SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
EDUCATION
OVERVIEW & PROPOSAL
T E AC H E R C O M M E N T S
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA EDUCATION “Art doesn’t transform. It just plain forms.”
- Roy Lichtenstein
A key component of San Francisco Opera’s mission is taking a leadership role in artistic training, arts education, and audience development. When David Gockley assumed his position as General Director of San Francisco Opera in 2006, he immediately saw an opportunity to make an even greater impact in the community through education. Documenting his findings, he wrote, “We have an uncommon opportunity to integrate the best of our current work with the most dynamic new thinking to create a program at the forefront of arts education.” Ruth Nott, Director of Education, was hired in the spring of 2008 to help David reach these goals. For Ruth, who was once asked to summarize the role of San Francisco Opera Education, “It all comes down to meeting the unique and evolving needs of our community.” Ruth spent her first months at San Francisco Opera reaching out to the community, learning about existing programs, and assessing current needs. With the information she gathered she created a department that serves families and adults directly through workshops as well as focusing on collaboration with educators and school curricula. The department strives to not only meet the needs of those who want to learn about opera, but to help shape the general education experience through the prism of opera. As demand grows for these programs and as San Francisco Opera seeks to enrich a greater number of lives through them, the need for designated support is even more pronounced.
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MISSION & PHILOSOPHY The San Francisco Opera Education Department is committed to delivering outstanding, enriching educational opportunities in the arts to the broader community and Bay Area educational institutions. The resulting education philosophy is most fully demonstrated by the Opera ARIA Network program, but also informs all other programs provided by the Opera:
engaged learning for all ages TEACH THE WHOLE CHILD:
An in-depth, robust experience Active engagement in every aspect of opera creation Collaboration of all resources, including working artists Encouraging students to become enthusiastic fans of opera and eventually opera “ambassadors” Connecting to a child’s entire family network
connect with the community REACH THE TEACHER:
Extensive professional development Partnership in creation, delivery, and assessment Linking to all subject areas Designing curriculum with educators and whole school districts Practicing contemporary educational best practices
continual improvement The Education Department conducts consistent and thorough evaluation of our programs using multiple assessment strategies, thereby assuring the highest quality programs in the field nationally and internationally.
COMMENTS “Consider the qualities music has sharpened: collaboration, creativity, discipline and the capacity to reconcile conflicting ideas. Music may not make you a genius … but it helps train you to think differently, to process different points of view — and most important, to take pleasure in listening.” - J o an n e L i pm an , T h e N e w Yo r k T im e s
PROGRAMS OVERVIEW opera in the classroom K-12 SCHOOL Opera Arts Resources in Action (ARIA) is San Francisco
COMMENTS “The Opera’s programs stand out for their depth. We get professionals at the top of their game working directly with our kids to help them learn the skills needed to create their own work.”
Opera’s suite of K-12 education programs that integrate learning about opera into the classroom. Opera ARIA programs feature an extended collaboration between educators and Opera teaching artists, a high level of flexibility and choice for the educators including customized lesson plans, and comprehensive professional development. Network – ARIA’s signature program provides K-8 classes with in -depth opera education over the course of a semester or more. Classes learn about the operatic art form, study a specific opera prior to seeing a final dress rehearsal of the work in the War Memorial Opera House, then produce their own mini-opera. Residency – K-8 educators choose to concentrate on one element of opera (story, theater, music, or visual arts) and have four to twelve classroom visits with an Opera teaching artist. Practicing Everyday Arts Knowledge (PEAK) - Matches the multi-disciplinary character of opera with the multi-subject nature of high schools (Grade 9-12), partnered with the study of a specific opera. A teaching artist visits the classroom between four and twelve times.
Professional Development for Educators (PD) & Dress Rehearsals – PD sessions instruct Grade 3-12 and University educators on how to prepare their students for attendance at a San Francisco Opera final dress rehearsal or movie.
- Susan Stauter, Artistic Director, SFUSD
UNIVERSITIES
University Programs — Partnerships with universities and professors that foster connections between an opera and coursework.
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lifelong learning at the opera ADULTS Overture Workshops – These interactive classes explore how
opera is produced and are offered as a four-session course and as individual classes. Pre-Opera Talks – 25 minute lectures introduce patrons to an opera’s story, characters and music 55 minutes prior to each performance at the War Memorial Opera House and prior to movie screenings at the Kabuki Theater. Symposia & Partner Lectures – Symposia are presented when rare opera experiences, like the RING Cycle or worldpremieres, are produced. On these occasions, community partners often also present lectures/events in collaboration with the Education Department. Senior Lectures & Dress Rehearsals – Launched in 2013, this pilot program presents lectures about a specific opera at local, underserved senior centers. Attendees are then invited to watch the final dress rehearsal of that opera.
FAMILIES & COMMUNITY Family Workshops – Interactive workshops precede family-
friendly opera performances or movie screenings. They introduce participants of all ages to the opera they are about to see through interactive activities such as staging scenes and singing melodies. Family Activities – Active opera-related projects that occur at family-friendly simulcasts or Open House-type events.
ELECTRONIC MEDIA Family Movies — Condensed “Opera in an Hour” versions of
SFO productions created by the SFO Media Suite for use in ARIA programs and family events. Opera titles include: The Magic Flute, The Elixir of Love, Girl of the Golden West, and Carmen. Web Content – Extensive online resource materials are created for each student dress rehearsal. Educators use the resources, including curriculum connections, program articles, production photos, and audio clips, to prepare their students to see the opera.
COMMENTS “This year we created a mini-opera set during the American Revolution. No lecture by me could have given students the depth of understanding that they gained through their own, self-guided research. I cannot imagine teaching without ARIA.� - Emily Dahm, 5th Grade Teacher, West Portal Elementary School, SFUSD
IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS: ONE YEAR AT A TIME *
from the classroom ... 48 classrooms created original mini-operas
17,876
330 schools & universities participated in learning opportunities
students served
36 opera performers, production staff & Teaching Artists employed
1,618 hours invested collectively by the above employed
125 hours of Professional Development available to educators
*data from calendar year 2012-13 6
68,790
COMMENTS
approximate total attendance through all programs in one year
incalculable unlimited directions the Opera’s programs can take with your support
impact on the lives of all participants
and beyond!
40,441 adults attended pre-opera talks
4,284 847
family members attended workshops & movie screenings
COMMENTS
adults attended workshops & symposiums
1,977 31
students attended final dress rehearsals
schools attended at least one final dress rehearsal
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… to the opera house
“My experience at the opera was very good and suspenseful, it had you on the edge of your seat!”
final dress rehearsals available - A n t in iqu e M o n t go m e r y , S t u de n t , M is s io n H ig h S c h o o l, SFUSD
CASE STATEMENT FOR GROWTH Arts education is thriving at San Francisco Opera, yet there is still unmet need within the Bay Area community and surrounding areas. In order to address this need an idealized strategic plan was created in 2012 to demonstrate what programmatic growth could look like pending budgetary expansion.
THE WILSEY CENTER FOR OPERA Opening its doors in the summer of 2015, The Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera, housed on the fourth floor of the War Memorial Veterans Building, provides San Francisco Opera Education with two new state of the art spaces in which to conduct its programs.
COMMENTS “Part of San Francisco Opera’s mission is to take a leadership role in training, arts education, and audience development. Building the next generation of operagoers is one of my most cherished goals.” - David Gockley, General Director, San Francisco Opera
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The John M. Bryan Education Studio, the Company’s first-ever space dedicated solely for education purposes, and the Atrium Theater will feature the latest audio and video equipment and will accommodate a diverse array of activities, including:
ARIA Program activities for both students and educators Family exploration workshops and movie screenings Adult programs such as Overture Workshops and lectures Family-friendly opera productions
In addition to existing programs, the spaces also invite the creation of new programs and initiatives that will further engage the community with the operatic art form.
POTENTIAL NEW PROGRAMS Summer Program for Technical Theater & Young Performers – Two summer camp programs 2-3 weeks in length:
one for Grade 6-12 students focused on technical aspects of opera, operating in partnership with San Francisco Opera’s Production department; and another for Grade 3-8 students oriented toward developing performance skills. Community Centers Residencies – A series of interactive workshops introducing the creative elements of opera, in collaboration with local community centers. Workshops include children of all ages and/or intergenerational families, with lectures occurring at senior residences. Opera Beyond the City – An “invasion” by San Francisco Opera of a small, in-state town that does not have access to opera. An in-depth 2-week residency includes school programs, lectures, adult and family workshops, and Grand Opera Cinema Series screenings. Young Adult Program – A learning-focused young people’s club, a la book club, tied to opera attendance. University Visits – Customized experiences like master classes, Scene and Costume Shop tours, and opera expert classroom visits tied to opera attendance. Additional Online Resources – Virtual backstage tours, children’s games, learning materials for educators nationwide, and on-line lecture series.
COMMENTS “In America, we do not reserve arts education for privileged students or the elite. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, students who are English language learners, and students with disabilities often do not get the enrichment experiences of affluent students anywhere except at school.” - Arne Duncan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
PROJECTED GROWTH BY 2020* With the addition of new programs, new Company spaces, and possible budgetary increases, San Francisco Opera Education estimates reaching over 166,000 participants by the year 2020, a 140% increase from the current FY14 approximate reach of 69,255.
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COMMENTS “Last year we attended Carmen for Families and one girl, who is at risk of falling in with gangs, told me, ‘José didn’t have to kill Carmen. He could have made a different choice.’ She got that from the opera.”
6 1 ,9 7 5
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6 7 ,7 6 4
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6 8 ,7 9 0
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6 9 ,2 5 5
F Y 15 F Y 16
9 5 ,4 5 6 1 0 5 ,9 2 8
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1 3 3 ,0 9 6
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1 4 3 ,9 7 2
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1 5 0 ,8 6 2
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P a r ti cip a nts
- Sylvia Lindsey, Board m e m b e r , S a n F r an c i s c o O p e r a *All numbers are based on annual projections, not actuals. FY16 and beyond assumes approval of budget increases.
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YOUR SUPPORT NEEDED With the help of the community it serves, the future is bright for San Francisco Opera! FRIENDS OF EDUCATION Become a Friend of Education by making a gift to support San Francisco Opera’s Education programs. Your annual investment at any amount enables the Company to grow its programs and to expand its reach within the local community and beyond. In addition to the knowledge that you are empowering educators, enriching the lives of countless community members, and ensuring that arts education thrives in the Bay Area, you will enjoy regular San Francisco Opera member benefits at the level corresponding to your gift, as well as a customized experience related to Education activities.
STUDENT $75
PRINCIPAL $4,000
SCHOLAR $200
LECTURER $5,000
GOLD STAR $500
PROFESSOR $7,500
HONOR ROLL $750
CHAIR $10,000
DEAN’S LIST $1,000
DEAN $15,000
VALEDICTORIAN $2,000
PROVOST $25,000
EDUCATOR $3,000
CHANCELLOR $50,000
Visit us at: sfopera.com/friendsofeducation Ruth Nott, Director of Education (415) 551-6290 or rnott@sfopera.com Joo Eun Lee, Individual Giving Officer (415) 551-6244 or jlee@sfopera.com
COMMENTS “In my own philanthropy and business endeavors, I have seen the critical role that the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities.” - P au l G . A l le n , C o - F o u n de r , M ic r o s o f t
how much does it take ‌
$ $
750
provides one Professional Development session for educators preparing to bring their students to a Final Dress Rehearsal
creates web materials for educators’ use as they prepare their students to attend a Final Dress Rehearsal or opera movie screening
$
125
funds a classroom visit from the Adler Fellows or staff members of the Costume or Props Departments
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450
$
250
allows one classroom to attend a Final Dress Rehearsal
‌ to support SCHOOL PROGRAMS? $
300
sponsors a full day of classroom instruction with a Teaching Artist
$
100
provides arts and crafts supplies for students to create costumes, props and sets for their own mini-opera
$ $
3,000
enables a classroom to participate in the ARIA Network program for a whole school year
100
purchases a box of children’s musical instruments for distribution to an ARIA Network school
how much does it take ‌ $
300
allows San Francisco Opera to offer a free opera movie screening at a Bay Area community organization
$
2,500
supports a series of Pre-Opera Talks, which are available to ticketholders before every performance
$
1,125
covers the cost of an Overture Workshop for Adults
$
650
funds a trip to a Final Dress Rehearsal for an underserved senior center
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‌ to support COMMUNITY & FAMILY ACTIVITIES?
$
1,500
underwrites a series of Family Exploration Workshops offered prior to family-friendly operas
$
7,500
provides arts and crafts materials used in the Community Open House by thousands of children and families
$
30,000
funds the video production of a family-friendly opera, which can be used in community screenings and distributed to Bay Area educators for free
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 www.sfopera.com DAVID GOCKLEY General Director NICOLA LUISOTTI Music Director