Education Programs for Young People

Student Dress Rehearsal Program
Club Opera
Opera in Schools Program

As the original multi-media art form, opera has the potential to deliver many benefits to young people of all ages.

It is wonderful to watch young people experience live opera. They are extraordinarily excited and engrossed in the drama and excitement of the production – while learning about music, literature and their cultural heritage. They discover that the arts can be a highlight of their lives – and can help them explore relevant issues in their lives.

Through our Student Dress Rehearsal Program, our new Club Opera, our Study Guides, and our Opera in Schools program, POV works to engage children and young people in achieving the following goals:

• Increasing children's enjoyment and understanding of opera and music performance;
• Providing meaningful and sustained arts education opportunities for schools;
• Helping to build a future audience for opera;
• Developing strong working relationships with teachers and school administrators so that POV can assist in meeting the liberal arts education objectives of the community.

Student Dress Rehearsal Program
A Night at the Opera

This popular program exposes over 3600 students per season to fully staged opera productions.

Full-time students in elementary, middle, secondary and post-secondary institutions, as well as home learners, have the opportunity to attend the dress rehearsals for POV`s productions. Tickets are ordered through a recognized school, college or university, and tickets are distributed to full-time students only. The required chaperone ratio for elementary schools is one teacher per ten students.

Study guides are sent to participating schools so that teachers can introduce each new opera to the classroom. This helps them prepare students for the opportunity to attend the final dress rehearsal of each production.

More Information

• Student Dress Rehearsal Flyer
• Cinderella Dress Rehearsal Flyer: The dress rehearsal for Cinderella takes place Tuesday, September 28, at 7:30 pm
• Guidelines and Application Form for Cherniavsky's "Mr. Music" Fund, which offers grants to schools to assist in purchasing tickets for students to attend live performances.

Club Opera

Pacific Opera Victoria invites you to join our new Club Opera!

Any school that brings students to the dress rehearsal for each of the season's four operas (or two operas per season for elementary schools), is eligible for membership. Club Opera membership enhances your dress rehearsal experience with priority seating, bonus tickets, and a selection of enjoyable activities ranging from back stage tours to opera stories in your library.

Become a sponsor teacher for Club Opera today and help your student community discover and appreciate the magnificent world of opera!

In addition to attendance at both dress rehearsals, Club Opera membership includes:

• One FREE dress rehearsal ticket for every 10 student dress tickets purchased ($10 per student)
• Priority seating for the season's dress rehearsals
• Production Shop and Backstage Tours
• Opera Stories in your classroom or library and more!

Are you an elementary school teacher? Check out Jr. Club Opera! This club allows you to purchase tickets for half the season's dress rehearsals and still includes extra benefits!

Become a sponsor teacher for Club Opera today and introduce your student community to the world of opera. Let them experience and discover the passionate singing, the sweeping orchestra, spectacular sets, designer costumes, full make-up, thoughtful staging, and magnificent lighting! Invite all students at your school to join the club and treat them to live opera right in their community.

More information about Club Opera

• Club Opera Brochure and Registration Form
• Student Dress Rehearsal Flyer
• Cherniavsky's "Mr. Music" Fund: Guidelines and Application Form. Cherniavsky's "Mr. Music" Fund offers grants to schools to assist in purchasing tickets for students to attend live performances.

To learn more about Club Opera or any of POV's education programs, contact Jackie Adamthwaite, Manager of Artistic Programs, at 250.382.1641 or

Opera in Schools Program

POV's Opera in Schools Program will visit elementary and middle schools in Fall, 2010, presenting an abridged version of Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. Our production, with the West Coast as its backdrop, will feature aspiring young local opera singers who are excited to introduce the drama and adventure of opera to students.

To learn more, contact Jackie Adamthwaite, Manager of Artistic Programs, at 250.382.1641 or

If your school is interested in being notified when Student Dress Rehearsal tickets can be ordered, a designated school representative may contact
Kim Bitensky, Box Office Manager
250.385.0222

To learn more about Club Opera or any of POV's education programs, contact Jackie Adamthwaite, Manager of Artistic Programs, at 250.382.1641 or

Young Artist Program Patron
Dr. Erika Kurth, BA, MA, D.Litt.

Education Programs Grant
Moss Rock Park Foundation

Education Underwriter

Club Opera Sponsor

Opera in Schools Sponsor

David W. Moore