Creating Original Opera Partnership (COO) engages students and teachers in an in-depth multi-arts program, emphasizing the effectiveness and value of creating an original work by and for young people. The process-oriented program is fully integrated into core classroom curriculum and enables students to expand their writing skills and engage in the cross-disciplinary nature of performance and collaboration. Students participating in COO form a production company in order to write, compose, design, build and perform an original work of opera or musical theater.

The Creating Original Opera Partnership provides teachers with expertise and guidance through the program from a Guild teaching artist. In addition to providing ongoing professional development to COO partner schools, The Guild also supplies schools with theatrical make-up, materials for documentation and public relations and supplies for building footlights and scenery.

The COO Partnership program is available to students grades K-12 in the New York City Metropolitan area whose classroom and/or arts teachers have successfully completed the COO Professional Development Program (see below).

Creating Original Opera Professional Development Program

The Creating Original Opera Professional Development Program (COO PDP) is a program designed for educators to gain the skills and information necessary to guide their students through the COO process. The COO PDP trains educators in creating operas with their students through learning about auditions, writing, music composition, vocal production, blocking, acting, costume and make-up design, lighting and set design, public relations, documentation and company management. During the fall and winter, a seven (full-day) program is presented in the New York City area (at Lincoln Center and/or local school sites). A minimum of 10 teachers, who can come from multiple schools, are required for this program to take place. New teacher credit is available and 3 graduate level credits are offered, for an additional cost, through Brooklyn College. The program includes all curriculum and instructional materials, including a COO Curriculum Resource Notebook.

For more information, please call 212-769-7026 or email coo@operaed.org.