Our Mission
OUR MISSION:
 
The Sierra Chamber Opera brings the music and drama of opera to elementary schools in the central California area.
 
We have a traveling cast of four singers and an accompanist who present short but complete one-act operas in the schools. The performances are fully staged and costumed, with props and scenery, providing an entertaining and educational introduction to opera.
 
Using music from the traditional operatic repertoire, our librettists create stories that are geared to the children's understanding. Some of the subjects covered in our operas have been:
 
  • the value of studying
  • respect for our elders
  • peace among different peoples
  • the value of good behavior
  • career opportunities
  • working together toward a common goal
  • geography and travel
  • the food pyramid and good nutrition
  • ecology
 
 
Our shows have a moral that teaches children a valuable life lesson, as well as an educational component that teachers can integrate into their lesson plans, and wonderful music. An engaging visual aspect supports these, both in the artistic presentation of our sets and costumes, and in the physical movement of our performers.
 
Since we began in 1978, we have given more than 5,400 performances: 27 the first year, increasing to over 200 each season in recent years. We produce a new one-act opera each year and have done 38 productions for over 1.5 million children, approximately 58,000 a year. Teacher and principal support of our work is demonstrated by their re-engaging us year after year.
 

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