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Education

Northern Ireland Opera's outreach programmes for children and young people

Music and Creative Skills Week for Secondary Schools

Since 2010 we have been working with young people, youth groups and schools, providing access to music, theatre, dance and creative workshops both in schools and at the theatres and venues where we produce our operas and events.

Look at our recent projects and events below to get a snapshot of what we can deliver. If you are a school or youth group and would be interested in finding out more about how to work with us, please get in touch with our Schools Outreach Coordinator, India Chapman-Webb via outreach@niopera.com

Upcoming School Events:

School workshops have recently taken place at Lecale Trinity Grammar School, Downpatrick and we’ll be visiting Derry/Londonderry in May. There is a Shared Education music event also in May at Currie Primary School, North Belfast (April) and a Primary School Workshop at Blythefield Primary School, South Belfast (April).

For more information or to book a workshop for your school, contact India Chapman-Webb at outreach@niopera.com

Come and Sing Workshops at The Marketplace Theatre, Armagh

Music students from St Catherine’s College, Armagh, Our Lady’s Grammar School Newry and The Royal School, Armagh joined NI Opera for a ‘Come and Sing’ workshop in March at The Marketplace Theatre. They worked together with NI Opera’s Schools Outreach Coordinator, India Chapman-Webb to learn some opera choruses and performed them at the end of the day’s workshops.

Teacher feedback:

  • ‘It was interactive and got the students involved right from the get go. It benefited both singers and instrumentalists alike – score reading/following piano part/recognising key signatures etc.’

Student feedback:

  • ‘I really enjoyed learning classical songs as its outside my comfort zone – thank you!’
  • ‘I really enjoyed expanding both my classical repertoire and overall knowledge of opera. The songs we learned were lovely and overall it was a very engaging workshop.’
  • ‘I enjoyed experimenting with a different style of music as well as learning different ways to strengthen my vocals and support my diaphraghm.’
  • ‘I found it a fun experience and I enjoyed it. It was very helpful to lean how to make your voice sound better and use it properly.’
  • ‘It was good to get schools together to sing. It was a good chance to meet new people and learn more wide ranges of music.’
  • ‘I really enjoyed it. The pieces were fun to learn and the teacher was very engaging. Highly recommend!’
  • ‘This workshop made me more interested in opera. I liked the vocal warm-ups.’
  • ‘I really enjoyed the songs as it was nice to sing some Italian for a change. I also learnt a lot about how to breathe properly.’

Sólás Concert at The Ulster Hall

NI Opera Chorus performing with the children from Sólás

School Outreach Coordinator India Chapman-Webb worked with 60 children from a wide range of different SEN and mainstream schools for rehearsals and a performance with the NI Opera Chorus and other local choirs in The Ulster Hall as part of a fundraising concert for the Sólás charity who support children with additional needs.

The children taking part came from all over the region and attend schools including Abbey Christian Brothers’ Grammar School, Newry, Ballinderry Primary School, Ballycarrickmaddy Primary School, Belfast High School, Blessed Trinity College, Cedar Lodge, Dominican College, Fleming Fulton, Fortwilliam, Friends’ School, Lisburn, Fullerton House, Harberton Park South and North, Hunterhouse College, Lagan College, Lurgan College, Lurgan Junior High School, Meadow Bridge Primary School, Mitchell House, Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry, Rockport School, St Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls, St Gerard’s School, Sullivan Upper School, Sullivan Preparatory School.

Secondary School Music Workshop at Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry

A masterclass for GCSE and A’Level music students working on performance pieces and skills for their exams.

Come and Sing – Children’s Chorus

A Come and Sing Event for children aged 8-18 at Loughshore Education Centre in November 2024. This open evening event welcomed 48 children from 11 different schools to sing together and learn some new skills.

Come and Sing for Schools

85 GCSE and A’Level students from three Belfast schools (St Louise’s, RBAI and Hunterhouse College) attended two workshops in the Grand Opera House, Belfast during production week for ‘Eugene Onégin’ and learned to sing choruses from Eugene Onégin and other major operas.

Feedback from teachers:

  • ‘Good opportunity for pupils to perform their set works and learn from professional singers.’
  • ‘Getting students really familiar with their Set Works by singing them – it’s difficult for them to have an immersive experience in a girls’ school because we are missing tenors and basses’

Music and Creative Skills Workshops 10-14 June 2024

We had a brilliant week working with 129 students from six schools from across Belfast, who joined us for workshops throughout the week which included Singing, Vocal Health, Linguistics, Acting, Dance, Stage and Set Design and Stage Make-Up and Special Effects. Fourteen different specialist facilitators shared their skills and knowledge with the students across a week in the Grand Opera House Studio in Belfast.

At the end of the week, the students came together to perform a selection of opera choruses they had learned in sessions throughout the week to family and friends. Thank you to the students from St Genevieve’s High School, Dominican College, Hunterhouse College, RBAI, Bangor Grammar and Rathmore College for a fantastic week of creativity and performance and making new friends.

Find out all about the week’s sessions here.

Feedback from participants

  • Teacher Feedback:
  • ‘It was so good for them to learn a little music from opera as naturally this is a genre we don’t cover in school choirs.’
  • ‘Every aspect of the day was well delivered, engaging and useful.’
  • Student Feedback:
  • ‘I found it very interesting and learnt some new vocal warm-ups and ways to help my vocals. I didn’t know opera had so much interesting aspects’
  • ‘My voice feels so much more supported and stronger. I’ve learnt so much.’
  • ‘It has been a very good experience. I enjoyed the dance workshop and learning how to sing opera. I would love to come back.’
  • ‘Met new people. I loved learning the waltz. I enjoyed singing in other languages. Very good experience, thank you so much!’

Outreach Week 4-8 September 2023

NI Opera’s busy week of activities for primary and secondary school children returned from 4-8 September in the historic Grand Opera House with a wide range of different activities.

We invited primary and secondary school pupils in to the Studio Theatre in the Grand Opera House to take part in singing, dance, movement and drama workshops (7-11 year olds) and ‘Come and Sing’ events for GCSE to A’Level Music Students exploring singing two set texts, ‘Les Miserables’ and Mozart’s Requiem alongside some of NI Opera’s company artists.

‘Opera Tots’ events were held in the daytime for parents and babies under 24 months to experience opera and singing in an interactive environment and an evening dance session of ‘Hip Hopera’ saw opera meet hip hop led by choreographer Óran Clarke and opera singer Mary McCabe performing the ‘Queen of the Night’ aria by Mozart.

As part of our open dress rehearsal for community groups, schools and youth groups, children from secondary schools around Belfast watched ‘Tosca’ free. We also invited the young musicians of the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra and the Ulster Youth Orchestra to watch what was for many their first full opera.

Thank you to all the amazing young people, teachers and facilitators who made this our most successful Outreach Week yet!

https://youtu.be/QLD1Ubvj7d8?si=whYwgC9Taz7o3ceN

Music and Theatre Summer Skills

A free six week programme for 12-18 year olds in North Belfast – each week was led by a different theatre, dance or music professional exploring the skills they use to help bring an opera to the stage. This summer scheme was supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland ‘Articulate’ programme and the Garfield Weston Foundation, with a free breakfast, lunch and snack provided for each participant.

Find out more here.

School Singing Workshops

Following the world premiere of our newly commisioned opera for teen and young adult audiences, ‘Nobody/Somebody’, NI Opera’s Outreach Facilitators have been visited primary and secondary schools with a series of singing workshops drawing elements from ‘Nobody/Somebody’ as well as learning vocal techniques.

Nobody/Somebody, February 2022

Northern Ireland Opera engaged the young musicians of the Ulster Youth Orchestra to perform in this brand new opera which we commissioned for a teen/young adult audience. The opera explores themes of activism and homelessness and is inspired by the work of the young activists of the PPR Organisation in Belfast who are one of NI Opera’s community partners. NI Opera also worked with Springboard Opportunities to engage 5 young people who were interested in theatre careers to work in paid creative and technical roles on the opera’s production.

Find out more here.

Vocal Health Workshop
NI Opera Chorus member Rachael Heater performing with the workshop week students
Dance Workshop for secondary school students
Stage Make-Up and Special Effects Workshop
Stage Make-Up and Special Effects Workshop
Looking at costumes and sets from NI Opera productions
Students enjoying a workshop session
Costume and Set Design Workshop
Acting Workshop Session for Secondary Students
Secondary School ‘Come and Sing’ event
Secondary School ‘Come and Sing’ event
Secondary School ‘Come and Sing’ event
Primary School Singing Workshops in schools
Secondary School ‘Come and Sing’ event
Free lunchtime concert
School Singing Workshops at the GOH
Hip Hopera Workshop
Open Dress Rehearsal for Community and Youth Groups
Come and Sing ‘Tosca’
Come and Sing Mozart’s ‘Requiem’
Come and Sing ‘Les Misérables’
Primary School Drama Workshop
Primary School Theatre Visit at GOH
School Costume Workshops at the GOH
Primary School Theatre Visit at GOH
Primary School Singing Workshop
Primary School Dance and Song Workshop
Costume and stage make up workshops at the Creative Skills Summer Scheme
Costume and stage make up workshops at the Creative Skills Summer Scheme
Costume and stage make up workshops at the Creative Skills Summer Scheme
Costume and stage make up workshops at the Creative Skills Summer Scheme
Summer Scheme Creative Skills Workshops for Teens at the Duncairn Centre
Creative Skills Workshops Summer Scheme
Creative Skills Workshop, Costume and Make-Up for Stage
Creative Skills Workshop, Costume and Make-Up for Stage
Creative Skills Workshop – Choreography and Movement.
Costume and stage make up workshops at the Creative Skills Summer Scheme
Primary School Dance and Song Workshop
Come and Sing Mozart’s Requiem
Come and Sing ‘Les Mis’
Come and Sing Les Mis
Primary School Dance Workshop
Primary School Song and Dance Workshop
Primary School Drama and Art Workshop
Primary School Drama and Art Workshop
Pirmary School Song and Dance Workshop
School Costume Workshops
School Costume Workshops
Workshops at the GOH
School Dance Workshops
School Singing Workshops
The Singing Explorers
Workshops for ‘Pamplemousse’
Little Lullabies
Noye’s Fludde at Belfast Zoo
Little Lullabies
Opera Detectives at the GOH
Workshops at the GOH
Noye’s Fludde at Belfast Zoo
Little Lullabies
Workshops on tour for ‘Pamplemousse’
Singing Explorers performing at Glenarm
‘Kiss Me Kate’ workshops for GCSE drama students
Rehearsal visits to the GOH
Ardnashee special school project
The Bat Ball at the GOH
Singing Explorers at Glenarm
Singing workshops for Die Fledermaus at GOH
Noye’s Fludde at Belfast Zoo

If you’d like to find out more about our education programmes for 2023/24 or how to take part, please contact info@niopera.com

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