2010 Annual Report Part 1 - Opera Australia

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT CONTINUED
Serpent who wanted to Sing and around 37,000 primary students were
entertained by The Sound Garden. Both of these are Australian operas
and for many children this is the first time they have seen an opera or a
live performance. We are very grateful to the NSW government for the
support received through Arts NSW which extends the reach of the tour
in that State and Western Sydney.
Education
Beyond the tens of thousands of primary schools students reached
through the Oz Opera Schools Tours, Opera Australia continued to run
an innovative education program for secondary students as well.
WotOpera continued to challenge and inspire young Australians to
completely create and perform their own original operas through just
20 contact hours. Three projects ran consecutively across Bendigo,
Western Sydney and Launceston with groups of 20 high school students
creating stories ranging from teenage pregnancy and drug dealing to a
speed-knitter who saves the world from Satan. WotOpera was extended in
2010 to include a partnership with Golden City Support Services and the
successful participation of a group of people with disabilities in Bendigo. This
commitment to developing the creativity of Australia’s youth was made
possible through the generous support of Principal Sponsor, Graeme Wood,
and project-specific funding from the NSW and Victorian governments.
OperaEd continued as one of our flagship education programs opening
up the world of opera to young people who would not otherwise have
this opportunity, and this program too welcomed participation for
the first time by young people with significant physical disabilities.
OperaEd reached some 120 students in 2010 all drawn from areas of
socio-economic disadvantage. Barclays Capital is the most enthusiastic
Principal Supporter of this program and the direct involvement of
their staff is testimony to that company’s genuine commitment to
community engagement.
Opposite above: Students from Queechy
High School, Launceston Tasmania,
participating in WotOpera
The Commonwealth Bank extended its relationship with the Company
and communities around Australia through the proud support of Opera
for Students. Every year this program makes hundreds of tickets available
to school students at significantly reduced prices and through the
Taryn Fiebig as Eliza Doolittle and
Richard E. Grant as Henry Higgins
My Fair Lady
Opposite: Western Sydney secondary
students participating in the OperaEd
program
OPERA AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2010
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