Opera for the Young is a traveling opera troupe with a mission towards making opera accessible and engaging to elementary students. The program adapts operatic works for elementary-aged students and sends a troupe of four young opera singers and a piano to facilitate a performance for the school. Opera for the Young engages their audience by incorporating students into the performance. While the entire school studied story elements of the opera before the performance, fourteen students took the extra step of learning several chorus pieces prior to the performance. These students also participated in a 45 minute workshop with the opera singers. On October 25, the entire Ravinia community was treated to an amazing performance of The Pirates of Penzance complete with live musicians, sets, costumes, props, and a special cameo by Principal Courtney Nordstrom! This Foundation Grant program was organized by Ravinia Music teacher, Sara Gillette.
