Education
Cambridge Handel Opera Company aims to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds with the excitement and passion of baroque music. We do this by working with local schools, providing opportunities for music students to perform alongside professionals, and through our distinctive online forums and study afternoons.
Work with schools
CHOC’s creative learning projects with schools began in 2018 with two workshops for the Parkside Federation of three state secondary schools in Cambridge. Artistic Director Julian Perkins was joined by two colleagues who led workshops in which over thirty students were encouraged to participate whatever their musical expertise. Students, parents and teachers were invited to the dress rehearsal of CHOC’s Rodelinda and one of the students took on an acting role in the production itself.
If you would like to organise a CHOC workshop in a school or community setting please email our Company Manager by clicking the Contact Us button.
Work with advanced music students
Our Talent Development Programme provides advanced music students with a rare opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside leading period instrumentalists in a complete professional production of a baroque opera. So far, principals from Sounds Baroque have mentored and performed alongside talented students from nine leading institutions both in the UK and abroad. In addition to performing in the opera, the students have featured as soloists and chamber musicians with Julian Perkins in a Showcase Concert and have participated in our Study Afternoons.
Study Afternoons
CHOC’s illuminating study afternoons go beyond the usual pre-performance talk by giving audiences the opportunity to engage with expert commentators, performers and creative artists who are keen to share their in-depth understanding.
The Tamerlano Study Afternoon was chaired by Dr Ruth Smith. It comprised introductions to the opera, its context and its sources by Professor David Kimbell and Professor Reinhard Strohm; performances by early-career singing students of two seldom-heard duets and an aria, which Handel cut before the opera’s premiere; an account of the principles and practice of baroque acting by Stage Director Dionysios Kyropoulos; and, with him and Artistic Director Julian Perkins, a discussion of this production’s evolution.
Testimonials from the Study Afternoons for Rodelinda and Tamerlano:
