Opera Omaha Education Programs invite students to experience opera as a living art form, one that connects music, storytelling, design, history, language, and imagination.
Student Dress Rehearsals
Student Dress Rehearsals take students beyond a traditional field trip and into the final stages of bringing an opera to life. This FREE program offers a rare opportunity for students to see the show before the public and without a large crowd for a more personal and meaningful experience.
Artist Visits and Masterclasses
Each season, Opera Omaha brings guest opera artists into classrooms and community spaces across the city. Visits may include short performances, masterclasses, career talks, Q&As, or workshops. Each artist visit is tailored to the needs of teachers and students to create a meaningful opera learning experience. Priority for artist visits is given to schools and community partners who have attended the opera.
Register for an artist visit as part of Student Dress Rehearsal Registration!
Opera 360
This immersive program takes the Student Dress Rehearsal experience and expands it for groups that want to learn more about the artisans that operate behind the scenes. Students tour backstage and speak directly with opera professionals in costume design, hair and makeup, stage management, directing, conducting, and other production fields.
Poetry & Music Project
The Poetry & Music Project, produced in partnership with the Nebraska Writers Collective, gives young poets across Nebraska and Iowa the chance to hear their words transformed into original music by professional composers.
Free Opera & Literature Curriculum Resource
Opera Omaha worked with OPERA America to develop The Humanities and Opera Education Hub. This free resource designed for high school educators provides educational materials focused on literary works that have been adapted into operas and films.
The Education Hub provides lesson plans, slides, and other ready-to-use materials for ten different operas. These resources aim to help teachers inspire curiosity about opera by connecting it to literature their students already know and enjoy.
The initiative was supported by the Whiting Foundation.
Opportunities for College Students
From volunteer opportunities for behind-the-scenes experiences to our Student Rush ticket program, Opera Omaha offers several ways for college students to discover opera.
College student groups can attend free Student Dress Rehearsals and request artist visits or masterclasses.
Do you want to help support Opera Omaha and gain some behind the scenes experience? Students can also gain behind-the-scenes experience through volunteer opportunities, chorus consideration, and paid supernumerary roles.
Student Rush
All students, with a valid ID, may take advantage of $10 rush tickets to Opera Omaha performances*! You can purchase your Rush Tickets beginning one hour prior to the performance at the Orpheum Theater:
Show your valid student ID at the box office.
Purchase up to two tickets per student at $10 each.
If you are bringing 10 or more students to an Opera Omaha production, you can take advantage of Group Student Rush Tickets! Call Howard Coffin at (402) 346-7372 x2 for more details!
*Restrictions and exclusions may apply.