Florida Grand Opera proudly invites over a thousand middle and high schools students and their chaperones to the final Orchestra Dress Rehearsal of each main stage opera. Students enjoy a pre-rehearsal lecture and enjoy a full performance as the music, staging and lighting are rehearsed for the last time before Opening!

Florida Grand Opera proudly invites over a thousand middle and high schools students and their chaperones to the final Orchestra Dress Rehearsal of each main stage opera. Students enjoy a pre-rehearsal lecture and enjoy a full performance as the music, staging and lighting are rehearsed for the last time before Opening!

Q: Are both public and private schools eligible for free tickets?
A: Yes, students from all middle and high schools are welcome to apply for tickets.

Q: How do I get tickets?
A: Tickets are available by a school representative receiving and returning a Ticket Request Form in the early fall. Schools that did not apply can contact Michael Lonergan at mlonergan@fgo.org to see if there are any tickets still available.

Q: How many tickets can I get?
A: Schools generally receive approximately 35 tickets, depending on the opera and the number of requests.

Q: Do parents and teachers also get free tickets?
A: IN order to have as many students attend as possible, we ask schools to restrict the chaperones to no more than one adult per four students. Schools that regularly do not respect this request risk not receiving tickets in the future.

Q: What about college students?
A: As the opera now has a very low cost subscription (as low as $10 an opera), we do not offer tickets to college students with the exception of a few long standing relationships with teachers who use opera in their curriculum.

Q: What about elementary school students?
A: There are other programs more appropriate for elementary students. FGO currently invites only two groups of elementary age students - those from our Business Partner, North Twin Lakes Elementary School, at which opera in part of the curriculum, and Girl Scouts who have participated in the Young Patronesses of the Opera Workshop.

Q: Rehearsals are on school nights. Can we leave early?
A: Certainly, however we ask that you do so at an intermission out of consideration for the artists.

Q: How do we pick up the tickets?
A: After notification by FGO that they are available, tickets can be picked up by a school representative at our office: FGO Doral Center 8390 NW 25th Street Miami between 9am and 5pm. There is NO WILL CALL or other way to receive tickets at the Arsht Center the evening of the Dress Rehearsal.

Q: Can teachers or parents receive preparation materials?
A: Contact Cecelia Schieve, Director of Education, for materials including synopsis, background, lesson plans and general opera information. Teachers may also wish to bring their students to one of the lectures given in the weeks before the opera by the Maestro. See "About Opera" for a list of these events. Young Artist perform selections from the opera and the music is discussed in an accessible way by the conductor.

Q: Do we have to dress up?
A: Although many young people dress in their very best for the rehearsal, students and chaperones may wear any clothing appropriate for a special event. NO JEANS, please!

OTHER QUESTIONS? Please contact Cecelia Schieve at mlonergan@fgo.org.

See you at the Opera!