(Photo Credit: Scottish Opera official website)

The Scottish Opera has announced new projects to connect with communities across Scotland in the 50th anniversary year of its Outreach and Education program.

The opera house will offer a package of projects for Primary one to seven simultaneously, giving schools the opportunity to engage all pupils in a Scottish Opera primary schools project at the same time. The Brassketeers digital project for Primary one to three introduces children to brass instruments whilst also supporting delivery of the Early and First Level numeracy curriculum.

The Digital storybook project Tiny Chef is aimed at Primary three to four pupils and introduces Mandarin language skills alongside concepts of food preparation and healthy eating. The project has been developed in collaboration with the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools. Finally, the digital performance project “The Last Aliens” is designated for Primary five to seven pupils in order to engage with the topic of climate change.

Continuing its engagement with primary schools and in its role as the first Scottish partner of Disney Musicals in Schools, the Scottish Opera will resume its work with five primary schools, each of whom will produce their own Disney KIDS musical over the next two years.

Scottish Opera’s work with pupils in secondary schools includes the creation of resources relating to a sequence of filmed scenes in three different stagings, directed by Roxana Haines, of Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore.”

The opera house also remains dedicated to supporting emerging talent in Scotland and providing singers and stage managers with a practical introduction to the world of opera through its Scottish Opera Young Company. For the Anniversary year, the latest cohort of the youth talent training and performance program will present a new production by Roxana Haines of Kurt Weill’s “The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken.”

“Since 1971, Scottish Opera has remained committed to its mission of engaging and enriching the lives of people from all corners of Scotland through opera. In these uncertain and difficult times, never has this commitment been so crucial and the need for positive and supportive musical experiences been as vital. We are incredibly proud and excited to be at the start of the journey to bring live music back to the Scottish audiences of all ages,” said Scottish Opera’s Director of Outreach and Education Jane Davidson in a press release. “While the opportunities for digital interaction with our work continues to evolve and develop, it’s the combination of passion and sheer joy for sharing stories through music that will continue to drive us for the next 50 years,” added Davidson.