Education and Engagement

MassOpera cultivates experiences for artists and audiences that challenge the status quo and reflect our diverse community.

Educational Programming

Connecting to our community is essential. This season we’re offering Student Nite, an experience for student groups to get a behind-the-scenes look at the final dress rehearsal of our spring production. They will get first hand glimpse into producing an opera. Often, this is the very first time students have experienced opera, especially one with a full orchestra. We perform at the Boston Center for the Arts at the Plaza Theatre, an accessible and central location. The Plaza is an intimate 147 seat theatre, where students will experience a singer performing just feet away from their seats. After partnering with Boston Community Music School last year, we’re excited to open our Student Nite to additional programs and schools. At $5 per student, it’s an extraordinary way to be introduced to opera. This program is open to all middle and high school programs or groups. We’re happy to offer in school programming to accompany Student Nite.

Special Access includes:

  • Behind the scenes look at technical elements
  • A talk back with the singers
  • Talkback with the director and conductor
  • Potential breakout sessions with designers

For more information please email [email protected]

We’re excited to offer in school experiences as well with programming that spans Preschool through High school. Our high school and middle school experiences, include a performance of scenes of our Spring production, a talk back with the singers, and tailored classroom lesson. Our preschool programming “My Favorite Things” explores being a good audience member, active listening, and how to be a good friend and community member. We introduce students to different voice parts, the difference between a singing and speaking voice, different roles in opera (composer, librettist, etc) and perform excerpts from: The Sound of Music, The Queen of the Night, Rossini’s Cat Duet, and Schubert’s Heidenroslien among others. This interactive performance lasts about 15-20 minutes and includes break out sessions or lessons in-classroom of about 20 minutes.

Community Engagement

Engagement:

Through our continuing engagement practices we strive to:

  • Focus on a community-driven dialogue that create stories and interpretations that speak to local issues
  • Partner with local organizations to raise awareness and support of their work
  • Showcase the vast talent and creativity of New England artists and community members
  • Create space for conversations to help bridge divides in our society

As we building programming and partnerships, we’re focusing on varied programming such as partnering with bars and restaurants to have community conversation happy hours and dinners, talk backs, and community-created performances.