Karratha students take the stage for national opera production

A group of Karratha children took their place on the Red Earth Arts Precinct stage alongside some of Australia’s best opera singers in a national production of Madama Butterfly this month.

Students from St Paul’s Primary School performed in the Opera Australia production in Karratha on August 16 as part of the Regional Children’s Chorus program, which gives children in each location on the show’s regional tour the chance to perform as its chorus.

The 20-strong choir sung in several scenes including the famous Humming Chorus, and student Quaid Creado-Williams was also selected to play the part of Madama Butterfly’s son.

St Paul’s Primary music teacher Jamil Osman said the students had worked hard to prepare for the performance, practising every week for the past two terms and learning vocal techniques and Italian pronunciation.

“In the city, kids get to go to see operas but they rarely get the opportunity to participate onstage in costume and with these big stars from over east, so it’s a really big opportunity, especially for kids in the remote outback of the Pilbara,” he said.

“To be actually onstage in a professional opera production, that’s something they’ll remember for the rest for their lives — it’s a formative experience for them.”

Opera Australia Regional Children’s Chorus master Mark Connors said the concept was about bringing an extra level of engagement to the communities they visited.

“Our aim is to provide this kind of performance and musical opportunity to schoolchildren who otherwise might not ever have this experience, to explore a different side of themselves and maybe inspire them to consider further exploring artistic pursuits like this in future,” he said.