Safe Space for Creative Risks with Community Engagement and Education

Bet you didn't know that nurturing the next generation of opera performers, technicians, and enthusiasts begins in classrooms. Join Key Change co-hosts Anna Garcia and Olga Perez Flora on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Santa Fe Opera Department of Community Engagement and Education, featuring guest appearances by Season 5 favorites Charles Gamble, Director of Community Engagement, and Marissa Aurora, Community Engagement Liaison, plus new friend Olivia Dorrell, Administrative Coordinator. 

"We're all moved by the extraordinary pageantry, music, and movement of opera," says Charles. "I'll be honest with you, though; the thing that most excites me is the process of being able to engage in that process with young humans and watching them do the heavy lifting of being artists." 

Santa Fe Opera's myriad school programs and summer camps introduce children as young as three to the collaborative spirit of opera, while professional development workshops help teachers use opera to facilitate learning.

Internships provide an essential point of entry for college-aged talent. "It's been really rewarding to see and hear from the students how it's opening their world to a lot of career paths that they didn't think were possible in New Mexico," says Marissa.

Other initiatives like volunteer opportunities, the Pueblo Opera Cultura Council, and the Pueblo Opera Program ensure that Santa Fe continues to be a welcoming environment for all. Oliva agrees. "It's always lovely to welcome so many patrons to the preview dinners, some seasoned opera-goers and some attending the opera for the first time."

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Charles Gamble, Director Of Community Engagement 

Marissa Aurora, Community Engagement Liaison

Olivia Dorrell, Administrative Coordinator

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Opera Storytellers Summer Camp | Santa Fe Opera

Pueblo Opera Program | Santa Fe Opera

Pueblo Opera Cultural Council | Santa Fe Opera

ALTO: Arts Integration | Santa Fe Opera

Guilds Of Santa Fe Opera, Inc

Opera Theatre | University Of New Mexico

Albuquerque Academy

Northern New Mexico College

The Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts

Lucio Silla 2005 | Santa Fe Opera

Der Rosenkavalier | Santa Fe Opera

The Turn of the Screw | Santa Fe Opera

Die Walküre | Santa Fe Opera

La bohème | Santa Fe Opera

KEY CHANGE RECOMMENDED PLAYLIST

An Opportunity to Encounter Excellence (and Big News!)

Making Learning Sticky: Creative Compassion for Kids & Educators Through Opera with Charles Gamble

Harmony in Process: The Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera with Amy "Process" Owens

What's Opera to a Bunch of High School Students? Young Voices, "The New Crop"

Story With Purpose: The Origin of the Pueblo Opera Cultural Council with Renee Roybal and Claudene A. Martinez

Spark of Imagination: Generations of the Pueblo Opera Program with Sonja & Seth Martinez

From Gardening to Greeting Guests, Volunteers Run the World! with Marissa Aurora, Artist & Volunteer Liaison

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Key Change is a production of The Santa Fe Opera, Department of Community Engagement & Education.

Share your favorite opera moments and questions with Community Engagement: agarcia@santafeopera.org

Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios

Hosted by Anna Garcia & Olga Perez Flora

Audio Engineering: Collin Ungerleider & Kabby at Kabby Sound Studios in Santa Fe

Technical Director: Edwin R. Ruiz

Production Support from Alex Riegler

Show Notes by Lisa Widder

Theme music by Rene Orth with Corrie Stallings, mezzo-soprano, and Joe Becktell, cello

Cover art by Dylan Crouch

This podcast is made possible due to the generous support of the Hankins Foundation, Principal Education Sponsor of the Santa Fe Opera.

To learn more, visit SantaFeOpera.org/KeyChange.