Opera San Jose and ArtSmart have announced a new partnership to provide free music lessons and opportunities to students in San Jose.

To mark this new initiative, OSJ and ArtSmart will invite Bay Area patrons to their “Arts for All” fundraiser on May 6, 2023, where they can see how an opera comes to life. Patrons can enjoy hors d‘oeuvres and an auction with prizes such as European Viking Rivers Cruises, a private at-home concert, the chance to be a supernumerary in an OSJ production, and more.

The event will feature a performance by ArtSmart co-founder and acclaimed tenor Michael Fabiano, joined by soprano Maria Natale who will star in OSJ’s upcoming production of “Tosca.” General Director Shawna Lucey will join the artists for a mini-masterclass following the performance.

“With arts education being cut from schools, it is up to organizations like ours to step in and work to eliminate economic barriers to arts access,” says Lucey. “By working together, we can greatly expand the impact on our communities. Everyone deserves the chance to express themselves through the magic of music.”