A large part of Connecticut Lyric Opera’s mission is introduce audiences to the wonder that is opera, as well as to provide aspiring performers an opportunity to hone their craft. To these ends, CLO offers the community the following programs:

OPERAtunities
CLO has developed a Musical Education and Outreach Program – OPERAtunities – which is partially funded by the Community Foundation of Southeastern CT as well as other generous local corporations and individuals. The goal, in keeping with the first objective of our mission statement, is to introduce local students to opera and classical music through their attendance and participation in a suitably adapted performance of an opera in such a way as to foster a life-long appreciation of music.

WHY OPERA? With its lush settings and costumes, rousing music, gorgeous singing, memorable melodies and dramatic plots, opera is truly the original “multimedia” art form, and because it incorporates so much into a single production, opera is the perfect vehicle for inspiring young imaginations in any or all of the fields of music, drama, dance, visual arts, literature and history.  Additionally, the value of arts education in developing cognitive skills in young people has been proven in numerous studies – not only do students demonstrate greater understanding of the arts themselves, but they also show improved overall performance in reading, mathematics and other curriculum areas. Many teachers view programs like this as essential to a well-rounded education and welcome the opportunity to provide children with a meaningful first encounter w­ith opera and classical music. Therefore, beyond merely exposing students to the genre and inspiring some to find a new talent they might never have known existed, the OPERAtunities Program fosters skills that can carry over into many other areas of a student’s life.