EDUCATION
Glyndebourne celebrates 30 years of pioneering education work
Glyndebourne opera house in East Sussex will celebrate 30 years of its education department this year , culminating in a celebratory event this autumn . Formed in 1986 , with the initial aim of complementing Glyndebourne ’ s touring activities , the department has expanded to deliver a year-round programme of work and is responsible for a large percentage of Glyndebourne ’ s new commissions , many of which are performed on its main stage .
Nothing Credit : Robert Workman
Performances for Schools Credit : David Illman
Raise Your Voice Credit : David Illman
Current projects include Performances for Schools ; Glyndebourne Youth Opera ( GYO ), providing workshops and performance opportunities for local young people ; the community-based music and dementia project , Raise Your Voice ; pre-performance talk and events ; and a ‘ Young Composer in Residence ’ post , currently held by Lewis Murphy .
Over the past 30 years of education work , Glyndebourne has :
• Commissioned 32 composers including Julian Phillips , Lynne Plowman , Orlando Gough and Jonathan Dove , whose first opera , Hastings Spring , was commissioned in 1990 .
• Given 3,000 amateur singers and instrumentalists the chance to take part in performance projects .
• Enabled 30,000 school pupils to experience the exhilaration of watching fully-staged opera through its Performances for Schools programme , established in 2006 .
• Won four prestigious awards for education projects , including two Royal Philharmonic Society awards , and been shortlisted for a further four accolades .
Darren Henley , chief executive , Arts Council England , said : “ The education department at Glyndebourne has been a pivotal part of the organisation ’ s success and outstanding reputation , not just in England , but internationally . Over the last 30 years , the education team has had an important role in introducing opera to new and diverse audiences – across all ages and backgrounds – helping to enhance their enjoyment and understanding of this art form . I look forward to seeing this work continue to flourish in the future , supporting early career professionals to realise their ambitions and building audiences for opera .”
Stephen Langridge , artistic director at Gothenburg Opera , worked on education projects at Glyndebourne during the 1990s and 2000s , during which time he directed two youth operas commissioned by Glyndebourne for the main stage - Misper ( 1997 ) and Zoë ( 2000 ).
" The great thing about working with the education team at Glyndebourne was that we always felt close to the centre of the company ,” said
Stephen . “ The work was supported and understood as a crucial part of the company ’ s mission . My contribution started in the old house in 1987 and continued via creative projects in schools , universities and prisons , to Misper and Zoë , in the new house . These projects were all valuable in themselves , but also helped to shape my personal view of the meaningful way an opera company can meet and create with its community , and a development of thought and practice which , three decades later , has profoundly influenced the work we are doing in Gothenburg .”
To mark the anniversary , Glyndebourne has launched the Glyndebourne Education Alumni scheme to reconnect with as many people as possible who have participated in its projects . They will also mark the anniversary with the launch of two new awards for gifted young singers who have taken part in education projects with Glyndebourne . The ‘ Gus Christie Award ’ will be presented to a young singer who has demonstrated outstanding vocal talent . The second award , yet to be named , aims to assist in removing financial and access barriers that may be preventing the recipient from fulfilling their vocal potential . The awards will be presented at a celebratory event taking place at Glyndebourne in the autumn of 2016 .
Gus Christie , executive chairman of Glyndebourne , said : “ Glyndebourne has always sought to nurture new and emerging artists . Through our education work we extend this into the local community . It ’ s fitting that in the 30th anniversary year of this work we are reaffirming our commitment through the inauguration of these two new awards to support talented young singers to develop their potential .”
Glyndebourne New Rd Lewes BN8 5UU
01273 815000 www . glyndebourne . com
@ glyndebourne
107