The performances marked the culmination of an ambitious project delivered by United Learning in partnership with the Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) to introduce students to the wonderful world of opera. In total, more than 2,200 students and staff from across the country performed to packed audiences, making this United Learning’s largest scale project to date.
Over the course of the academic year, students at United Learning schools have been learning to perform The Magic Flute in their classroom music lessons, as part of choirs and in instrumental ensembles. Music teachers received bespoke CPD delivered by artists from the Royal Opera House and students were lucky enough to perform side by side with professional opera singers and instrumentalists, gaining firsthand experience in high-calibre musical and dramatic performance.
As well as having the opportunity to perform in iconic venues, art students from across the trust were also able to get involved in the costume and set design for the productions. Having been given a brief by the Artistic Director, students were tasked with coming up with their own ideas about what the costumes and set should look like. The RBO Design team then took the students’ designs as inspiration and created the sets and costumes for the final performances.
Speaking about their experience of the London performance, Helène, a Year 8 student at Holland Park School, said:
“It was a really fun and exciting day and it was such an amazing experience to sing with hundreds of other children.”
Marjory Walker, Music teacher at Huish Episcopi Academy, added:
“This project has been a fantastic way to give students in a rural school setting the opportunity to experience opera in an accessible and fun way. Our students have enjoyed learning the songs; enjoyed learning about the characters and their personalities; had a good giggle at the slightly absurd plotline and of course the experience of visiting prestigious performance venues in London.”
Catherine Barker, Head of Music and Performing Arts at United Learning, said:
"Congratulations to all the young people involved in this remarkable performance of The Magic Flute. Their creativity, commitment, and musicality have been truly inspiring. We are so proud of what they've achieved together on stage: aged 8 to 18, from our schools across the country, they have excelled in this project.
“A heartfelt thank you also goes to our dedicated teachers, whose tireless work behind the scenes makes these types of productions possible. Their passion and support are the foundation of our students’ success.
“We’re also grateful to the Royal Ballet and Opera for their involvement, which has added a special dimension to this experience for our students.
“At United Learning, we believe the arts are essential—not just for developing skills and confidence, but for enriching lives, building community and developing a sense of belonging. This production is a shining example of that."