Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 4 - Cavalleria

63 | Lyric Opera of Chicago learn about professional career paths in the arts, and build relationships with their peers from across the city. Students were given a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional opera as they came together in groups to participate in activities throughout the opera house. The day of opera education kicked off in Lyric’s backstage rehearsal rooms, where choir directors from each school, in collaboration with their residency partner teaching artist, led sectionals with students from all five schools. In this session, students learned their vocal part for “O Love,” a choral piece by Elaine Hagenberg, rehearsing in the same spaces used by professional opera singers. For the next session, students broke into small groups to learn more about the professional paths they could take as they continue on their journeys in the performing arts. The career breakout session featured members of the Lyric staff from across the company, with students hearing from Costume Director Kim Buetzow and members of the wardrobe department, Assistant Technical Director Benji McCormack, and Chorus Director and Head of Music Michael Black, as well as members of the Lyric Opera Chorus. These sessions offered students valuable insight into the different types of work that goes into bringing an opera to life, both onstage and behind the scenes. After a break in the day to socialize with their peers from across the city and enjoy lunch in the beauty of Lyric’s Grand Foyer, the students took the stage for a final performance. Choral Fest culminated with all 120 students coming together on the Lyric stage to unite their voices for a full ensemble rehearsal of “Oh Love” led by Michael Black. It was a proud, full circle moment for the High School Choir Residency students, who began by developing their choral skills in the classroom, visited Lyric as members of the audience, and were now performing on the very same stage. “As they take the stage to rehearse and their voices rise together, there is a palpable shift in a student’s confidence when they realize this is not just a place for someone else’s art,” Potter reflects on the experience. “They are not just rehearsing a piece of music together, but rehearsing a future where they know they belong in spaces like this, where their voices matter. The opera house becomes a launchpad, not just a landmark.” More than 120 students from across the city rehearsed and performed in Lyric’s professional spaces Kyle Flubacker Kyle Flubacker