Youth Development & Education
Cape Town Opera’s Youth Development and Education (YDE) programmes actively engage with young singers and musicians throughout the country. Spearheaded by Head of Youth Development and Education Madrè Loubser, the Cape Town Opera YDE department is the company’s flagship music education programme. The aim is to address the lack of equitable music pedagogy for learners in marginalised, township and rural South African communities.
Foundation Studio
In response to the diminishing presence of music education in schools, Foundation Studio emerges as a dedicated initiative with the aim of granting high school learners access to music literacy courses that may not be available within their educational institutions. This comprehensive program delivers weekly offerings, encompassing vocal lessons, theory instruction, keyboard studies, aural training, meals, and transportation between school, home, and the offices of Cape Town Opera. Additionally, all necessary materials, including stationary, are provided to facilitate a well-rounded educational experience. The overarching objective of Foundation Studio is to equip learners with the essential skills required for successful entry into tertiary education institutions, ensuring a robust foundation for their musical pursuits.
Arts Access
Arts Access is a transformative program that embraces the principle of inclusivity, offering a unique opportunity for primary and secondary school learners, individuals from marginalized communities, the elderly, and those with disabilities, to immerse themselves in the world of performing arts. This initiative is centred around granting access to final dress rehearsals and performances, ensuring that the joy and enrichment of opera are accessible to everyone.
One standout feature of Arts Access is its incorporation of surtitles in two of the 12 official languages, along with sign language. This intentional approach aims to dismantle language barriers, fostering a deeper connection between the audience and opera. This thoughtful inclusion guarantees that individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds can fully appreciate the nuances of opera, creating a shared experience that transcends cultural and linguistic divides. In 2022, Cape Town Opera received the Neville Alexander Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the promotion of Multilingualism from the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
At its core, Arts Access is dedicated to breaking barriers. The program offers secure transportation and provides dedicated sign-language and audio-visual interpreters for Deaf, hearing-impaired, Blind, and visually-impaired patrons.
Arts Access is a celebration of diversity, emphasizing that the arts belong to everyone. By offering tailored services, it not only enhances opera accessibility but also advocates for the enjoyment of the performing arts by individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. This initiative serves as a compelling example of harnessing the transformative power of the arts to foster a more inclusive and enriching community.
National Schools Tour
The National Schools Tour, established in 2005, is a vital part of Cape Town Opera's mission to nurture young talent and celebrate South Africa's cultural diversity. This tour aligns with the Open Section category of the ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE), organized by the Department of Basic Education. SASCE promotes unity, reconciliation, and social cohesion among learners through choral music.
SASCE unfolds in three phases from May to July – regional, provincial, and national. Following regional and provincial rounds, the final competition takes place in Gauteng during the winter school holidays in July.
The programme uses opera, classical singing and musical theatre to provide learners with access to performing arts, addressing current social challenges and exposing them to the recognized classical music repertoire. Their involvement in interpreting live musical performances addresses numerous academic, cognitive, social and intellectual challenges. Beneficiaries participate in the programme regardless of race, ethnicity, age, disability or socioeconomic circumstance. This programme arose from the desperate need for music education and theatre skills development not widely available in South Africa. The vital importance of this programme can be seen not only through its cultural significance but also through the genuine interest and eager participation expressed by learners.
The Cape Town Opera Children's Chorus
Established in 2023, the Cape Town Opera Children’s Chorus is a vibrant ensemble of 31 young voices. Under the expert guidance of Chorus Master Antoinette Huysen, this project-based chorus is an integral part of Cape Town Opera productions, lending their youthful brilliance whenever a children's chorus is called for.
Opera Blocks
Opera Blocks offers a 45-minute immersive theater experience tailored for children aged 0 to 5 years, aiming to introduce them to opera and classical music in an engaging and interactive manner. The program features a curated selection of arias, ensemble pieces, and songs from various operas, art song collections, and musicals in multiple languages, designed to entertain both children and their adult companions. Different programs cater to specific developmental stages, including infants aged 0–18 months, active toddlers aged 18 months to 3 years, and families with multiple young children up to 5 years old. By creating an inclusive environment where children are encouraged to move and explore, Opera Blocks seeks to foster a love for live performance and theater etiquette from an early age. The sensory-focused approach emphasizes auditory experiences through exposure to diverse musical styles, voice types, and instruments, while also incorporating visual and tactile elements. Singers wear elaborate costumes with removable accessories, and props are made from soft and safe materials to encourage interaction. Environmental decor and lighting techniques further enhance the thematic immersion, with productions like "Bubbles" and "Twinkle-Twinkle" featuring marine and nocturnal themes respectively. Collaborations with renowned choreographers such as Dalija Thelander enrich the experience with movement techniques aimed at motor and sensory development. Opera Blocks offers flexibility in themes, programs, venues, and schedules, providing a versatile platform for introducing young children to the world of theater and music.
Remote Learning
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cape Town Opera faced challenges in working with their learners in person, necessitating the adaptation of their methods for knowledge dissemination. In response, the organization initiated an e-learning series tailored for secondary school learners, alongside developing an opera activity book specifically designed for primary school students.
E-Learning Programmes
Sing Like a Pro
Cape Town Opera created an e-learning series of 13 instructional videos, called Sing Like a Pro, to assist learners with their SASCE Open Section repertoire in 2020.
The videos demonstrate proper vocal technique, highlight specific challenges to each piece and voice type, and showcase past SASCE competition winners now singing professionally.
CTO together with the Department of Basic Education made these videos available to learners throughout SA. To date, these videos have attracted close to 73 000 views.
Sing Like a Pro: The Masterclass
In 2021, the absence of the SASCE competition for the second consecutive year prompted Cape Town Opera to launch the second season of their e-learning series as a response. Entitled "Sing Like a Pro: The Masterclass," this season comprises seven instructional videos. Collaborating with 12 learners from partner schools and Cape Town Opera singers, the series provides a masterclass for each prescribed musical piece. Notably, learners from partner schools actively participated in the filming process to ensure relatability for viewers. The primary aim of these videos is to educate and inspire, offering a means for participants to remain engaged and productive amidst the challenges of the pandemic, where collaborative music-making was limited. To enhance accessibility, both the first and second seasons of the series have been translated into isiXhosa, IsiZulu, and Sesotho languages, catering to a broader audience of learners across South Africa.
Sing Like a Pro: Centrestage
Upon the relaxation of restrictions, Cape Town Opera transitioned from virtual workshops back to in-person sessions, enriching them with an expanded integration into the school curriculum. The Sing Like a Pro: Centre Stage workshop was devised to enhance musical knowledge, refine singing style and technique, impart insights into stagecraft and conducting, and offer guidance on appropriate performance attire. The workshop encompasses modules covering Opera and Choral Music, Musical Theatre, Pop Music, and Traditional African Music. Despite the extensive reach of their e-learning modules, facilitating interaction with both former and new learners and educators, Cape Town Opera recognizes the irreplaceable value of in-person workshops and rehearsals.
Opera Activity Book
Rather than solely focusing on secondary school learners, Cape Town Opera extended their efforts to engage younger students in primary schools by introducing a captivating Opera Activity Book aligned with the primary school curriculum. This book features six abridged, child-friendly operas accompanied by text and illustrations, fostering engagement through activities such as reading, coloring, maze-solving, dot-to-dot, fashion design, recipe following, word searches, and drawing exercises. Tailored for children aged 8-11, the book was published in English, Xhosa, and Afrikaans, with over 2000 copies distributed throughout the Western Cape Province. Each selected opera carries moral themes addressing issues such as bullying, poverty, hope, determination, and sacrifice. The chosen operas include adaptations of "Hansel & Gretel," "Magic Flute," "Cinderella," "Amahl and the Night Visitors," "The Boy Who Grew Too Fast," and "Mandela Trilogy," depicting the life of former president Nelson Mandela and his journey as a freedom fighter and activist.
