Amarillo Opera Education Outreach Programs

ARTS: An Alternative - Free lessons and workshops for area youth from ages 5 - 18 in visual arts, music, drama, dance, poetry, and manners help to build self-esteem and confidence in local youth. Seven neighborhood sites in North Amarillo are utilized for afterschool, evening, and summer programs. Over 10,000 youth have been served through this program. College students serve as youth mentors and role models. These youth mentors perform area outreach programs for civic organziations as well as their work with the youth. Collaborative partnerships involve United Citizens Forum (Black Historical Cultural Center), YMCA, Wesley Community Center, Buckner's Youth Services, Amarillo College, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, the juvenile justice system, WTAMU, local businesses, Catholic Family Services' SOS Center, foundations, and community volunteers. Guest professionals in the arts are also recruited.

Apply for the ARTS: An Alternative Program

AiR Program - In 2005 the AiR (Artist in Residence) Program was begun. Professional singing artists of each main vocal type (soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone or bass) and of diverse ethnicity and race, reside one month each in Amarillo during which time they each perform at least four full recitals in rural and urban venues. They also visit schools where they perform and interact with the students. Each year since this began, the AiR Artists have served about 2500 students, over half who are Hispanic, and another 35% are either African American or Asian. There is no charge to the schools or students for these services.

In-school performances - College-aged students earn scholarships by providing entertaining performances that are used to give an overview of the four voice types and the roles in opera that they sing. Other in-school programs consist of a variety of ethnic and global music, apprentices and guest artist workshops and master classes. Opportunity School and AC Early Childhood Lab School are served weekly by Education Team volunteers and the Opera Outreach Scholarship Team.

"Lift Every Voice" Spiritual Concert Series - Performances by professional guest artists, returning local guest artists, and area college students to area schools and churches focus on the beauty, power, and history of the African-American spiritual. The culmination of the week is a performance in the Amarillo Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. For 2007 local African American gospel artists and musicians will be joined by a former AO scholarship student who is now a professional performer and other professionals. In 2005 one former student returned who is now a recording artist and successful composer and arranger on the national scene. In 2006, the world famous Three Mo' Tenors performed for the LEV Concert. One of the Three Tenors was a former Gibson vocal student and AO scholarship student.

"Feed the Spirit" - Area middle and high school performing arts students and all the area social services are invited to a free performance of each Amarillo Opera mainstage production. Amarillo Opera sends study guides to the teachers to aid in preparation. It is always a full house, and the students are mesmerized at the spectacle. It is mainly lower income students and schools from throughout the Panhandle that take advantage of this opportunity.

Guest Artist Masterclasses - Amarillo Opera often brings in guest artists to perform masterclasses. These masterclasses are given at Amarillo College and are open to Amarillo College students, West Texas A & M University students, high school students, and local singing artists. There is no charge for these classes

Free Pre-Concert Lectures - Lectures are given at the performance site one hour before each mainstage production. West Texas A & M University Opera History professor, Dr. Robert Krause, gives an overview of the opera to be performed including: synopsis, composer history, period history, and historical impact. There is no charge for these services.

Community Outreaches - Amarillo Opera's Outreach Team gives large numbers of demonstrations and lectures on opera, singing, voice types, costumes, arts education, arts with disadvantaged children, etc. A wide variety of groups are targeted from civic organizations to assisted living centers to prisons to schools.

Minority Outreach - In 1992 AO recruited a Community Advisory Committee of primarily African-American citizens. Under their strong leadership a bond has been developed between the opera and the black community. Lectures, recitals, educational programs, receptions, opera video parties, parades, and other activities have resulted. The African-American community supports the opera in attendance, volunteerism, board representation, production participation, and financial underwriting. Several collaborations exist between the opera and African-American community organizations and churches. AO General Director, Mila Gibson, has received special recognition by the NAACP.

AO's Musica Variada is also very active and strong. It consists of business leaders who are either Hispanic or who serve primarily Hispanic patrons. Two bilingual Zarzuelas have been presented. Annual Spanish concerts are presented at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Gibson received the Amigo Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Hispanics are currently represented on the Trustees Board, staff, and the guild board. Since 2002, AO has produced a concert titled MUSICA VARIADA (musical variety) featuring Latino talent, both local and with guest artists. Latino current and former AO scholarship students in instrumental music, vocal music, dance, and visual art have been featured in a variety of musical styles, including classical, folk, pop, country western, mariachi, and opera. In August 2006, a professional all-female mariachi group joined the local and former local talent for a fun-filled and exciting event at the Globe-News Center for Performing Arts. About 75% of the audience was Hispanic and had never been to the new theater before.

Rural Outreach - AO was one of the first arts organizations in the area to provide performances to rural communities and surrounding towns. Over 350 performances have been presented throughout the region, and this program was featured in the National Opera Association newsletter and the TCA Arts Reach. There are 35 rural BRAVO! representatives. Region 16 Migrant Program and AO have a strong partnership that functions year around. AC Opera Workshop Students participate in mainstage productions as well as outreach efforts.

Senior Outreach includes programs and recitals by AiR Artists, opera scholarship students and ARTS: an Alternative Youth Mentors in nursing homes, senior centers throughout the rural areas, Canyon and Amarillo, and visits to retirement housing complexes. These visits occur on a regular basis, including weekly visits in the summers.

Summer Youth Musical- Linda Dee Hughes, former Amarillo College Theater School for Children Founder and Director, is artistic director of the annual summer youth musical produced by Civic Amarillo and Amarillo Opera. Ms. Hughes gives in-school workshops on auditioning without charge in middle and high schools throughout the region. Fiddler on the Roof (2007) was presented at the Civic Center with 182 youth from ages 9-19 in the orchestra and cast; Oliver (2006) utilized the talents of over 100 youth ages 9-19 at the Globe-News Center for Performing Arts. Fiddler on the Roof (2007) will be presented in July 2007 with youth the same ages making up the cast and the orchestra. They work with professional directors, technical personnel, and mentors. There is no charge for participation but the youth are selected by competitive auditions.