours. Students appear onstage in chorus and cameo roles, performing for their peers right alongside OFY's professional artists. All productions are fully staged, sung in English and adapted especially for kids. OFY also holds an annual set and costume design contest wherein students submit drawings for pre-selected elements of the upcoming production's sets and costumes.

Opera for the Young keeps school performances affordable through its own fundraising efforts. We are able to offer our programming at 40% of the actual cost through the generous support of individuals, corporations, foundations and government funding.

OUR MISSION

Founded in 1970, Opera for the Young's mission is to ignite enthusiasm for opera.

In pursuit of that mission, we COLLABORATE, EDUCATE and CREATE. The multifaceted world of opera provides a dynamic vehicle for growth within each child and their school community. OFY involves students in all aspects of the show - from design to production to performance. In this engaging manner, Opera for the Young is unlike any program in the nation.

• COLLABORATE - OFY works with more than 170 schools, 300 teachers and principals, 2,720 on-stage chorus members, thousands more off-stage chorus members and student art contest designers
• EDUCATE - Students are prepared by their teachers using curriculum-ready materials that not only meet many of the state's music standards but also engage students in multi-media and cross-curricular ways.

• CREATE - Our performances are the creation of thousands of hours of work – thousands of
  students, teachers, in collaboration with highly credentialed professional artists. Each of the communities we visit is a part of the creative/artistic process.
  
  

RECENT NEWS...

5/1/2008 - Wausau Daily Herald - Students discover opera more than fat lady singing

04/17/2008 - Bureau County Republican - Taking their bows

04/16/2008 - Holmes Elementary BLOG - Field Trip and Magical Flute

04/11/2008 - The Capital Times - Best bets for the weekend

04/10/2008 - Opera for the Young appears on Madison's WISC-TV program Live at 5. Watch the video at the top of the page!

04/03/2008 - Opera for the Young on Green Bay's WFRV TV station at Baird Elementary.

03/26/2008 - Enid News (Oklahoma) - Tulsa Opera makes opera accessible using Opera for the Young adaptations

03/19/2008 - LaCrosse Tribune - Something to sing about: Hintgen Elementary students perform, learn about opera

02/20/2008 - The Northwestern.com - Elementary students take part in opera workshop

02/19/2008 - Green Bay Press Gazette - "Packers foundation announces $156,000 in grants"

02/17/2008 - Wisconsin State Journal - Kids Get Taste Of Opera - They Sing And Dance To Tunes Of A Sci-fi Adaptation Of Mozart's "The Magic Flute."

Opera for the Young on YouTube - see what students from Emmeline Cook Elementary had to say!

SUPPORT OPERA IN THE SCHOOLS!

Last Updated: April 17, 2008