The Canadian Opera Company has announced a new program “Exploring New Opera” during Spring Break.

The new program will invite students, ages 12-18, to see what a career in the performing arts could look like. The program, which will be held digitally, will offer five days of live webinars from April 12 to April 16, with daily sessions taking place from 2-3 p.m. ET.

“Our team is incredibly passionate about opening wide the doors to a creative industry that has historically been seen as ‘high art’,” says COC Deputy General Director Christie Darville. “We want students to be able to envision a place within the art form for themselves, whether that’s as a creator or performer, a backstage technician, or simply as part of the audience. Programming like this helps young people of all backgrounds see all the attainable possibilities opera has to offer and we’re proud to support those explorations.”

Here is a rundown of the program schedule.

The first webinar will be dedicated to music-making with Fantasma composer and COC Composer-in-Residence Ian Cusson speaking about the genesis of the opera’s story and how this translates into his music.

Streaming Date: April 12, 2021

COC Ensemble Studio artists Matthew Cairns (tenor) and Alex Soloway (pianist) talk about what it’s like to work with a living composer and workshopping a new role in an opera in the webinar from the Performer’s Perspective.

Streaming Date: April 13, 2021

COC Props Supervisor Wulf Higgins headlines the Real World of Props and shares a behind-the-scenes look at how the visual world of “Fantasma” is created and brought to life.

Streaming Date: April 14, 2021

Wig & Makeup Supervisor Sharon Ryman and Costume Supervisor Sandra Corazza give a sneak peek at two characters from “Fantasma” in the webinar creating the characters

Streaming Date: April 15, 2021

Stage director and dramaturg Julie McIsaac speaks with music therapist Dr. SarahRose Black about her considerations in staging “Fantasma” in the webinar staging the show.