About MUSIC! WORDS! OPERA!
MUSIC! WORDS! OPERA! (M!W!O!) is a national curriculum program that promotes interdisciplinary study and inspires the creation of original works in opera, theater, and visual art. Developed by OPERA America (the service organization for professional opera companies), M!W!O! has been operating successfully around the country for more than fifteen years.
Indianapolis Opera was the first opera company in the country to implement M!W!O! at the high school level, in 1996. Since then, our program has expanded to include middle schools as well.
We were also the first opera company to partner with a university in the delivery of the program. Since the beginning, Butler University has been involved with M!W!O!, and professors from the school have served as instructors and mentors for teachers participating in the program. M!W!O! is offered as a three-credit graduate course through Butler's College of Education, and several Butler students have worked directly with M!W!O! students on music composition and acting.
Indianapolis Opera's unique partnership with Butler University provides excellent professional development for middle and high school teachers through a stimulating week-long summer workshop, complete with materials, and a wealth of resources and personnel to support them throughout the school year. Teachers of any discipline can benefit from this program.
The MUSIC! WORDS! OPERA! Program
Click for information about our 2008-09 program.
We choose one opera each year to be the basis for M!W!O! study—and then make that opera part of the company's mainstage season so that students and teachers are able to see a live performance of the work. This "focus" opera always deals with universal concepts and themes that are relevant to today's students and can easily be incorporated into teachers' curricula. Previous operas have included Otello, Carmen, Macbeth, Faust, Porgy and Bess, Aïda, La bohème, Romeo and Juliet, Rigoletto, The Crucible, The Marriage of Figaro, and Tosca.
During the summer workshop, participating teachers design academic and creative projects to engage in with their students during the school year. We offer M!W!O! teachers many benefits throughout the year, such as discounted tickets to our productions, free in-school performances by our Ensemble, and additional professional development opportunities.
There is no charge to attend the workshop. We greatly value the educators who implement M!W!O! in their classrooms and are committed to supporting them. In return, we expect the teachers to attend the entire workshop, turn in a written implementation plan, and meet during the year with Indianapolis Opera staff. CEUs are available for the course, and Butler graduate credits may be available.
Teachers must complete an application and be interviewed by Patty Harvey, IO's Director of Education. Please call (317) 283-3531 or e-mail pattyh@indyopera.org for more information.