On October 17th, the Special Education Foundation’s Arts in the Classroom program SEF Presents! helped students at the Special School District’s Southview School learn about the elements of opera during a special visit from Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ Opera on the Go! program, which brings opera in-person to classrooms across the St. Louis region.
This year, OTSL’s Opera on the Go! features an in-person, semi-staged performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1879 comic opera “Pirates of Penzance.” The program is designed for grades 3–12 and includes three workshops: Music and Drama, Character and Movement, and Stage Makeup!
“I loved how interactive the performers were with the audience,” said Brianna Breckle, a 10th-grader at Southview. “I learned what a patter song is and the exercises I can do to sing a song really fast.”
During the movement workshop, students actively engaged in learning about stage direction and how to create emotion through their movements.
The makeup portion was equally engaging, as performers taught students how to create fake bruises. Kristin Gleich, paraprofessional and Southview music teacher, says it was a great opportunity for students to learn about behind-the-scenes work, fostering a sense of active participation among the students.
“Not only did they learn about production, but they gained a deep understanding of how music is written and the rich history of opera,” said Gleich.
“Throughout this entire month, we have been delving into the characters in opera, what the genre represents, and who opera was written for, so this workshop has been an invaluable addition to our curriculum.”
The event ended with a live performance of “The Pirates of Penzance,” a light-hearted and humorous opera about a young man named Frederic who faces a dilemma when attempting to free himself from the duties of piracy. The performance culminated the students' learning and testament to their newfound appreciation for opera.
“It’s very high-energy, very silly, and the performers' voices are incredible to listen to,” said Jenny Duncan, OTSL assistant stage manager. The students thoroughly enjoyed the performance, evident in the laughter and applause of the students (and staff) attending the performance.
“Included in our mission is educational programs, and that is why we are here today,” said Allison Felter, director of education for OTSL. “We believe that opera is for everybody, and we’re thrilled to be supported by the Special Education Foundation. We wouldn’t be here without their help.”
SEF’s Arts in the Classroom program, which is dedicated to providing enriching arts experiences for students, is funded with support from the Regional Arts Commission and donors to SEF. Their generous contributions have made it possible for us to bring high-quality arts education to our students.
Portions of this post were previously published on the SSD website.
