Opera North

	Opera performance

Leeds-based Opera North believes that young people should have access to opera and undertakes a programme of education projects in Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, York, Hull and surrounding areas, reaching 3000 young people each year. These include young people with special needs, hearing impairments, those excluded from mainstream education, and children in inner-cities who have little access to the arts or music in the course of their normal school day.

A team of artists from Opera North, including a director, composer and singer, lead these young people in creative workshops where they are inspired by an opera, such as The Magic Flute or Hansel and Gretel, to create their own words, music, songs, drama, movements, props and design. The projects culminate in their own opera performed at a local theatre or in their schools for their classmates, teachers, parents and invited guests. Whatever their needs and abilities, these young people are enabled to use their often unexpressed creative skills to produce exciting work reflecting their own ideas and beliefs. One of the most gratifying outcomes is to see the growth of their self-confidence, self-esteem and pride in their abilities and skills.

Here are some of the interesting responses from young participants in projects supported by the Onaway Trust:

"You changed our perspective of opera, which was of total boredom, into elements of compassion and commitment." (Taz and Gully, aged 14, Carlton Bolling College, Bradford, 1999).

"The children are highly motivated to participate and it is one of the highlights of their year." (Teacher, Special Needs School, East Riding of Yorkshire, 2000).

"It built up my confidence and my writing skills."; "I learnt that you have to co-operate to get the most fun."; "I learnt to mix and work with other children." (Primary school children aged 9-11, The Children and the Wishy-Washy Witches, Sheffield Children's Festival Project, 2001).

Humperdink's Hansel and Gretel has been the focus for two recent Opera North creative projects, working with special needs schools in the East Ridings and an integrated special needs and mainstream schools' project in York. In the East Ridings the six special needs schools created songs and images culminating in their own CD and songbook. In York, 80 young people devised and performed their own version of the opera based on their responses to Humperdink's.

N.B The Onaway Trust has contributed over £24,000 towards Opera North's projects for children with special needs or learning difficulties.

The Onaway Trust is a registered charity - number 268448.