60 & 50 – Scottish Opera’s Jane Davidson, Karen MacIver & Allan Dunn on the Company’s Anniversary, Education & Outreach

Scottish Opera turns 60 next year, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of its Outreach and Education program, arguably the longest-standing formal company outreach of its kind in the opera world. The department’s activities range from Paisley’s 2018 “Pagliacci”—performed in a tent with a community choir, and for which designer Tim Meacock won the Best Designer Award at the {…}

Sep 20, 2019

Q & A: Sharon Azrieli On The Azrieli Foundation’s Arts Initiatives

The Azrieli Foundation, founded by late visionary David J. Azrieli in 1989, has sought to enrich the lives of future generations by investing in a wide variety of organizations across Canada and Israel. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Foundation improves the lives of present and future generations through education, research, healthcare and the arts. In addition to offering generous {…}

Aug 6, 2019

Participants Of LA Opera Camp Presented ‘Then I Stood Up: A Civil Rights Cycle’

(Credit: Taso Papadakis) A diverse group of 73 Los Angeles kids and teens, aged 9 – 17, recently presented “Then I Stood Up: A Civil Rights Cycle.” The two performances held on Aug. 3, 2019 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion marked the culmination of this year’s LA Opera Camp, a three-week intensive but fun-filled program designed to foster friendships, explore social justice {…}

Jul 18, 2019

Isabel Leonard To Perform Alongside National Youth Orchestra Of The United States Of America At Carnegie Hall

(Credit: Fay Fox) Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard will be featured in concert with the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America at Carnegie Hall early next month. The concert is part of a series celebrating extraordinary teen classical and jazz musicians. NYO-USA is comprised of musicians aged 16-19, selected through a rigorous audition process. Members participate in an intensive three-week {…}

Jul 3, 2019

San Diego Opera Receives Three California Arts Council Grants

San Diego Opera has been awarded three California Arts Council Grants, totaling $50,400. The first grant of $18,000 will support the Words and Music program, the second grant of $16,200 will support WAM at the La Maestra Center for Youth Advancement, and the third grant of $16,200 will support the Student Night at the Opera program. The Words and Music {…}

May 15, 2019

Metropolitan Opera Guild Launches Second Course Of Online Opera Learning Curriculum

The Metropolitan Opera Guild launched its second online course, “The Ring: Music, Motifs, and Magic,” on May 7, 2019. This course was preceded by “Libretti and Librettists.” According to the Guild’s website, the four-part course uses “video lectures, supplemental readings, and score excerpts” to examine Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” Prof. Victoria Bond will “provide insight into the musical evolution {…}

Apr 9, 2019

Jayden Goldberg Raises Funds For 4,000 Student Tickets

As part of her senior-year project, soprano Jayden Goldberg, who plans to pursue vocal studies at Boston Conservatory, raised funds to provide 4,000 student tickets to high school students attending Fort Worth Title I schools. “Everyone deserves a chance to experience the story of human drama as told through the beauty, artistry, and passion of a live opera,” says Goldberg. Fort Worth Opera will {…}