Since 2010, If Opera (formerly Iford Arts) has been inspiring school children across Wiltshire and Somerset, providing opportunities for children to work alongside outstanding professional vocal animateurs, singers and musicians. With a proven track record for the quality of its performances, young artists’ programme and schools’ projects, we want to introduce many more young people to the wonder of opera, and our schools projects are central to this mission.
If Opera Schools Programme | Workshops & performance projects
2024 | Die Fledermaus
Based on Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II, we hosted a series of workshops in three primary schools in Wiltshire, and one SEND school in Bath. In these workshops the children worked on all aspects of creating a show with singing, movement, drama, song-writing and prop making, to create an in-schools performance of their own mini-operetta, inspired by the themes and music of the original.
This year’s school projects were devised and led by charismatic soprano and founder director of Celebrate Voice, Lynsey Docherty. Lynsey has sung professionally for 20 years, was Director of Education at Dorset Opera for six years and has created opera workshops and been Creative Director for arts organisations across the UK, including the Royal Opera House, The Grange Festival, and previous projects for If Opera. Lynsey was joined by composer/lyricist Tim Gilvin, and tenor Anthony Flaum.
“This has been a magical experience for our children – how many other primary aged children get the opportunity to work with opera professionals? The growth in our children in only four sessions was incredible – particularly our SEND children. To be honest I was quite overwhelmed with what your team achieved with our children”
Why this work is so important
Cuts to funding for music in schools, the impact of Covid, and the barriers to access for young people living in more rural areas, from lower socio-economic backgrounds, or with disabilities mean that the majority of children involved in this project had never experienced anything like it before. The benefits are so many—the pure wonder of attending a performance by professional opera singers in their school hall, working alongside the artists to develop their musicianship and celebrate their creativity, learning to focus and work in teams as they hone their singing skills and create their own new songs. It is always a privilege to see first hand the young peoples’ engagement developing over the course of the project, their sense of achievement, and the growth in their self-confidence and self-esteem.
Funding
Without the generosity of the individuals and trusts who support If Opera the schools project would not have been possible.
Get involved
If you would like to find out more about opportunities to participate in our schools programme,
please get in touch: debbieheyden@ifopera.com or 01225 868124