East End Opera - Current Projects

Current Projects

East End Opera is involved in a number of projects and intiatives. Read about them below, and keep coming back to see what else we're up to:

- Newham Young People’s Chorus

- Youth Music Mentors

- Sing Up London Communities

- Opera Sunday

- The Opera Collective

Newham Young People’s Chorus

East End Opera is currently managing the Newham Young People’s Chorus (NYPC) on behalf of the Children & Young People’s Services of the London Borough of Newham. Funded by Newham and Sing Up!, NYPC brings together 28 secondary and primary schools in a series of vocal workshops and choir rehearsals leading to a mass choral concert at the Royal Festival Hall in June 2010.

East End Opera has been associated with NYPC since 2007 when we contributed to in-school workshops and vocal classes. In 2008 we devised and developed the Tempest Island which featured EEO young singers and was a central part of the NYPC programme. Last year artistic director Shirley Keane took over leadership of NYPC working closely with Rachel Thomas of IGospel to co-ordinate the year long series of rehearsals, workshops and final concert.

Now celebrating its fifth successful year, NYPC embraces all music styles and genres including classical, folk, pop, gospel and Asian music. East End Opera is proud to continue to work with the many musicians and artists including Randolph Matthews, Gouri Choudhury and Paul Watson who have long been associated with NYPC over the past number of years.

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Youth Music Mentors

Welcome back to Bukola Abdul and Stefan Vitalis, previous participants on East End Opera’s youth music programmes, and welcome to new recruits Emma Williams and Amma Adjei who will be working with East End Opera as Youth Music Mentors for the Newham Young People’s Chorus. They will work with experienced lead voice tutors during the preparations for the NYPC concert, visiting schools and leading elements of the rehearsals and workshops over the coming months.

As Youth Music Mentors they are gaining valuable experience in workshop facilitation building up their work experience as they begin their professional careers in music.

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Sing Up London Communities

NYPC is a key member of one of the London Sing Up communities. East End Opera is working with ARK, British Gospel Arts and IGospel as part of the Sing Up programme. The four partners work together by sharing skills, training, repertoire and are now preparing together to produce the final showcase and end to the Sing Up programme with a celebratory concert at the O2 in 2011.

More news to follow on this project soon.

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Opera Sunday

Following on from the success of the Opera Show and Tell concert in June 2007 we launched a regular series of informal Sunday afternoon concerts where singers perform scenes and arias from some of the best-loved operas by composers such as Mozart, Puccini, Bizet and Rossini, and the audience are invited to ask questions and speak to the performers about their studies, careers and lives as professional opera singers.

The next Opera Sunday concert will be announced soon.

To be alerted when new concerts are arrange please contact Shirley as follows:
Shirley Keane
07989 976053
info@eastendopera.co.uk

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The Opera Collective

East End Opera’s long-term aims include the development of a strong, committed, professional ensemble. With this in mind we have created The Opera Collective.

Led by artistic director Shirley Keane The Opera Collective is an interactive practice session for professional singers.

The ongoing workshops encourage singers to take their solo practice out of the studio and to share their experience and talents with their peers by working together on opera scenes, duets and ensemble with experienced accompanists.

The Opera Collective offers singers the opportunity to

* Explore new repertoire
* Develop acting skills
* Increase motivation
* Generate new contacts
* Create performance opportunities

For details of times and cost please email a copy of your CV to info@eastendopera.co.uk

Please note The Opera Collective is for professional standard singers.
You must have attended a third level vocal course or have equivalent professional experience.

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