Little Opera program teaches kids through the arts

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In this week’s Close-Up, we meet the new hands shaping the high drama of the opera – lots of little hands, that is.

At Little Opera, an after-school program in San Francisco, children are in charge of producing an entire opera, overseeing every step in the process – from composing to costume design to directing.

Founded in the fall of 2011 by teacher and playwright, Erin Bregman, the program not only serves as an enriching arts education, but also teaches kids important lessons about how to collaborate and provide constructive criticism to their peers.

“I never imagined that they could learn so much about themselves and about working as a team,” said Carla Cueva, whose son is in the program.

Working with teachers and professional singers, set and costume designers, and directors, the elementary and middle school students conceive and execute their own original opera in the course of the school year.

“I think that the high drama of opera fits perfectly with when you’re a kid,” said Bregman. “Almost every day is like the best day you’ve ever had or the worst day you’ve ever had or the person you love the most in the world or the person you can’t stand the most in the world.”

Follow Little Opera on Twitter: @LittleOperaSF

Little Opera program teaches kids through the arts

In this week’s Close-Up, we meet the new hands shaping the high drama of the opera – lots of little hands, that is.