Following a successful trip with the full company in 2017, Welsh National Opera’s Youth & Community team returned to Dubai in March 2019 to deliver a series of workshops and masterclasses with local schools, community choirs, and young musicians from the Centre for Musical Arts.
The visit was organised in partnership with British Council UAE. Four members of WNO Orchestra, three Youth & Community team members, two professional singers and one repetiteur made the 4,000 mile journey.
After a community singing masterclass, in which WNO vocal animateur Kate Woolveridge and repetiteur Nicki Rose were joined by talented and enthusiastic participants from the local community, the team then presented three days of workshops for schools, themed around ‘Opera Magic’, including a tour of Mozart’s The Magic Flute with special emphasis on the musical landscape, its story and themes and a brief background of the composer. The score was brought to life by WNO instrumentalists.
During the workshops, the children had the opportunity to take a closer look at the instruments, learn about the orchestra and working as part of a team within the orchestra and had the opportunity to ask questions.
In all, over 250 school children were involved, from nine different local schools and learning centres.
