Programs in our Community
Vancouver Opera has a long tradition of innovative and award-winning community programs and of forging groundbreaking cross-cultural creative partnerships that have brought opera to new generations of Canadians.
Learning about opera
Join us to learn more about Vancouver Opera productions! Are you a part of a community group that would be interested in a presentation about one of our productions? Vancouver Opera’s dedicated staff is always willing to talk about our current productions and life behind the scenes at an opera company. To request a visit please email Colleen Maybin, Director of Education and Community Engagement, or call 604 331-4960.
Pre-show Talks
Join Vancouver Opera staff before each performance of the season for an engaging overview of the opera. The Pre Show Talk includes a synopsis of the opera, background on its creation and at least one unique story from its production history! Talks are free for all ticket holders and take place in the same theatre as the performance.
6:30pm for evening performances
1:00pm for matinée performances
Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Mezzanine Level
Vancouver Playhouse – Upper Lobby
Culture Days
Join Vancouver Opera for an interactive “Day at the Opera” where you will learn the ins and outs of this multidisciplinary art form. This event will give you a better understanding of what the day to day life on the job is like for a professional opera singer.
SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs
Working with SFU has provided VO with the opportunity to stage full productions within this community. Our 2018 production of Requiem for a Lost Girl was presented at the Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. In the future, VO will host the Jim Green Night at the Opera, a collaborative event to honour his legacy and dedication to the arts.
https://www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/about-sfu-woodward-s.html
The Kettle Society Partnership
The relationship between Vancouver Opera and The Kettle Society began in 2013, and has been an indescribable and transformative journey. The Kettle Society is a facility providing services and housing with a mandate to support and raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental health issues. In 2015, the partnership evolved into a full production of Requiem for a Lost Girl, a chamber musical about homelessness, as a part of the 2018 Vancouver Opera Festival. The mentorship of VO’s Teaching Artists, encouraged Kettle members to become a part of this program as choir members, musicians, song and creative writers.
The community engagement team with artists involved in Requiem for a Lost Girl during the 2018 Vancouver Opera Festival.
This partnership is ongoing with continuing Choir and Writing group sessions at The Kettle on Burrard as well as Sing-Along’s at the Venables location. The Kettle Choir continues to learn and perform new repertoire at community events and at private Open Mic Nights hosted by Vancouver Opera.
The Kettle Society: http://www.thekettle.ca/
Requiem for a Lost Girl: https://issuu.com/yvropera/docs/requiem_for_a_lost_girl
Carnegie and Gathering Place events
The Education Staff at Vancouver Opera offers free learning sessions at the Carnegie Community Centre before each production throughout the season. VO works within this community to provide Dress Rehearsal tickets to extend the opportunity to see live, performing arts.
Health Arts
Since 2006 over 12,000 high-quality professional Concerts in Care have brought the rich experience of performance arts to people in residential care. Vancouver Opera is reaching out to this community to provide professional singers and instrumentalists to perform within this program.
Heart Partners
Vancouver Opera hosts an Opera Festival every year that offers free programming to the community. We feature and partner with other non-profit arts organizations during our Vancouver Opera Festival. Our Heart Partners at our 2018 Vancouver Opera Festival were The Kettle Society and Arts Umbrella. If you are interested in partnering with Vancouver Opera as a potential Heart Partner, send an email to Courtney Dugan, Education and Community Projects Coordinator, to apply.
Vancouver Opera Festival Community Partners
Circus West
Early Music
UBC School of Music, UBC Opera, UBC Creative Writing Program
VIFF
Delta School District Performance Academy
Russian Theatre Palme
Vancouver Bach Choir
DOXA
Music on Main
Faculty Brewing
Main Street Brewing
West Vancouver Senior Centre
Nicolas Krusek hosts an engaging learning session in advance of each production at the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre. For more information, email Sylvia Lung, Program Coordinator or call 604-925-7287.
The Merry Widow- Wednesday September 12th at 1:15 pm
La Bohème- Wednesday January 9th at 1:15 pm
Vancouver Opera Festival, Faust and La Cenerentola- Wednesday February 27th at 1:15pm