For Middle-High Schools: Hello Operator?

Intended Audience: 50-300 students, grades five through nine
Approximate running time: 50 minutes
Personnel: soprano, baritone, student volunteer, pianist, host
"Hello Operator? " is a fifty-minute program presented by two Knoxville Opera Studio Artists, a host, and a pianist to an assembly of up to 300 middle school students. The performers and host introduce the assembled students to opera and its components in a high-energy series of fun-filled, practical demonstrations often involving their teachers (by surprise of course) and a pre-selected student form their school appearing in a cameo role. Since students of this age often shy away from "solo" exposure, the group is asked to participate by watching the performance closely and responding verbally en masse to cues. The result is an introduction to opera that breaks down the stereotype of opera as foreign and boring, and makes it come alive inside their own school.

Download Outreach Performance Request Form (PDF) *
Download Outreach Performance Request Form (Word) *

*right click link and choose "Save Target As..."

Photos from Hello Operator:


K.O. artists answering student questions after a performance of Hello Operator

Available programs:

For Elementary Schools: Opera Antics!

For Middle-High Schools: Hello Operator?

Monday Night Opera

Outreach venues