Participate
Our GO Participate programme aims to enrich people’s lives through opera; sharing our passion and love of opera with a wider audience, and helping to demystify the wonderful and varied genre of opera for those who would not normally have access to it.
We provide a bold and ambitious participatory programme that engages with our diverse local community, providing access to Garsington’s high quality opera and challenging perceived barriers to cultural engagement. We use opera as a medium to improve emotional wellbeing and to champion the vital benefit of musical engagement.
We are so grateful to all our GO Participate supporters. If you would like more information on supporting this work, please visit our Support page here.
Discovery Workshops
Our new Discovery Workshops will give you the opportunity to explore different areas of opera and theatre in a series of 1-day workshops. With everything from singing to set design, the workshops offer something for everyone in our local community.
Adult Company
We offer opportunities for adults from all walks of life to create and perform together in projects both at Wormsley and further afield.
Community Opera
Our Community Opera productions see our Adult and Youth Companies come together – to perform on the main stage at Garsington Opera alongside professional singers and often featuring new works that have been commissioned.
Youth Company
Garsington Opera’s Youth Company provides young people aged 9-19 with the opportunity to develop their creative skills and confidence through the exciting world of opera in a collaborative and welcoming environment
Production Arts
Garsington Opera offers a training pathway for the next generation of production arts including Stage Management, Lighting, Scenic Design and Costume. There are many opportunities for a variety of ages from work experience to seasonal roles available.
Arts Award
We provide the chance for young people up to age 25 and under who are a part of our Youth Company to participate in the Arts Award to develop their creativity and leadership skills based around a project.
Work Experience
Each year, we offer a week of intensive work experience for a limited number of young people between the ages of 16 and 18. It’s a great chance to find out how a producing theatre works and to highlight the many career opportunities in producing and making shows, in our case particularly opera.
OperaFirst
Our OperaFirst projects are open to both Primary and Secondary schools, and aim to introduce the world of opera through an in-school workshop and performance at Garsington Opera. These projects give the opportunity for a new generation of young people to learn about and to help demystify the wonderful world of opera.
Create-an-Opera
This intensive programme for secondary schools involves immersive workshops at Garsington Studios in school time. Students collaborate with professionals to create and devise their own opera. The experience culminates several schools coming together to share their collective creations.
Digital Learning Resources
These resources are designed to engage people with opera in an inspiring and accessible way in their own homes or classrooms. Based on specific operas and linked to the National Curriculum, these resources offer both insights and practical exercises.
Alvarez Emerging Artists
The programme recruits annually from conservatoires internationally in search of young singers with the talent and flair to become the soloists of tomorrow. We offer coaching, training, opportunities to understudy principal performers and have minor roles in the Festival, whilst also being part of the Garsington Opera Chorus.
Production Arts
Garsington Opera offers a training pathway for the next generation of technicians including Stage Management, Lighting, Scenic Design and Costume. This could be as part of the Youth Company, or as part of an educational placement.
Traineeships
Artistic Traineeships: The traineeships are entry-level positions designed to provide individuals with hands-on experience and the skills necessary to successfully pursue a professional career in the field for which they are training.
Production Arts Traineeships: These traineeships offer paid, introductory vocational training and career development opportunities in the Lighting and Stage Departments.
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