The Met School Membership (MSM) program introduces students to opera at the world's greatest opera house. To prepare for their Met visit, all member schools are provided with a subscription to Opera News magazine and an in-depth study guide, including background information on the opera and composer, a wide range of classroom activities, and detailed information on the opera’s music and production.

Member Schools can choose from three ways to use their $250 membership: attending an evening performance at the Met, attending a pair of working rehearsals for a new production (through Met Stages), or attending a Final Dress Rehearsal.

Please see the 2008-2009 MSM Season Brochure for information on this season’s operas, workshop details, and school responsibilities.

Evenings at The Met
All member schools are able to purchase discounted orchestra tickets to select Met performances; additionally, member schools have the option of applying their membership towards fifteen free orchestra tickets. Available performances are usually known in September.

Met Stages
Met Stages brings students inside the artistic process with a pair of director’s rehearsals for a new Met production. The first week, students watch singers in street clothes working with the directors and crew as they learn blocking and practice with piano. One week later, students return to experience the team gearing up for opening night: the conductor fine-tunes the musical performance and directors polish the production while singers rehearse full scenes in costume with orchestra. After each rehearsal, Met Stages participants get to know more about the production process during an intimate talk-balk session with members of the production team. Met Stages participants are also entitled to a Backstage Tour of the Metropolitan Opera House as part of their membership.

Final Dress Rehearsals
Member schools opting to attend a Final Dress Rehearsal receive forty-four final dress rehearsal tickets, allowing students to see a fully staged Metropolitan Opera production during the school day.

Professional Development Workshops
All Met School Membership teacher representatives are required to attend one Professional Development Workshop each season. These workshops cover a variety of operas and topics to meet the diverse needs of MSM teachers, including new techniques for preparing and exciting their students, inter-curricular connections, and personal teaching discoveries.

Applying to MSM
Teachers wishing to participate in MSM should submit a completed application form. Please note that space may not be available in all program tracks, and that certain membership options require a higher level of student maturity and teacher commitment.

For more information, please call 212-769-7024 or email msm@operaed.org.