ENGAGE VOICES, EMPOWER ALL

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES NGAGE VOICES, MPOWER ALL E E

By Alina MacNichol

When was the last time a movie, piece of art, or song moved you? Why did it resonate? Odds are, you saw yourself in the art. At Opera Carolina, we’re working to empower authentic connections through voice and meaningful experiences among individuals and others.

As part of the Opera Carolina staff and a singer with the OC Chorus, I’m very proud of our 73-year history in Charlotte. I love the rich operatic tradition that we bring to this region. At its core, opera is about storytelling, and masterpieces like Tosca tell stories that can be as relatable to today’s audiences as they were in the past. It’s our privilege as artists to hear and give voice to the stories of our communities and to use our beautiful artform as a platform to share and acknowledge the experiences and emotions that those stories evoke. As Sean Combs says, “Music is the most powerful form of communication in the world. It brings us all together.”

Connecting with each other empowers us to understand our communities’ reality and collective history. Opera Carolina has a long track record of successfully bringing our art into schools and community spaces, but an authentic connection requires us to go beyond excellent programming and beautiful singing. Through one of our new initiatives, the Council of Creatives, we build relationships and collaborate with local artists and creatives. We meet people where they are and create opportunities to give voice to the tapestry of their stories, hopes, and concerns. The goal is to create compelling collaborative experiences in spaces welcoming to and reflective of all participants.

At Opera Carolina, we are, in turn, empowered by the support of our Board and company leadership and by incredible community partners like our Council of Creatives. They are grassroots artists, local civic organizers, and colleagues from arts organizations and cultural institutions. Our civic engagement team includes opera staff; two Civic Engagement Artists who facilitate activities and collaborative work; and the creatives and conveners who serve as advisors, practitioners, and collaborators. Together, we make opera resonate more meaningfully with people who don’t have a connection to the art form and empower those who are marginalized by acknowledging their stories and their truths.