Opera Iowa

For over 31 years OPERA Iowa has created magic in rural schools, city classrooms, cafetoriums, community centers, concert halls and gymnasiums, offering over 850,000 young people and adults a quality arts experience today while building new enthusiastic opera audiences for tomorrow. As the state's largest and most expansive program in arts education and one of the most innovative programs of its kind, Des Moines Metro Opera's 12-week award-winning, regional arts education tour features comprehensive study guides, curriculum-based workshops, masterclasses as well as live musical performances designed specifically for young people and families. The eight-member OPERA Iowa Troupe features young professionals from across the country who are committed to inspiring their audiences through quality, live theatrical experiences.

RAISING VOICES / RISING STARS

A day-long opera workshop experience geared for the high school musician will be presented by Des Moines Metro Opera. Students and their teachers will have the opportunity to attend sessions on “Vocal Techniques for the Stage”, “Movement for the Stage,” “The Business of Opera” and “What’s Opera All About?”. All sessions will be led by nationally known music coaches, directors, and singers employed by DMMO for the summer festival season.

Participants will also have the opportunity to attend a final preview of a mainstage performance. The outcome of this workshop is to give talented high school musicians an idea of what it takes to perform live on the stage, performance after performance, year after year! This is a must for anyone wanting to understand the real nuts and bolts of the life of a serious singer in today’s performance world. Cost for this day-long workshop is only $40 for students

OPERATION OPERA

Des Moines Metro Opera holds the belief that great art should be for everyone. In 1993 Operation Opera was launched to serve as the community outreach branch of DMMO’s extensive education programs by providing a year-long series of activities for Iowa audiences, with a primary focus of programs geared toward underserved audiences. Operation Opera operates within central Iowa communities by making the arts accessible to a broader and more diverse audience through a series of free dress rehearsals of our mainstage productions. The program works with nearly thirty human and social service agencies throughout the greater Des Moines area. These agencies serve children and adults who face social, logistical or economic barriers that would prevent them from attending a live opera performance.

Following each event DMMO staff and agency volunteers gather feedback from participants to determine their reaction and the effectiveness of the program. Evaluation criteria include total attendance, diversity of participants, comfort level and preparedness, interest or ability to draw on the experience in the future, enthusiasm, and interest in participating in a future event. Evaluation forms are also distributed to agency leaders, all resulting in new insights and/or program improvements. It is important to break down the barriers that might separate one from this wonderful art form. The pleasure of sharing a cultural experience with family and friends is one of the intrinsic values of the performing arts. It is especially true of young people that the more often they can experience the arts, the more likely their desire will be to continue to support them as adults. Operation Opera often provides that initial experience, that first opportunity that will ignite a life-long passion for the arts.