Tag Archives: HOT Education

Photos – HOT Opera Express: No More Mr. Bad Wolf

Enjoy these images from HOT’s Opera Express production of No More Mr. Bad Wolf at the historic Hawaii Theatre! Toi, toi, toi to our performers, audience volunteers, and the HOT Education Team for making us laugh and teaching us that we can always make the choice to be good!

Each year, Opera Express takes a condensed family-friend opera to schools and venues throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The 2017/2018 touring show is No More Mr. Bad Wolf, which follows the Big Bad Wolf through story book land as he discovers he can be a hero rather than a villain. The show includes talented singers, live piano accompaniment, a set, costumes, props, audience participation, and more!

Bring Opera to your school! Please call or e-mail for availability. E-mail e_haines@hawaiiopera.org to join the Education Mail List.

HOT Opera For Everyone

Carmen OFE Reaches 1,300 Students!

A big mahalo to all students and chaperones who came out for last night’s Opera For Everyone, the last dress rehearsal of Carmen! More than 1,300 students saw the production through HOT Education.

Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services shared this photo of their group at the event:

HOT Opera For Everyone

And HOT asked a few students during intermission what they liked about the show:

Established 1991, HOT’s Opera for Everyone program offers students from elementary through high school and college classes (age 24 and under) the opportunity to enjoy the live opera experience for just $7!  Teachers and others working with Hawaii’s youth may reserve seating for the Wednesday before each opera opening. This is the final full orchestra dress rehearsal and designated Opera For Everyone night reserved exclusively for this purpose during the regular school year.

In addition to the opera production, HOT’s Opera For Everyone program provides expanded opportunities for schools to incorporate the performing arts into regular curricula. Many teachers intrigued by opera tie-ins to literature, culture, language, geography, science and math, integrate the Opera For Everyone program into their classroom activities.

Macbeth at Niu Valley Middle School

Gallery: Niu Valley Middle Summer Residency

Students in HOT Education’s Residency Productions do it all! They build props, design sets, put together costumes, dance, act, and (of course) sing!

Niu Valley Middle school students wowed audiences when they performed Macbeth on July 28, 2017.

 

HOT Education’s Opera Residencies transform a school, grade level or participating classrooms into an Opera Production Company. The Opera Residency has become an annual learning program for the schools, and its success shows. The program is a great interactive tool for integrating arts into your curriculum through the art of opera. In addition to its foundation in literature, opera offers multiple opportunities for tie-ins to math and other core subjects. The program can be a great complement to Core Curriculum goals.

HOT Residency: Waikele Elementary School

Gallery: Waikele Elementary Residency

Waikele Elementary School second-graders showcased their talent and hard work on April 28, 2017 with a performance of Adventures in the Marshall Islands: A Tale of Needlefish and Crab!

 

HOT Education‘s Opera Residencies transform a school, grade level or participating classrooms into an Opera Production Company. The Opera Residency has become an annual learning program for the schools, and its success shows. The program is a great interactive tool for integrating arts into your curriculum through the art of opera. In addition to its foundation in literature, opera offers multiple opportunities for tie-ins to math and other core subjects. The program can be a great complement to Core Curriculum goals.

#HOTSpeaks: Singer Gets Kids Excited About Opera

Leslie Goldman wanted to sing in any way possible when she auditioned to be a singer for the Hawaii Opera Theatre Orvis Studio in 2015. So she included in her application that she was open to being considered for all performance opportunities the studio offered.

She didn’t expect that she would become one of the stars of Opera Express, but she’s fallen in love with the role.

Opera Express is a HOT Education program that brings kid-friendly versions of popular operas to Elementary and Middle Schools throughout the state. 

“I almost like it better than singing for adults,” Leslie said. “You have the opportunity to be as crazy as you want, because you’re doing anything to keep the kids engaged. You really have to utilize every little tool in your performer’s toolbox.”

This year Leslie has played both the witch and Gretel in the production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. The production also features three other adult performers and student volunteers. Opera Express will be seen by students across Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island, once it has finished touring.

Last year Opera express reached 15,400 students at 62 schools throughout the state.

Leslie shared that a lot of the students like opera because they are able to tell a story and be loud.

 “It’s exciting to share opera with kids,” Leslie said. “At first they’re kind of shocked, and they laugh and imitate you, but then you can tell they’re engaged with the music.”

She noticed that performing in the opera could even change students’ behaviors.

One student who was playing a gingerbread boy was throwing things backstage and not paying attention to directions, Leslie said. She worried that he might disrupt the performance.

But as soon as he got on stage, Leslie saw a change. The boy became remarkably more focused.

“I’ve noticed that with a couple kids. Once they get up in front of an audience, they utilize extra energy for better,” Leslie said. “It’s the ‘magic of the theatre,’ so to speak.”

HOT Education Director Erik Haines said he has not only seen opera improve student performance onstage, but also in the classroom.

And Leslie found that even she was learning something new throughout the performances.

She discovered that she had cared too much about her own ego when she had sung in front of adults. Singing in front of children improved how she performed.

“Where I’ve faltered in the past as a performer is that I would stand up there singing just hoping my audience would like me and think I’m fabulous,” Leslie said. “Whereas when I’m in front of kids, I’m just doing my job as a musician. I want them to learn about music, I want them to stay interested, and I want them to have fun. It’s not about me.”

What started as one of many boxes checked at an audition has made Leslie a better performer and has given students across the state the opportunity to experience the classic art of opera.

 “I hope my performances bring the kids a lot of joy, I hope they have a really fun time watching it, and I hope that a kid who might be interested in performing will be inspired to get up and have fun,” she said.

 

To support HOT Education initiatives like Opera Express, click the button below.

To bring Opera Express to your school, email e_haines@hawaiiopera.org for availability.

 

By Allison Kronberg

Now Casting for the Opera Express

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ALL ABOARD THE HOT OPERA EXPRESS!!!

We are now casting for the HOT Education Opera Express touring show for the 2015-2016 season. The program, which runs intermittently throughout the school year, takes a keiki-friendly opera to schools & groups around the state.

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Singers will need to be available during schools hours (M-F, 7:15am-3:00) and are paid per performance. If interested, please contact Blythe Kelsey at b_kelsey@hawaiiopera.org for more information.

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HOT Learning at Blanche Pope Elementary!

Today HOT’s Education Team is out on location!

Director of Education, Erik D. Haines, and Education Coordinator, Blythe Kelsey, hit the road for a very special engagement: Casting at Blanche Pope Elementary School!

Magic Flute

Located in Waimanalo, Blanche Pope Elementary is now host to HOT’s Residency Program. With the help of HOT Education staff, the school children will perform a family-friendly opera version of this classic production. Our opera education team leads students and teachers through the process of producing and performing an opera!

Other residency schools have included Aina Haina, Ala Wai, Momilani and Liholiho Elementary.

For more info on HOT’s Education Program, email Erik Haines (e_haines@hawaiiopera.org) or Blythe Kelsey (b_kelsey@hawaiiopera.org).