WotOpera is an Opera Australia initiative which provides 80 participants from four high schools or groups with the opportunity to work with Opera Australia artists and educators to create an opera.
Participants are involved in all aspects of opera: character development, plot creation, writing the libretto, composing the music, casting, painting the backdrops, and performing. All these are aimed at stimulating students, linking in with prescribed learning outcomes and developing a range of skills, which are integral to any creative process.
In this blog post, we hear from WotOpera participant Angela Johnston of Robert Townson High School about her experience with WotOpera.
Click here to view photos of Robert Townson High School's experience with WotOpera
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Click here to view more information about the WotOpera program
My Experience with WotOpera
By Angela Johnston, Year 11, Robert Townson High School
Wotopera was an absolutely awesome experience. I genuinely enjoyed every single minute of it, ranging from the in school workshops, to the final performance on the night at Riverside Theatre. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and even those who were a little apprehensive to begin with had an absolute ball on the performance night, and I even think they surprised themselves with how fun it was.
Leading up to the workshops I was a little concerned about whether or not we would be able to actually create an entire opera, but once we began, I discovered that through our enthusiasm and the efforts of our Opera Australia mentors (kudos to them, by the way) that we were going to have so much fun making it that any of that didn’t matter.
As it turns out, we managed to pull it off in time and, as I said, it turned out to be a fantastic night. With each school bringing something different to the table, each opera had its own unique flair to it. It gave a chance for those who are quite dramatic and also those not used to performing a chance to be in the spotlight, and feel the exhilaration of performing to a crowd of strangers. Which, by the way, is a thrilling and rewarding experience.
I learnt that opera and performing in such a dramatic style really is so much fun. Even if someone is not a confident singer or even completely tone deaf, as long as you put 100% effort and enthusiasm, it can turn out to be something special.
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about WotOpera and can honestly say I wouldn’t change anything. A massive Thank you goes out to everyone involved. I would do it again in a heartbeat and am actually kind of sad it’s over, though we will always have our memories of what was truly an unforgettable experience. Loved it, loved it, loved it!
Thank you so much Angela for taking part and letting us know about your WotOpera journey!
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