Longborough Festival Opera is proud to announce the return of its innovative Playground Opera project, an inspiring initiative designed to introduce the magic of opera to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it. For 2025, this programme will visit 14 schools across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, reaching more than 1,000 local pupils. This project is well worth donating to. Give opera a future! See website for all details.
Bringing Opera to Cotswolds Schools: Longborough Joins The Big Give’s Arts for Impact Campaign
Campaign Week: 18-25 March 2025
Longborough Festival Opera is proud to be taking part in The Big Give’s Arts for Impact campaign, running from 18–25 March 2025. For one week only, every donation made through the campaign page will be doubled, thanks to match funding provided by generous supporters.
This year, Longborough is fundraising to expand its vital education programmes, which bring the magic of opera to over 2,000 schoolchildren across 15 state schools in the Cotswolds.
The funds raised will support three key initiatives:
Playground Opera – Abridged opera performances for children aged 4–14, where pupils rehearse and perform alongside professional singers in an interactive workshop.
Singing Schools – Weekly choir sessions led by Longborough Festival Opera’s chorus leaders, helping primary school pupils develop confidence, musicianship, and community connections through performance.
Opera Workshops – Half-day sessions for 12–18-year-olds, offering an in-depth exploration of opera, its themes, and its relevance today, led by professional musicians and singers. Students also have the opportunity to attend a live dress rehearsal at Longborough Festival Opera.
Speaking about the campaign, Longborough Festival Opera’s Executive Director Emily Gottlieb said: “Longborough believes that all young people, regardless of their background, should have access to high-quality artistic experiences. Your donations will help spark creativity, nurture young talent, and ensure opera remains an art form for everyone.”
Visit https://donate.biggive.org/
For further details about the campaign, visit https://lfo.org.uk/news/the-
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