Thoughts on Outsider Opera from our Artistic Director, Jacob Zualski.
Outsider Opera is created by and for people outside of the commercial opera industry.
Do existing opera audiences enjoy it too? Absolutely! But, the primary purpose is to create a place where all voices are valid and people who do not have access to traditional opera making can explore and participate freely.
Within it, people of all ages hold space for the centuries-old tradition of opera, meeting it where they stand and accepting its gentle call to strive towards something greater: an entire, living, breathing, musical and dramatic organism that relies on the interconnectedness of people, and the joint mission of achieving something big together.
While traditional opera tends to focus on ability and rewards only those with the highest skill levels, Outsider Opera welcomes each participant as a whole person who is exploring something, figuring it out, applying their curiosity to this uniquely complex art form.
And we celebrate them for their growth, tenacity and perseverance.
Over the weeks, months or even years that people participate in this kind of creative fellowship, we see newfound confidence that carries over into other areas of their lives. We see many singers develop the skills that could set them on the trajectory of further vocal study, professional careers and extraordinary levels of opera performance.
And that’s fantastic. For them, for us and for the world that they brighten with their performances.
For others that may not happen. And that’s fantastic too because we get to share in their glow a little longer.
If you’d like to get involved in creating opera visit our Join In page to find out more.
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