Our Cultural Mission
Education & Outreach
Through music and musical storytelling, we inspire children’s creativity and support their wellbeing. Our carefully designed projects work with children and teachers in communities across the UK, sharing the lasting benefits – and the sheer joy – of discovering a passion for music.
Primary School Summer Opera Programme
Enriching young lives through musical storytelling
Working with local music hubs, our education programme brings six weeks of creative music-making to state primary schools in areas underserved by the arts. Developed by our experienced outreach team in collaboration with teachers, the programme is inspired by one of our summer operas each year and combines curriculum-linked lessons, interactive workshops and a specially devised performance.
Over the summer term, teachers are supported and empowered to lead engaging, dynamic lessons that introduce pupils aged 7–11 to every aspect of opera – from music, story and character to performance and stage design. Our outreach team and Young Artists then visit each school to lead in-person singing and acting workshops, before bringing everything together with a specially arranged, interactive 60-minute performance of the opera for schools.
From 2025, the programme will reach more than 1,500 pupils across 20 state primary schools, introducing them to the storytelling power of music in a fun and inspiring way.
Get Involved
If you would like to take part in our primary school project, please get in touch:
Open Dress Rehearsals
Our Secondary Schools Programme invites young people aged 11–16 to experience the excitement of live opera by attending a dress rehearsal of our annual summer production. Working with schools and local partners, the programme gives 500 secondary school students the opportunity to see a full-scale professional opera for the first time, from orchestra and singers to staging, design and direction. By opening up the rehearsal process, we help students gain insight into how a major production is made, while encouraging curiosity, critical thinking and a deeper connection to the storytelling power of music.
One-Off Events
Our annual programme of workshops and performances brings high-quality live music and creative workshops to children and young people across the full age range, from pre-schoolers to GCSEs and A-Levels. Working with a wide variety of musicians – from opera singers and string duos or quartets to full orchestras, folk bands and percussion groups – each event is designed to be engaging, inspiring and accessible. Whether performed in a school hall or in a classroom, in a community centre or on a street corner, these standalone events offer joyful, memorable musical experiences that spark curiosity and open the door to new sounds, styles and stories.
Roman River Festival Young Artist Spotlights
Our Young Artist Spotlights take place as part of the Roman River Festival, a celebration of world-class classical music held across unique and unusual venues in Essex every autumn. Within the festival’s professional concert programme, we offer performance opportunities to outstanding young musicians up to the age of 21, placing them on stage alongside established artists from the classical music world.
Spotlights include solo performances as well as duets, young performers given the opportunity to play with leading musicians such as Tom Poster, Daniel Rowland and Alissa Firsova. We give young players the chance to perform at the highest level, gain invaluable professional experience, and build confidence in a supportive, inspiring environment.