Opera North is England’s national opera company in the North and one of Europe’s leading arts organisations. We are committed to producing work of the highest standard that excites, challenges, inspires and entertains.
Whistle Stop Opera: Cinderella – Free Song Resource for KS1-2 & Performance Film
A Christmas gift from Opera North…
We’re delighted to announce that primary schools can access a free film song resource linked to Opera North’s Whistle Stop Opera: Cinderella. This song resource is being sent out in advance of us sending out our free Whistle Stop Opera: Cinderella performance film to schools w/c 14 Dec 2020, so children have time to learn the short song in preparation for watching and joining in with the performance!
This is being sent out as a Christmas gift from Opera North, as we realise it hasn’t been possible for schools to undertake Christmas trips out to the theatre during this festive season. We hope this will bring the magic of opera to pupils and teachers and will be the next best thing to bringing a live Christmas production into your classroom!
We would encourage schools to access the song resource, featuring our very own Cinderella (Marie Claire Breen) as she teaches pupils a short song from the performance which children can join in with. Meet Fairy Godmother and follow Cinderella’s instructions to make a magic wand to bring to the performance and why not encourage children to come dressed as their favourite fairy tale character for the film screening in school!
To access the accompanying resources, please visit https://www.operanorth.co.uk/about-us/education/schools/
If you would like to access the film in school, please e-mail: schools@operanorth.co.uk
We would love schools to send us photos and videos of pupils as they engage with the resources and performance – just use #WhistleStopOpera and tag @Opera_North on Twitter!
Please also send us your feedback by completing our online feedback form which will be sent out together with the link to the film.
NB – please note, the film and resources will only be available for schools to access up until the end of January 2021
Other Opportunities:
Blended Learning Composition Project for GCSE & A Level Music Students
Suitable for KS4-5 music students
An exciting extended educational project centred on developing music composition skills to enable GCSE & A-Level Music participants to create short music works (free composition) written for a solo instrument or voice and accompaniment. The course will enable personal progression for each individual student and will cover all stages of the composing process, including practical considerations of the available instruments/singers the participants can write for.
Devised and led by composer James Garner and supported by a selection of Opera North orchestral musicians/singers, the course will feature a combination of online/live composition workshops, accompanied by a step-by-step LTSM resource to guide and support a music teacher and participants at every step of the compositional process. This resource will include lesson guides in an instructional video format to help carry participants through the tasks and support the teacher in every session. The resource will also contain a summarising document for teachers, charting the learning objectives and outcomes for each stage of the process.
The project will culminate in a final sharing performance (either live/remote) featuring the students’ new compositions, played through by Opera North musicians/singers.
When: Jan-Mar/Apr 2021 (Online meetings with schools: Nov/Dec 2020)
Where: Leeds / Greater Manchester / Newcastle / Cumbria
Cost: £475+VAT per school
Booking deadline: Fri 13 Nov 2020*
*Only a very limited number of school spaces are available; places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Locations may vary depending on school take-up.
BBC Ten Pieces: Small Orchestra Performances in School (KS2-3)
An engaging and interactive 45 min workshop style in-school performance for KS2-3 pupils, featuring a selection of repertoire from the BBC Ten Pieces, arranged for 13-piece instrumental ensemble, comprised of instrumentalists from the Orchestra of Opera North and presented by animateur Andy Smith
Workshops would provide an inspiring opportunity for students to access and interact with live instrumental music through the works of the great composers from the Baroque period to the 20th Century
Accompanying digital resources focusing on the instruments of the orchestra will also be available to participating schools
Workshops would be developed in line with Covid guidelines for the Performing Arts to ensure the health and safety of musicians and school pupils/teaching staff
When: TBC from Jan 2021
Where: Leeds, Newcastle, Northumberland, County Durham, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Nottingham, Barnsley, Doncaster & York*
Cost: £400+VAT per school
*If your school is located outside of these areas, please do contact us to check availability for a performance
Opera North will provide a thorough and in-depth Covid-19 risk assessment for all project activity taking place in schools. All artists, orchestral players and singers will be working in line with strict Covid guidelines for the performing arts, produced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. A number of our projects feature a combination of live/online workshops to provide all schools with the opportunity to engage with our work, irrespective of any restrictions on live workshops taking place.
