Opera Singing Workshop For Secondary Pupils

Invergordon Academy was ringing out with the sound of singing on Tuesday when secondary pupils from Invergordon, Tain, Dornoch, Fortrose and Dingwall  joined voices with Scottish Opera.

During a special two hour workshop, four Scottish Opera singers worked with pupils to develop musical and singing skills.  In preparation for the session, teaching packs prepared by Scottish Opera and set around the current syllabus of Standard Grade Music were distributed to each of the participating schools.

The students will attend a performance by Scottish Opera of The Merry Widow at the Duthac Centre in Tain later tonight (Tuesday 9 Sept).

Norman Bolton, The Highland Council’s Music Development Officer said:  “The workshop was an inspiring event and a wonderful opportunity for students to learn more about the skills of a professional singer and the work that goes in to staging an opera.  I am sure the next three workshops in the Highlands will be thoroughly enjoyed by all the pupils who take part.”

This workshop is one of four such events which will be running across the Highlands in the next week. On Thursday Thurso High School will host a workshop for pupils from Thurso and Farr, on Friday the workshop will be at Plockton High School and on Monday 22nd Kinlochleven High School will host the final workshop. 

Generous sponsorship for these events has come from an organisation called The Caledonian Foundation - based in America, allowing The Highland Council to offer the opportunity to participate at a greatly reduced cost.

Earlier in the year Scottish Opera collaborated with The Highland Council to host the Sound of Singing event which involved P6 and P7 pupils from 12 primary schools joining a team from Scottish Opera at Inverness Sports Centre and The Undersea World of Bubble McBea, an interactive opera for 3 to 6 year olds held in Eden Court.