HOUSTON – November 6, 2017 – When Spring ISD choir students gather in an auditorium, they are usually on stage, but at a special performance in Dekaney High School’s Star Theater, they were thrilled to be in the audience.

About 400 choir students from the district’s middle and high schools were on hand to welcome members of the Houston Grand Opera for a performance of Hansel and Gretel. The HGO’s community outreach organization, Opera to Go!, conducts performances at area schools to bring opera up close to a young audience.

After the performance, the HGO group returned to the stage to interact with the students and answer questions. Ryan Barrett, the stage manager for the production, said the goal is to get young people inspired about opera. He stressed students should remember that many career paths are available in opera, including directing, set design, prop creation and costume design.

“There is a role for just about anybody in opera,” said Barrett.