It’s in your life.
Our Community Engagement programs are the arm of our organization that reaches out to the community to provide free access to art for the means of education and quality of life. Click on the tabs below to learn more about #CurbsideOpera or this season’s Education program.
#CurbsideOpera
This program began as a response to Covid19 closures. It was our way to reach out to the community and bring some brightness to people’s day during a time of such isolation and uncertainty. As the world has returned to normal, #CurbsideOpera has evolved to encompass any performance outside of the theater. We use our mobile opera ‘stage’ and perform in numerous spaces throughout our community. These locations include but are not limited to local city parks, retail centers, senior living centers, hospitals and other places where we are able to share our art. These mobile performances bring opera into the El Paso community while ensuring we reach people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend our ticketed performances. #CurbsideOpera will always be a sentimental favorite of El Paso Opera staff and Resident Artists and we are dedicated to continuing these free performances throughout our community!
Education Programs
Artistic Ambassador and Assistant to the Director Holly Mesarch is also our Interim Teaching Artist for the 2025-2026. Hopefully you’ve already heard from Holly about the great programming we have planned for this season. If not, please contact her at holly@epopera.org. To learn more about Holly, click here.
Our Education Program connects with the community via our Teaching Artist (TA) and our Youth Night at the Opera. In a typical year, the TA visits local classrooms and presents supplementary curriculum to help students learn about Opera. In addition, the TA provides free ‘mini’ performances as part of these presentations to best demonstrate the unique qualities of opera singing and to further educate students on some of the most famous pieces of music. These same students are then invited to attend our Youth Night at the Opera, where they will experience a full El Paso Opera production for free! Due to the demographics and socioeconomic status of many of El Paso’s neighborhoods, many of these students would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend professional artistic performances.
This year we are excited to add our new ‘Secrets of the Stage’ backstage tour and education day on February 2. This tour is underwritten by Texas Women for the Arts. Contact holly@epopera.org for details and to reserve a spot for your students on the tour!
Our Education program is offered to more than just traditional school-based education. This program is offered and available to home-school groups, scout troops, youth groups and other community youth organizations with an interest in the arts. It is another way in which El Paso Opera connects with the community!
Season 32 Teaching Artist
La Bohème (Youth Night at the Opera January 2026)
Bohemios-May/June 2026
YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE
#CurbsideOpera Upcoming Performances
NEW SERIES! From Concept to Curtain
Our From Concept to Curtain series kicks off this Saturday! Take a peek behind the scenes and see how an opera comes together—from the very first spark of an idea to the magic of opening night! Each session will feature something a little different. Artistic Director Cherry Duke will take you behind the curtain to share all the fascinating details that bring an opera to life plus we’ll have ‘pop-ins’ from different designers and performers. All sessions are FREE and no RSVP is required! All we ask is that you support the local businesses who are our gracious hosts.
One Saturday each month~always at 10:00-11:30am