Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 10 - El último sueño de Frida y Diego

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 62 High schools in harmony “As a choir teacher of 18 years, I strongly believe that music education has the power to transform students of all ability levels,” says Lake View High School choir director Puja Ramaswamy. Of her 18 years as a choir teacher, Ramaswamy has spent the last eight cultivating an inspiring relationship with Lyric Unlimited, the Learning and Civic Engagement branch of Lyric Opera of Chicago. “I have seen my students’ musical skills grow immensely as a result of the High School Choir Residency.” Established in the 2015/16 Season, the High School Choir Residency supports vocal instruction and enrichment in Chicago Public School and Big Shoulders high school choir programs. The residency pairs classroom teachers with Lyric professional teaching artists to enrich students’ learning through opera. Lyric teaching artists work collaboratively with choir teachers to deliver student instruction and foster artistic growth through a variety of lessons tailored to fit the learning objectives of each class. “My favorite aspect of the program is the ability to collaborate with talented and knowledgeable teaching artists,” says Ramaswamy. “It’s wonderful to work with skilled individuals who bring their expertise to the classroom,” she continues. “I feel that I learn as much as my students.” The partnership between teachers and teaching artists begins before anyone steps into the choir classroom, with the educators first meeting at Lyric professional development workshops, where they get the opportunity to be students for the day and learn from one another. Ramaswamy has collaborated with several talented teaching artists during her participation in the program, but she has developed an exceptional partnership with Lyric teaching artist Taylor Ott over the past two years. Ott, who has worked with Lyric Unlimited as a teaching artist for three years, brings her experience as a classically trained soprano, composer, and voice teacher to all five of the choir classes at Lake View High School, ranging from Beginner Bass & Treble to Advanced Choir. Students from multiple choirs around the city come together to make music. By Janie Ragsdale Lake View High School exemplifies the inspiring partnerships created through Lyric Unlimited’s Opera Residencies program. Kyle Flubacker