The Resilient Communities Fund was developed to help non-profit organizations rebound and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. In late 2020, Opera Atelier learned that it was the recipient of an $83,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario, to […]
Opera Atelier Receives Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant For Online Youth Programming
The Resilient Communities Fund was developed to help non-profit organizations rebound and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
In late 2020, Opera Atelier learned that it was the recipient of an $83,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario, to provide greater accessibility to the company’s free online Making of an Opera education program for Ontario youth. The Resilient Communities Fund was developed to help non-profit organizations rebound and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
“This investment by the OTF to assist in the creation of an online education program for Ontario youth is a significant investment in our community,” said Suze Morrison, MPP for Toronto Centre. “The investment has not only helped Opera Atelier pivot online during the pandemic, developing a high-quality online learning platform that offers flexibility and greater accessibility to youth across the province, it has also provided critical income to artists in one of the hardest-hit sectors in Ontario.”
“We are thrilled to have the generous support of the Resilient Communities Fund,” said Marshall Pynkoski C.M., Opera Atelier Co-Founding Artistic Director. “The exposure to and the demystification of the performing arts is essential for young people for a myriad of developmental reasons – self-expression, connection, creativity, empathy and understanding. If we hope to ensure a vibrant and thriving cultural sector as part of Ontario’s future, it is our responsibility to provide zero barrier opportunities for youth to access the arts. Thanks to the incredible support of the OTF we are excited and fortunate to be able to expand Opera Atelier’s popular online education programming and to continue making a meaningful impact on the lives of young people.”
Through the OTF grant, Opera Atelier engaged an education consultant to successfully guide the creation and implementation of the Making of an Opera program’s transition to a digital platform. Opera Atelier collaborated with videographer Marcel Canzona to create new content with the artistic team, stage management, and performing artists, resulting in engaging online learning modules for music, dance, movement, and set design. Last year, students received free access to the company’s two streamed 2020/21 season productions. As well, Opera Atelier’s Artist In Residence, Measha Brueggergosman, led livestreamed master classes on Zoom for Ontario students.
“As a high school vocal music teacher, I was excited to be able to take my students to Opera Atelier’s Making of an Opera program. I knew first-hand the incredible impression it would leave on them because I was personally introduced to opera in high school through attending the Making of an Opera program myself,” said Megan Alexander-Lui, vocal teacher at Alexander Mackenzie High School in Richmond Hill, Ontario. “This year as many organizations shut down operations due to the pandemic, Opera Atelier continued to employ artists and to conduct outreach as well. My students were able to interact with the MOAO online resources and even had the absolutely unbelievable opportunity to participate in a masterclass with soprano Measha Brueggergosman!”
Click here to view original web page at www.broadwayworld.com
