Opera for the Young

09/02/2026

What a joy to share the excitement of a new school year with you! In case you're new here, allow us to introduce ourselves: We’re Opera for the Young, but you can call us OFTY for short. Don’t let our youthful exuberance fool you, we’ve been doing this for a long time (56 years to be exact!). Doing what, you ask? Bringing the magic of opera to tens of thousands of elementary school students each year, of course! And we don’t just bring those kids opera. We get them involved in every aspect of the show! Because when they’re on stage, singing side by side with our cast of professional opera artists, they feel inspired, empowered, and capable of achieving anything they put their minds to.

Oh, one other important thing you should know about us: OFTY can only do what we do through the support of donors! Would you be able to add a $20 donation to your back-to-school shopping list?

We can’t wait to make some memories with you this school year and join you in bringing opera to life!

09/02/2026

We're so proud of OFTY alum Sara Litchfield, who sang with us for three seasons before assuming her position as Co-Director of Programs and Partnerships at Seattle Opera!

08/31/2026

Tenor Christopher Jackson has joined Opera for the Young in four productions, including his performance last year in "Elixir of Love"!

Christopher keeps busy as the Director of Choirs and Instructor of Voice at McHenry County College, Instructor of Voice at Elgin Community College, and Director of Music at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva, IL.

Thanks, Christopher!

08/31/2026

Today is the last day of National Make-A-Will Month! Having a plan in place can provide you with peace of mind in knowing that your legacy will impact people in a meaningful way. Consider including OFTY in your legacy, and reach thousands of children with your gift for years to come.

08/27/2026

Today we're celebrating OFTY alum Amanda Lauricella! Amanda, who toured with us during our 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, is now based in Colorado where she performs with Central City Opera and teaches Applied Voice at Regis University. Follow Amanda on Facebook/Instagram at .e.lauricella to keep up with her latest work!

08/26/2026

Guess who is coming to Overture's Kids in the Rotunda on Saturday, April 24th? We're honored to be in SUCH great company on this season's calendar!

Overture Center will present the 45th season of KIDS IN THE ROTUNDA, a free Saturday arts series in Madison featuring local artists, family performances…

08/26/2026

Have you heard of Opera for the Young’s Legacy Society? Make a gift that outlasts any single season.

There are several ways to leave a legacy with OFTY, depending on what matters most to you.

08/25/2026

Shining the spotlight on Opera for the Young alumnus Eric J. McConnell! We were proud to feature Eric as our Sea King during our last production of "Rusalka" in 2017-18.

More recently, Eric has performed with Painted Sky Opera, Colorado Springs Chorale, Green Glass Productions/Butte Theater, Utah Festival Opera, Opera Saratoga, Sarasota Opera, Opera San Luis Obispo, Shreveport Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Fort Collins, Missouri Symphony, Opera Colorado, and Opera Steamboat! Bravo, Eric!

08/20/2026

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08/19/2026

OFTY is celebrating our incredible alumni artists who have brought our shows to life over the years! Here's a spotlight on soprano Diana Stoic.

Diana performed with Opera for the Young during our 2011 and 2012 seasons. Her recent activities have included Lyric Opera of Chicago (supplementary chorus), Songs by Heart, and Opera Festival of Chicago ("Adriana Lecouvreur" cover & chorus).

Keep an eye out for Diana in Chicago Fringe Opera's upcoming production of "Waking the Witch," and tune into her forthcoming podcast "At Intermission"!