Opera NOVA has a unique heritage: we were the first in the nation to bring theatre productions of operas to school children that were specifically designed for them. Catherine Feline Shouse (Wolf Trap fame) said that if you want to have universal access to classical arts you have to start with the children in public school. It was in 1973, when Ms Shouse caused the performance of the first annual opera for school children. For the last 48 years, we have been producing children's opera and over 55,000 children have been educated, entertained, inspired and benefited from it. Every year, Opera NOVA works with public schools, private schools, students from home schools, , and Children with Disabilities, Children of Military Personnel and Veterans and the Children of incarcerated parents.
 

We believe in education through entertainment. There are two accompanying Study Guides with each performance of children’s opera. The first is relevant to the Opera, giving details about the story line, author of the opera and artists who feature in it.  The second study guide focuses on a specific ecological issue related to the opera as we believe that our love of the arts connects with our love of the art of nature.