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Opera Pacific's award winning education programs bring opera to thousands of children throughout Southern California. Our programs reach far into the community, underscoring the Company's commitment to bridge the gap left by dwindling resources for music education in our schools.
Programs for Young People
Opera Camp: Opera Pacific offers a summer day camp for singers entering grade four through freshman entering college. The program is designed to provide hands-on professional level training in all facets of opera performance and production. This is a tuition-based program. Admission is through audition only.
Student Preview (previously known as Sneak Preview/Youth Night): Since 1990, Opera Pacific's extremely popular Student Preview series continues to offer students in grades 6-12 the thrill of seeing the final dress rehearsals of all the company's main stage operas. Over 8,000 students each season participate in this special opportunity. The Student Preview experience is expanded upon with an activity booklet and study guide. The study guide provides teachers and group leaders with curriculum relevant activities that are student centered and easy to facilitate. This program supports one of Opera Pacific's most important education goals, which is to introduce opera as an enhancement to the classroom curriculum.
Docent Program: Opera Pacific offers the community the unique opportunity of having a guest speaker provide a special presentation about the opera to their school or civic group. This service is free of charge and is available to any group of fifteen or more. If you are interested in learning more or would like to become an Opera Pacific docent, please contact Susan Hungerford at 714-830-6312.
Fun with Opera: Serving thousands of elementary and middle school children throughout Southern California every year, Fun with Opera is an exciting introduction to the excitement and beauty of opera. The program includes excerpts from some of the most popular arias and ensembles of the world's best known operas. With piano accompaniment, four costumed professional singers combine music, theater, dance, and vocal prowess, both in English and foreign languages to demonstrate the many aspects of opera. Fun with Opera features music commonly found in popular culture that young people will recognize - but may not realize come from opera. Following the performance, audience members have the opportunity to ask questions of the artists.
Laila Conlin Vocal Competition: Named for the founding president of the Opera Pacific Guild Alliance. Laila S. Conlin launched the program in 1989. Kathleen Martin, noted voice teacher and former opera singer, chairs this program. The competition is open to high school students, grades 9-12, and is held each spring in early May. Cash prizes are awarded.
Opera Conservatory: Opera Pacific works in conjunction with the nationally-recognized Orange County High School of the Arts, in this tuition-free program for talented Southern California High School students in grades 7-12. Open by audition only, this innovative specialization offers young singers intensive, high quality training in opera and art song performance. At the completion of this pre-professional training program, students are prepared to enter colleges, universities or pursue a career in classical vocal performance. Opera Pacific provides world class artists and conductors to teach conservatory master classes, complimentary tickets to Student Preview, private tours of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, invitations to attend production rehearsals, as well as professional guidance and support provided to students on an as-needed basis.
Adult Outreach Programs
Opera Prologues: World famous artists, directors and conductors and a variety of experts in the field of opera offer a series of informative and entertaining lectures 2-3 weeks prior to each main stage opening. This lecture series is open to the public for a nominal fee.
Docent Program: Opera Pacific offers the community the unique opportunity of having a guest speaker provide a special presentation about the opera to their civic group. This service is free of charge and is available to any group of fifteen or more.
Preview Lecture: One hour before curtain, Opera Pacific chorus master Henri Venanzi helps audiences gain new insight into the performance with a lively half-hour talk in the Tier 1 level of the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
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