Pearl City Highlands Elementary – Opera Residency

The 2nd grade at Pearl City Highlands Elementary will premiere their own opera this Friday at 6pm in their school cafeteria!

Working with teaching artists from Hawaii Opera Theatre’s Education Department the students have learned about drama, music, writing poetry, opera performing as well as the subject matter they wrote about.  The three different classes developed poems on themes centered on being a kid – friendship, being new to a school, dealing with bullies and problem solving.

Erik Haines, HOT’s Director of Education said “the children have been working hard and are really singing great. They have really learned how to use their voices well and are working together to tell a very nice story – their story.”

Eric Schank, pianist with HOT’s Ed. Department noted that “It’s really great that the kids are singing all these famous opera tunes from The Magic Flute, Turandot, Il Trovatore and others. They take to it so naturally and have ownership of these melodies which we used as a framework for their words”.

For more information about the HOT Education and Outreach Program, contact Hawaii Opera Theatre at (808)596-7372.