The Young Patronesses of the Opera (YPO) organization began the In School Opera (ISO) program in 1975 under the guidance of YPO member Louise Todaro, Producer, and Dr. Warren Broome, the Musical and Artistic Director. Louise produced the In School Opera from 1975 to 2007, when she became Producer Emeritus and handed the reigns over to her daughter, Julie Todaro, who now acts as the Producer, and the two Assistant Producers, Randie Koroglu and Kay Lores. “The In School Opera has always held true to the YPO mission, to cultivate the love of opera and to promote opera education in the community,” says Todaro. Since its inception, it is estimated that over 500,000 elementary children in public and private schools around South Florida have had the opportunity to view our professional programs of such operas as Hansel and Gretel, Ransom of Red Chief, Jack and the Bean Stalk, Cinderella, and Pied Piper. Many of the children would never have a chance to experience this genre of the arts if it weren’t for this In School Opera program.
The In School Opera tour runs from January to May, visiting approximately 30 to 50 schools per year. The 2008 tour will be featuring Papageno, an operetta based on Mozart’s The Magic Flute and arranged by J. Michael Diack. The schools are scheduled in the fall of 2007 and will be posted in January of 2008. Please click here for a list of schools scheduled for performances during the 2007-2008 school year.
These In School Operas cost approximately $1500 per school to produce. The project is subsidized by the fundraising done by the members of YPO and through donations and grants that are raised. If you would like to support the In School Opera program, please send all donations to the address below.
The In School Opera performance of Papageno in 2008 is funded with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and in part by The Children’s Trust. The Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County. Additional grants to support in 2008 were received from The State of Florida’s Cultural Affairs Department; Wachovia’s Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; Target Foundation; Publix Supermarket Charities; and many individuals who donated funds to help support this program.
If you are a music teacher and interested in having the In School Children's Opera come to your school, please attend YPO's Teacher's Workshop that is given each year in the fall. (Information about this program can be found on this website.) Those schools that sign up at the workshop have first options to the following spring schedule. However, if you cannot attend the Teacher's Workshop, you may contact us at YPOInschoolopera@gmail.com and we will do our best to accommodate your school.
Photos on this page are from various In School Opera productions.
Contact information:
| Young Patronesses of the Opera, Inc. attn: Julie Todaro, Producer, In School Opera c/o Florida Grand Opera, Inc. 8390 NW 25th Street Miami, Florida 33122 |
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PLEASE NOTE:
Contact webmaster@ypo-miami.org for further information.
