Opera for
Schools
Education Programs for Young People
Student Dress Rehearsal Program
Club Opera
Opera in Schools Program
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
- The Flying Dutchman Dress Rehearsal Flyer: The dress rehearsal for The Flying Dutchman takes place Tuesday, October 4, at 7 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 Club Opera!
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 chaperone dress rehearsal ticket for every 10 student dress tickets purchased ($10 per student)
- 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 Janet Lewis at 250.382.1641 or
Opera in Schools Program
POV's Opera in Schools Program visited elementary and middle schools in Fall 2010 and again in Spring 2011, presenting an abridged version of Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. Our production, with the West Coast as its backdrop, featured aspiring young local opera singers who were excited to introduce the drama and adventure of opera to students.
This 45 minute Touring Opera for Young Audiences was sung in English with piano, sets, and costumes.
The music for Hansel and Gretel was from Engelbert Humperdinck's beloved opera. The libretto was created by Alison Greene, who directed the production and is a recognized scholar on aboriginal opera; Rose Spahan, a respected Coast Salish artist who is Aboriginal Curator in Residence at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria; and John Elliott, Language Educator, LÁU,WELNEW Tribal School.
The adapted opera blends the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel with Coast Salish legends. Nathan Brown's Emily Carr inspired designs help to enrich the Coast Salish Interpretation of this classic fairy tale.
Faculty and coaches included Rebecca Hass, Patrick Corrigan, Michael Shamata, Oriol Tomas, Jacques Lemay, Teresa Turgeon, Joanne Hounsell, and Music Director Joey Pietraroia, supported by pianist Kim Cousineau.
The four performers in the production were Tamara Rusque, Alex Granat, Eve Daniell, and Elizabeth Humphries.
To learn more about Club Opera or for Student Dress Rehearsal informaiton, a designated school representative may contact Janet Lewis at 250.382.1641 or
Young Artist Program Patron:
Dr. Erika Kurth, BA, MA, D.Litt.
Education Programs:
Moss Rock Park Foundation
Education Underwriter
Club Opera Sponsor
Opera in Schools Sponsor
David W. MooreYoung Artist Development:
David Spencer Memorial Fund
NRS Foundation