Opera for the Young

Introduce

Opera to children! OFTY is a preeminent producer and presenter for young audiences.

Involve

5,000 students annually! Children join OFTY professionals at each school as the chorus and in speaking roles.

Ignite

excitement and enthusiasm! OFTY's tour reaches over 75,000 students throughout the Midwest.

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Opera for the Young (OFTY) is a preeminent producer and presenter of opera for children in the United States, and since 1970 we have introduced more than 2.5 million children to opera. OFTY is unique – children’s opera is our sole focus.

OUR MISSION

Engage and Educate

Engage and educate children about opera with professional, affordable school-based performances

Involve Students

Involve students in all aspects – from design to performance

Professional Opportunities

Provide professional opportunities for artists

Create new works

Create new works especially intended for young audiences

Broaden access

Broaden access to opera for the entire community

ABOUT US

Opera for the Young

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 OFTY’s professional artists. All productions are fully staged, sung in English and adapted especially for kids.

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.

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