ART FOR ALL COMMUNITY & LEARNING
HGO'S COMMUNITY & LEARNING WHERE O PE RA M AK E S A D I F F ER EN CE Through its Community & Learning initiatives, Houston Grand Opera explores the intersection between the multidisciplinary art form of opera and the needs of the people HGO serves. The company provides authentic and enriching experiences through collaborative partnerships with schools, families, community organizations, and curious members of society. Initiatives include developing programming about opera that resonates thematically with HGO’s audiences and, each season, offering popular, accessible programs like the Student Performance Series and Opera to Go! at the Wortham Theater Center and in more than one hundred schools, parks, libraries, and community spaces in the greater Houston area and throughout Texas. The arts are critical to the well-being of people of all ages, which is why our programming is designed to reach Houstonians in every corner of the region.
COMMUNITY & LEARNING, BY THE NUMBERS
65,000
YOUTH AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCE HGO COMMUNIT Y AND LEARNING PROGR AMS EACH YEAR.
4,000 GUESTS AT TEND EDUCATIONAL LEC TURES BEFORE MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCES EACH SEASON .
6,000 STUDENTS VISIT ANNUALLY FOR OUR STUDENT MATINEE AND HIGH SCHOOL NIGHT PERFORMANCES .
66 PERCENTAGE OF HGO’S TOTAL AUDIENCES REACHED THROUGH COMMUNIT Y & LEARNING PROGR AMMING .
40+ COMMUNIT Y ORGANIZ ATIONS AND PARTNERS THAT COLL ABOR ATE WITH COMMUNIT Y & LEARNING EACH SEASON .
TEACHERS: BRING HGO INTO YOUR SCHOOL! HGO provides valuable and relevant resources and opportunities designed to fit the needs of 21st-century educators wishing to engage their students in the arts.
OPERA TO GO!
(Grades 3 to 8) Students experience opera through 45-minute, high-energy productions presented at schools, libraries, and community venues.
OPERA UP CLOSE RESIDENCIES
(Grades 6–12) Residencies are designed to meet the demand for music/theatrical preparation and college/career readiness at schools and community organizations. Activities with HGO staff and guest speakers include sessions on college prep, audition techniques and tips, and career paths in the arts. Students receive invitations to attend HGO dress rehearsals and backstage tours at no cost.
CREATE AN OPERA RESIDENCIES
(Grades 3 to 12) Multi-session engagements provide arts-integrated curricula developed to support each classroom and school’s specific learning goals. Offerings include 12-session residencies that provide students the opportunity to write, compose, and stage an original opera based on classroom curricula, guided by company Teaching Artists.
BOOK ONLINE AT HGO.ORG
At right: Opera to Go! is HGO's most popular student program.
MORE RE SO URC E S
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Through these workshops, teachers explore topics relevant to participants’ pedagogical and professional goals while enjoying the opportunity to explore HGO repertoire at mainstage dress rehearsals with complimentary tickets. The company also offers specially designed workshops for team building, presented on-site at schools or other educational organizations, and at the Wortham.
OPERA RESOURCES
(All ages) Resources available on the HGO website include study guides, videos, and media for each season’s student performances and other productions, in addition to materials designed to introduce young people to HGO and the world of opera.
Introducing the next generation of arts lovers to opera at the Wortham
TEACHERS: JOIN US AT THE WORTHAM!
Students enjoying High School Night at the Wortham Theater Center.
HIGH SCHOOL NIGHT
(Grades 9 to 12) This is the ultimate field trip, allowing students the chance to dress up while enjoying a full-length opera at the Wortham Theater Center.
STUDENT MATINEES
(Grades 6 to 12, based on production) Students enjoy 90-minute versions of HGO mainstage operas performed at the Wortham Theater Center.
OPERA CLUB
(Grades 9 to 12) TELL YOUR STUDENTS! HGO's Opera Club is a fun-filled, accessible way for teens to learn more about the world of opera. No experience with music is needed. The program provides free exclusive access for teens to enjoy HGO dress rehearsals, tours, and social time while learning about the art form and the professional industry. Free; application required.
GET INVOLVED WITH HGO
T H E FUTURE O F O PE R A IS N OW. An assortment of accessible opportunities allows middle school, high school, and college students to gain exposure, training, and knowledge about the field, whether they are opera-curious or opera-aspiring. These programs are essential to opera's longevity and help bring the next generation of artists, designers, administrators, audiences, and supporters into the fold.
OPERA SUMMER CAMPS
(Grades 3 to 12) Camps take place during June and July and offer an action-packed, creative, and fun way to enjoy the summer.
Seeking a future in the artform? Apply! HGO supports talent at all levels through three competitive programs: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
THE BAUER FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL VOICE STUDIO (Grades 11 and 12)
This program prepares promising high school juniors and seniors for college auditions in vocal performance by providing tuition-free private lessons and unparalleled access to HGO resources. COLLEGE STUDENTS
HGO’S YOUNG ARTISTS’ VOCAL ACADEMY
ART OF OPERA
(Grades 9-12)
YAVA works with talented young singers at the undergraduate level and helps put them on the path to artistry by introducing them to the breadth of knowledge required for this career and professional life. The week-long course is held on-site at HGO and includes a variety of group classes in subjects such as characterization, how to prepare a score, diction, and movement; singers receive daily voice lessons and coaching from respected members of the HGO music staff. Participants are accepted via audition and receive full scholarships covering all fees, room, and board. POST-GRADS
CREATE AN OPERA
(Grades 3-8)
At left: Art of Opera students present their culminating performance at the end of camp.
THE SARAH & ERNEST BUTLER HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STUDIO
The Butler Studio provides eight to twelve young opera professionals with the opportunity to study and perform under a highly respected professional staff of teachers and performers every year. Studio artists receive a salary and benefits and become employees of HGO for one to three seasons. Members are accepted via a competitive international audition process.
BRING HGO TO YOUR COMMUNITY SING! MOVE! PLAY!
(Ages 4 to 7) Children celebrate opera’s greatest hits through action-packed workshops filled with singing, rhythmic movement, and creative play.
COMMUNITY RECITALS (All ages)
Curated recitals are performed by HGO Teaching Artists and Butler Studio artists for schools, community organizations, schools, libraries, and other venues, among them church and homeless-services organization Ecclesia and the Houston Methodist Hospital’s Crain Garden. Book a professional opera singer to perform interactive, themed concerts of arias followed by Q&A sessions; topics explored include immigrant women and the untold stories of communities around the world.
STORYBOOK OPERA
(Ages 4 to 7) This program supports literacy development with interactive activities led by singing storytellers. Bilingual classes available.
CULTIVATING EMPATHY THROUGH MUSIC AND STORYTELLING
(Ages 10 and up) This 90-minute workshop uses music and personal stories to cultivate self-awareness, self-management, and interpersonal understanding.
Contact HGO to book these programs. At right: HGO Teaching Artists sharing opera with the Houston community
HGO Chorus Director Richard Bado conducting the Giving Voice artists and chorus
HGO PROGRAMMING IN THE COMMUNITY JOI N U S A RO UN D H O USTO N FO R M O R E O PER A . HGO partners with social service and public health entities, museums, libraries, parks and recreation centers, senior facilities, and other community and cultural organizations to build programming that explores the intersection between opera and the community. The company offers opportunities for youth, families, seniors, and everyone in between.
Carols on the Green is a festive HGO tradition.
CAROLS ON THE GREEN
(All ages) This annual holiday celebration is a collaboration between Discovery Green and HGO. The concert features music from local community ensembles and guest artists and selections presented by the HGO Chorus, Butler Studio, and Bauer Family High School Voice Studio.
GIVING VOICE
(All ages) Created by tenor Lawrence Brownlee, one of today's leading opera stars, this annual concert is part of HGO’s commitment to supporting and celebrating diverse creators, artists, and audience members. Featuring performances from superlative Black opera stars and community ensembles, this popular event shines a spotlight on the diverse artistry of opera, art songs, gospel, and spirituals.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
(All ages) A diverse array of artists, scholars, and community leaders feature in activities including lectures, workshops, masterclasses, Q&As, and interactive exhibits, with unique offerings each season to complement HGO’s grand opera productions. Visit HGO.org for more on recitals and additional performances HGO gives throughout Houston.
SPONSORS GUARANTORS—
Robin Angly and Miles Smith The Brown Foundation, Inc. William Randolph Hearst Foundation National Endowment for the Humanities
CONTACT US To request Opera to Go!, or more information and pricing, please visit HGO.org or contact operatogo@HGO.org For information, and tickets to HGO Community & Learning events, please visit: HGO.org/community-and-learning.
Sara and Bill Morgan The Wortham Foundation, Inc.
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @HouGrandOpera
GRAND UNDERWRITERS—
Judy and Richard Agee The Elkins Foundation Mathilda Cochran ConocoPhillips H-E-B Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ™ Powell Foundation
Connect with us through hashtags: #HouGrandOpera #hgocommunityandlearning To learn how to become a philanthropic partner and support HGO's Community & Learning, please contact HGO at CustomerCare@HGO.org or call Customer Care at 713-228-6737.
Shell USA UNDERWRITERS—
Joan and Stanford Alexander Family Fund Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation Rebecca and Brian Duncan Halliburton Rosemary Malbin Dr. Laura Marsh
Share the magic of opera with the Houston community. Donate to HGO today at HGO.org/DONATE!
Mr. David Montague Vivian L. Smith Foundation
FUNDED IN PART BY
THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH
HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE