Secondary Programs (Grades 8 to 12)
Opera Experience 2025–2026 Season
🎓 Program Overview Opera Experience is a year-long mentorship program offering 10 high school students an in-depth look at the inner workings of a major Canadian opera company. Ideal for students passionate about music, stagecraft, design, marketing, or storytelling, this program provides rare access to the creation of professional opera from the inside out. Students will:
Attend key rehearsals for all three mainstage operas
Meet artists, directors, and technicians behind the scenes
Tour backstage and production spaces at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Learn how opera is produced—from budgeting to staging
Gain work experience hours
Optionally create a multimedia report (e.g., podcast, video, or digital essay) ➤ Students who complete the report will receive a letter of reference and access to a network of contacts at Vancouver Opera and among peers
🎭 Mainstage Operas + Key Rehearsal Dates Rigoletto (Fall 2025) Verdi’s gripping tale of power, revenge, and heartbreak opens the season with towering arias and intense drama. Students will explore how this timeless story is brought to life through bold direction, darkly expressive music, and layered character work.
Room Run – Date TBD
Sitzprobe – Saturday, October 18, 2025, 1:00 pm (MLH Rehearsal Hall)
Piano Tech – Monday, October 20, 2025, 6:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal – Thursday, October 23, 2025, 7:00 pm
Così fan tutte (Winter 2026) Mozart’s sparkling comedy, filled with emotional nuance and moral ambiguity, invites students to consider how modern productions reframe classic works. This opera offers a rich entry point into ensemble singing, comedic timing, and inventive design.
Room Run – Date TBD
Sitzprobe – Saturday, January 31, 2026, 1:00 pm (MLH Rehearsal Hall)
Piano Tech – Monday, February 2, 2026, 6:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal – Thursday, February 5, 2026, 7:00 pm
La Bohème (Spring 2026) Puccini’s beloved opera captures the joy and sorrow of young love, bohemian life, and artistic ambition. Students will witness the power of music and design to evoke deep emotion, and observe how performers convey vulnerability and connection on stage.
Room Run – Date TBD
Sitzprobe – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1:00 pm (MLH Rehearsal Hall)
Piano Tech – Monday, April 20, 2026, 6:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal – Thursday, April 23, 2026, 7:00 pm
📅 Program Timeline
Fall 2025 – Orientation + Rigoletto
Winter 2026 – Mid-Year Session + Così fan tutte
Spring 2026 – Final Workshops + La Bohème + Celebration Event
📣 Application Info Students will submit:
A short letter of interest
A creative sample (written, visual, or audio)
Applications have now closed for the 2025-2026 Opera Experience program.
🎻 Orchestra Experience 2025–2026 Season
Program Overview Orchestra Experience with Vancouver Opera offers five high school instrumentalists a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of professional opera performance. Designed for students with a strong interest in orchestral music, this program provides access to the inner workings of a professional opera orchestra as it prepares for three major productions. Participants will:
Attend sitzprobes, technical rehearsals, and dress rehearsals for three operas
Observe the rehearsal process from within the orchestra or theatre setting
Engage with Music Director Jacques Lacombe and Associate Music Director Leslie Dala
Learn about the unique demands of performing in a professional opera pit
Receive work experience hours toward graduation
Build familiarity with opera repertoire and large-scale performance settings
The program is led by Ashley Daniel Foot, Director of Engagement and Civic Practice at Vancouver Opera. Ashley works closely with the music staff to guide students through each stage of the experience and ensures a supportive, educational environment for participants. 🔍 Season at a Glance Students will follow the rehearsal process for all three operas in Vancouver Opera’s 2025–2026 season: 🎭 Rigoletto (Fall 2025) Verdi’s powerful tragedy explores fate, vengeance, and emotional intensity through vivid orchestration. A powerful introduction to the Romantic opera repertoire. Key Dates:
Score Reading – Date TBD
Sitzprobe – Saturday, October 18, 2025, 1:00 pm (MLH Rehearsal Hall)
Orchestra Technical Rehearsal – Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 7:00 pm
Dress Rehearsal – Thursday, October 23, 2025, 7:00 pm
🎭 Così fan tutte (Winter 2026) Mozart’s sparkling comedy presents a unique challenge in lightness, clarity, and ensemble coordination, offering a glimpse into Classical style at its most refined. Key Dates:
Score Reading – Date TBD
Sitzprobe – Saturday, January 31, 2026, 1:00 pm (MLH Rehearsal Hall)
Orchestra Technical Rehearsal – Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 7:00 pm
Dress Rehearsal – Thursday, February 5, 2026, 7:00 pm
🎭 La Bohème (Spring 2026) Puccini’s masterpiece of young love and loss offers a rich emotional sound world and a powerful example of how orchestration supports character and story. Key Dates:
Score Reading – Date TBD
Sitzprobe – Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1:00 pm (MLH Rehearsal Hall)
Orchestra Technical Rehearsal – Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 7:00 pm
Dress Rehearsal – Thursday, April 23, 2026, 7:00 pm
📘 Expectations & Commitments
Students must attend all listed rehearsals for each production
Participants are expected to observe attentively and follow professional rehearsal protocols
Opportunities for informal Q&A with music staff may follow select rehearsals
Students are encouraged to submit a final reflection or creative response
📣 How to Apply Applicants must:
Be high school instrumental students (Grades 10–12)
Provide a sample of their playing (video or audio)
Be available for all key program dates listed above
Applications have now closed for the 2025-2026 Orchestra Experience program.
STUDENT DRESS REHEARSALS
See a fully staged production with your students for under $20. Click here to find out more about bringing your class to one of our mainstage opera dress rehearsals: For more information about Student Dress Rehearsals, please contact Tracey Flattes at tflattes@vancouveropera.ca.
OPERA IN CLASS
The journey to the opera stage is different for every singer, connect with us to request a special visit and vocal health from one of our world-class singers and teaching artists. For inquiries or to receive updates on Opera in Class, please contact Ashley Daniel Foot at afoot@vancouveropera.ca.
