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Children Love Their Night at the Opera

Posted on: Thursday, 24 November 2005, 09:00 CST

Opera was top of the bill when pupils from schools across the region wrote, produced and performed in their very own production.

Beyond the Mountain, which was performed last week at Sacred Heart School, Fenham, to a rapturous reception, was written by the pupils with the expert help of professionals from Opera North, a company which works with schools to help reinvigorate opera through young people.

Students from Beech Hill primary school in West Denton, St Cuthbert's primary school in Kenton, West Denton primary school and Sacred Heart secondary school, Fenham, all joined in and said they enjoyed the experience immensely.

Helen Ingoe, 13, who is in Year 8 at Sacred Heart, said: "I was more involved in the music aspect of the project and I really enjoyed it.

"It was quite an experience working with the professional musicians and I learned a lot from them. I didn't have much experience of opera before, but I think I will in the future.

"I really enjoyed the night and I enjoyed playing my euphonia for all the people that came to see us."

And Amy Watts, 14, who is in Year 9, also enjoyed the experience. She said: "It was a great night and a great experience. It was nothing like I expected it to be, it was much better.

"I was not really involved in the music side of things. I was involved with the set design which meant we had to make models of what how we wanted to see the set and then got to see the finished stage.

"I enjoyed it but I don't think I'll start to listen to opera for fun. It has certainly broadened my horizons, though, and I would be more confident going to see an opera."

Emily Alexanders, 13, who played the bass guitar on the night, said: "I've been playing the bass since last November and I really enjoy playing it.

"This project was excellent and nothing like I thought it was going to be. It was great to work with the professional musicians.

"We knew it was going to be based on the Pied Piper and we had to give our ideas to the composer, who took them away and wrote the opera. It was a good experience."

But it was not just the pupils at the school who enjoyed what they had done.

Pat Wager, headteacher at Sacred Heart school, said: "It really was a wonderful experience for all of the children and we have said that we would love to do it again.

"It was brilliant that the children got to work so closely with the professional musicians. It really allowed them to explore and develop their creativity.

"But it was not just about the music. Some of the art students helped to create the set and some of that will be used for their GCSE portfolio."

Tony Northey, acting education manager, said: "It really was a great project and I think all of the children involved had a really good time.

"We got the children to work with a group of professional musicians but they really did give a big contribution to the overall work as a whole.

"We can but hope it has given the students a more favourable view of opera."

Coun Nick Cott, executive member for children and young people, on Newcastle City Council, said: "The project was brilliant."

Source: Evening Chronicle - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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