Young Artists Back in Session

The Young Artists returned for their spring session on Monday, and they jumped right into preparing for Opera Goes to School. This program takes the Young Artists to local elementary schools, where they—along with teaching artists—work with students to create an opera to perform for their school.

For the second season, Opera Goes to School will feature Siegfried and the Ring of Fire, an hour-long, kid-friendly adaptation of Wagner’s Siegfried. Created by Jonathan Dean, Seattle Opera’s Education Artistic Administrator (and frequent blogger!), the opera features the Young Artists in the leading roles of the gods and goddesses with students at each school playing Valkyries, fire spirits, and forest birds. Students also play musical instruments and create costumes and props.

This year, Opera Goes to School heads to Lawton Elementary School and St. Benedict School in Seattle, Cottonwood Elementary in Yakima, Lakeland Hills Elementary in Auburn, and Evergreen School in Shoreline. Have any of you seen one of the Opera Goes to School productions or have students who’ve been involved in the fun?

Photos: 2009 Siegfried performance at Evergreen School. © Justina Schwartz photo