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Education & Community Programs

NAVIGATION:

LA OPERA CAMP

LA Opera Camp presents Brundibár.

LA Opera offers an in-depth youth Opera Camp for ages 9-17. This unique program has a playful, yet intense focus, offering individual attention and peer collaboration that culminates in community performances. The camp runs for two full weeks beginning August 11, 2008 from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Public performances will be held during the weekend of August 23 and 24, 2008.

Brundibár was originally written for the children of the Jewish orphanage in Prague, Czechoslovakia. With the Nazi takeover of the country, composer Hans Krása and other Czech Jews (including children) were sent to the concentration camp in Terezín. The piano score for Brundibár was subsequently smuggled into the camp where it was performed at least 55 times by camp children, including a performance for the International Red Cross Inspectors on June 23, 1944.

Auditions for Opera Camp 2009 will be held during spring 2009. Contact us if you would like to receive audition information.

Opera Camp was originally created in partnership with The Madison Project of Santa Monica College.

Thanks to you all for hosting a GREAT opera camp! Besides offering a creative, professional introduction to opera, recognizing every camper's contribution... and producing an entertaining opera - our daughter had FUN!!! - Mother of Participant - Monterey Park, CA

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SATURDAY MORNINGS AT THE OPERA

LA Opera thinks you're never too young to enjoy the classics.

With that in mind, we are proud to present a series of Saturday morning, hour-long, interactive performances. Delight in familiar arias and wander through enchanting tales of adventure in both original works and beloved favorites adapted for children.

Children's Workshops before each performance add to the excitement and prepare the audience with art and music-making activities.

Art workshops begin at 10:00am.
Performances begin at 11:00am and run approximately one hour.
Performances are held in the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center of Los Angeles County.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 5, 2008. Subscribe to the series of 3 for $30.
Single tickets are $12.

To receive a ticket brochure or get more information please contact our Audience Services Department at 213.972.8001.

TICKETS GO ON SALE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008!
  • FEBRUARY 7, 2009 - FIGARO'S AMERICAN ADVENTURE Come enjoy Figaro's American Adventure, a charming opera created by Eli Villanueva and LeRoy Villanueva, based on the popular classic, The Barber of Seville. With his band of sneaky barbers and colonial compatriots, our wily hero, Figaro, leads us on a delightful musical goose chase. Ultimately, he outsmarts his adversary, and love triumphs as he helps his friend the Count win the hand of his beloved.

  • MARCH 28, 2009 - THE MAGIC DREAM Written by Lee Holdridge and Richard Sparks, The Magic Dream is a youthful take on Mozart's The Magic Flute. Young Pam grew up listening to The Magic Flute with her grandparents, but because it was in German she never understood what was happening in the story. Pam invites us to explore her creatively-imagined version of the opera, in which she has cast her friends as the colorful characters of The Magic Flute. Together, they learn that music and your own imagination can take you anywhere.

  • MAY 16, 2009 - MOZART OPERA TALES Mozart Opera Tales is a perfect way to explore the exhilaration of story and music wedded together. Travel with our "opera pals" through the magical moments of some of Mozart's greatest stories: Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute. In this adventure, our daring explorers are joined by a very special guest who guides them on their quest.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

OPERA U
LA Opera invites full-time college students to join Opera U online and receive reserved student rush ticket offers by email. Faculty can also sign-up for the opportunity to bring groups of 15 or more students to selected performances at the rush ticket price. Enroll today and you're on your way to experiencing some of the world's most exciting productions! Visit www.laopera.com/operau for more information and to sign up for announcements. Student offers vary.

ON-CAMPUS EVENTS
In conjunction with these student opportunities, LA Opera can bring special events to campuses, including opera recitals and master classes with LA Opera artists. These programs can be further enriched by a variety of support materials and visits from our free Speakers Bureau. A school must be willing to partner with LA Opera to facilitate on-campus activities. College partnership fees and program specifics will be determined individually.

VOLUNTEER!
LA Opera's Education and Community Programs Department is always looking for fun and energetic college students to help out at our events. Please contact us for more information. To be added to our volunteer list, please complete the application.

APPLICATION: Click here to download PDF.

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VOLUNTEER OPERA SPEAKERS BUREAU

Let the LA Opera Speakers Bureau introduce your group to our extraordinary world.

The Opera Speakers Bureau is a program of LA Opera, together with the Opera League of Los Angeles. From the drama of love betrayed and the joy of love found to gorgeous music, exquisite costumes, scenery and lighting, LA Opera productions have it all.

LA Opera's team of trained experts addresses civic and social organizations, philanthropic groups, schools and library audiences throughout Southern California, free of charge. You may select a presentation on any opera performed during our season at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, or we can customize a talk to suit your needs. Either way, you won't be disappointed!

DATES AND REQUIREMENTS: Speakers will address groups of 15 or more people. To become a Speakers Bureau member, you must complete an intensive 8-week summer training program. Contact us for more information.

FEE: Free of charge.

DEADLINE: Requests for speakers are accepted throughout the year.

APPLICATION TO REQUEST A SPEAKER: Click here to download PDF.
PROSPECTIVE APPLICANT FORM: Click here to download PDF.

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LIBRARY PROJECT

OPERA TALKS SERIES
LA Opera's Opera Talks Series is one of our fastest-growing and most successful programs, boasting more than 90 presentations in libraries all over the County during its seventh season. Our staff works with each individual library to develop programs with elements from each corner of the opera world. Our insightful talks address history, literature, philosophy and fine arts within the context of opera. We also provide libraries with "Behind the Scenes" presentations and recitals featuring LA Opera singers.

OPERA TALES TOUR
Opera always begins with a story. Opera Tales celebrates the power of story and the joy of music. Working in partnership with the County of Los Angeles Public Library, the Company has developed this fun, high energy show that tours to various County Libraries for free family performances. The show features four professional opera performers as the "opera pals" who perform some of the musical moments from opera stories read by special surprise guests at each library location. Opera Tales is a perfect and easy way to introduce young audiences to the exhilaration of story and music wedded together.

REQUIREMENTS: Libraries must provide an appropriate presentation space and a program coordinator.

FEE: Free of charge.

Original funding for this program provided by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, 4th District.

APPLICATION: Click here to download PDF.

CURRENT SERIES: Click here to download PDF.

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FREE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES

The LA Opera experience is not confined to the beautiful Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

COMMUNITY CONCERTS
With the combined efforts of community venues and LA Opera, the public has free access to opera throughout Los Angeles County, with concerts tailored to each individual community. Concerts take place at a variety of spaces including libraries, community groups, senior centers and outdoor summer concerts in public parks. Community Partners must have a presentation space and equipment appropriate for the LA Opera concert performance. Host site fees vary according to partnerships.

COMMUNITY OPERA
For the past two seasons, LA Opera has been honored to work with the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Downtown Los Angeles to present free, large-scale, community performances including Noye's Fludde and Judas Maccabaeus under the baton of Maestro James Conlon. These opera performances include singers, actors and orchestra members from the community, performing alongside professional singers and orchestra members from LA Opera.

If you would like to be notified of up-coming Free Community Performances, click here to be added to the e-mail announcement list.

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COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT

LA OPERA PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Get the full story at our complimentary pre-opera talks.

Join other opera-goers in the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to listen to Southern California's most engaging and highly regarded scholars present entertaining, informative talks on the opera you are about to see. Generously sponsored by The Flora L. Thornton Foundation and The Opera League of Los Angeles, the talks are free of charge to those attending the performance. Talks are scheduled one hour prior to each performance. Reservations are not required.

ADULT CONTINUING EDUCATION
LA Opera staff can visit your adult education class.

We can provide speakers and scholars, behind-the-scenes visits from LA Opera staff members and even recital programs. We are currently partnering with several organizations, including The Getty Center and The Huntington Library, to present adult education classes.

Classes may run during any time of the year. Fees vary according to partnerships.

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SENIOR CENTER DRESS REHEARSAL

The heart of our senior program remains the annual, free senior center dress rehearsal. This season, we present one of the most adored of all operas: Verdi's La Traviata. Verdi's heart-rending story of a Parisian courtesan with a sordid past and no future features some of the composer's most ravishing and popular music. Marta Domingo directs the lavish period staging of Verdi's best-loved opera.

DATES AND REQUIREMENTS: The dress rehearsal of La Traviata is scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2009 at 1:00pm. This event is open only to senior centers located in LA County which receive government funding. Seats are limited, and centers are selected to attend through a competitive application process. Representatives from selected centers must attend a mandatory meeting on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 10:30am. (Centers that attended Don Giovanni in 2007/08 are not eligible.)

Please note: Individuals may not apply.

FEE: Free of charge.

DEADLINE: Monday, February 9, 2009

APPLICATION: Click here to download PDF.

Everyone was delighted. Among the group there were a couple of people who had told me they did not like opera, and I practically had to beg them to come with us. After the show they were quite enthusiastic about what they had just seen and heard and wanted to know when the next one is... Thanks again to you. - Trip Coordinator, Hollywood

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