In 2021, Lyric Opera of Kansas City embarked on a strategic journey, driven by several questions, including: How can we be of service to our community? Who will be in the audience in 2050? These questions led us to make a significant investment in robust education and community engagement programs.
Our vision was clear: to foster artistic literacy across Kansas City. Artistic literacy is defined as, “The ability to connect both personally and meaningfully to works of art and, through this process, to forge connections to our humanity and the humanity of others.”
Over the past four years, our Learning Department has brought this vision to life. We've commissioned and premiered three new works—Sketchbook for Ollie, The Haberdasher Prince, and Maya and the Magic Ring—which have toured elementary schools and community spaces, reaching children and families where they gather. We've also built a comprehensive in-school education program, including an annual program for secondary schools and the continuation of our popular Student Dress Rehearsals program.
The Haberdasher Prince on tour at an elementary school in Fall 2024. / Photo by Andrew Schwartz
Our productions at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts are now complemented by a range of ancillary programs, strengthened by the invaluable involvement of community partners who believe in opera's power to inspire cultural connection, empathy, and shared experiences.
We're committed to going deep, moving beyond “one-and-done” experiences. The 2024–2025 season marked a significant step forward with the launch of our Residency Courses. Through these residencies, highly-qualified Teaching Artists deliver direct instruction in Kansas City classrooms as part of students' block schedules throughout the school year. These programs offer vital support to overburdened and understaffed school systems by providing curriculum development, direct instruction, and program administration for these courses. They also offer students meaningful arts engagement opportunities that foster creative expression and provide connections to the greater community through firsthand experiences outside the classroom.
We'd like to extend a special shoutout to Emily Bridges, our Manager of School Programs, who so expertly coordinated these incredible efforts. Her dedication and hard work were instrumental in bringing these residencies to life.
Here's a look at what we accomplished this past year:
Lincoln College Preparatory Academy (LCPA)
Kansas City Public Schools
Teaching Artist Vanessa Thomas was in residence, teaching three choir classes, serving as music director for the school’s production of The Addams Family, and mentoring students in vocal skills and storytelling through music. Her students performed at our Latinx Artists Market, two concerts at LCPA, the Kansas City Public Schools’ Fine Arts Festival, and various other events. They also enjoyed attending the final dress rehearsal of The Barber of Seville and participated in our Narrative Storytelling Workshop.
Vanessa Thomas leads LCPA students in singing at Lyric Opera’s Latinx Artists Market in December 2024.
Central Middle School
Kansas City Public Schools
Teaching Artist Dominique Lorae Waller led four introduction to theater courses through an opera lens. Students explored acting, stagecraft, and technical theater with hands-on activities, including mask-making, costume design, makeup design (they especially loved creating fake bruises and cuts!), and lighting design. Students also participated in our Narrative Storytelling Workshop.
Central Middle School students participate in building costumes from found objects.
Notre Dame de Sion Grade School
Teaching Artists Victoria Botero, Lisa Marie Gerstenkorn, and Gary Adams delivered the nationally-recognized Music! Words! Opera! curriculum to two fourth-grade classes. Students took the lead in creating, writing, and rehearsing their own original operas, culminating in a resounding performance for family and friends that earned a standing ovation!
Victoria Botero and Lisa Marie Gerstenkorn lead Notre Dame de Sion Grade School students in a libretto reading.
The 2024–2025 season set a new standard for Lyric Opera’s education programming, and we are incredibly proud of this work. Next year, we look forward to expanding our offerings even more as we establish a cohort of Teaching Artists and bring excellent arts education to more schools in Kansas City!
About the author:
Dr. Neal Long has served as Director of Learning at Lyric Opera of Kansas City since 2021, building on a career as a freelance musician and educator. Neal is particularly proud of leading the commissioning of three operas for intergenerational audiences: Sketchbook for Ollie, The Haberdasher Prince, and Maya and the Magic Ring. He also instituted Residency Courses in Kansas City Public Schools. Recognized for integrating opera into wider communities, Neal is known for his collaborative leadership and deep commitment to excellence. He champions artistic literacy as a human right, fostering empathy and shared experiences through the arts.
