Moving Opera! is a unique residency program that brings a group of five professional artists (a director, musical director and three singers) into your school to work closely with a group of music and/or performing arts students. During a week-long workshop, the program explores music theatre processes on a variety of levels, providing excellent opportunities for individual and ensemble development.

The residency culminates with a performance on the Friday evening, to which the students’ peers and families are invited. This event may be used as a fundraising opportunity for the school, if desired.

The aims of the Moving Opera! program are:

• to provide greater opportunities for young people to participate in relevant, innovative arts experiences in an intimate environment.
  
• to develop an understanding and appreciation of the arts through direct involvement in all stages of the creative process.
  
• to provide a quality arts experience that profiles young people as creators and performers.
  
• to create a project in performance arts that provides a significant platform for young people to express their vision.

Moving Opera! was first piloted in April 2002 at Brisbane State High School. Since then our Moving Opera! team has visited over thirty-five schools in the Brisbane metropolitan area as well as many schools throughout regional Queensland.

In 2008, Opera Queensland is thrilled to once again collaborate with schools to provide performing arts education and development opportunities for students.

We are also delighted that our corporate partner, CS Energy will continue their commitment to regional Queensland by sponsoring visits by our Moving Opera! team to high schools in Ipswich and Mount Isa. We also welcome back BMA, who in 2008 are sponsoring Moving Opera! workshops in Emerald and Blackwater. For the first time Moving Opera! will be presented in Clermont, thanks to Rio Tinto Coal Australia.

Below are comments from teachers and students about their Moving Opera! experience:

"If music is indeed the speech of angels, a little piece of heaven came to visit the schools of Moreton West – in the form of Moving Opera! – for a magic week in which 30 students saw that excellence and involvement in the arts was a valuable way to explore their identity, challenges and inspiration.
Through your dedicated and passionate organisation – and skilful mentors - students were encouraged to be the best that they can be."
Jan Klotz, Principal, Bundamba State Secondary College.

"(The most valuable experience was)... The opportunity to work with such awesome singers. And then have them give us heaps of encouragement."
Laree (Year 10, Mount Isa).

"It was the experience of a lifetime. For some of us this opportunity will never come again."
Tiarna (Year 10, Mount Isa).

"As soon as I walked in the room, from that moment, I was given confidence. I've been given that chance to get out of my shell and it's been great."
Heather (Year 11, Ipswich).

For further information about this unique initiative, please contact Kellie Kremmer (Education Liaison Officer) on
07 3735 3044.