Lyric Opera 2019-2020 Issue 3 Luisa Miller

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 37 LYRIC’S IN-DEPTH SCHOOL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS Lyric’s Opera Residencies for Schools Program uses the power of opera to engage students in experiences that are culturally relevant, address specific learning goals, and accommodate diverse learners. This is achieved through meaningful dialogue with teachers to tailor programs that meet their students’ needs. Lyric offers three unique in-school residency programs: Elementary Opera Residency (Grades 1-5) Explore Opera Residency (Grades 6-12) High School Choir Residency (Grades 9-12) For 2019/20, Lyric will have residency programs in 76 classrooms across 29 schools, impacting approximately 2,200 CPS students throughout the city. Read what area teachers have to say about the impact of these programs: Our teaching artist was great in choosing students who were working on their self-esteem, giving them the adventure of expressing themselves in the art. The residency program speaks to the whole child. In school, we can stay so focused on reading, math, and social studies – we forget that children should have multiple adventures to express themselves and their intelligence. With this program you can bring in the writing, the math, the social studies. It opens up so much for a teacher in a non-traditional setting. Carla Jones, Cook Elementary School The program also helps students with acceptance of other people, the acceptance of failure when they make mistakes and the resiliency of pressing through – there’s teamwork involved. In terms of curricular value, there’s the vocabulary they learn – what a soliloquy is, an aria, a libretto – this is common for high schools, not Grades 4-6! The creative writing they do within this structure is incredible. A lot of the writing expected of them in class isn’t something they do with a group, it’s individual, so to collaborate with others in creating a written piece is no easy thing, but something that will be very valuable to them in the rest of their lives. Jonathan Zielinski, Drummond Elementary School Our teaching artist taught vocal pedagogy and performance practice, but also entrepreneurship and personal branding. In the vocal pedagogy classes, she really focused on freeing the voice and allowing the unique colors of each student’s voice to come through. She taught that wherever they are in their journey, there are great places they can go. She was a vocal coach and a life coach -- we’ve had the residency for three years; she brought us from one choir to four ensembles, and from doing normal concerts in spring and winter to performing with professionalism at a Cubs game at owner Tom Ricketts’ invitation. Trevor Nicholas, SennArts Music program at Nicholas Senn High School Kyle Flubacker Kyle Flubacker Kyle Flubacker