Carrollton High School performing arts and band students were treated to a special production last week when The Atlanta Opera brought its Studio Tour to campus to perform an abridged version of “Hansel and Gretel” at the Joshua R. Mabry Center for the Arts.

The Jan. 9 opportunity was made possible thanks to a grant awarded to CHS Performing Arts by the Carrollton City Schools Education Foundation.

“We are so grateful to the foundation for its continued support of arts programs like this one,” said CHS Choral Director Julie Lowry. “The Atlanta Opera is a phenomenal company and the Studio Tour is a great community outreach. This program touched more than 200 of our high school students who are passionate about the performing arts. It was a great experience for them.” 

According to a press release, a core mission of The Atlanta Opera is to provide educational opportunities for students of all ages. Each year, the company serves approximately 25,000 students in metro Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia. Programs seek to inspire creativity, stimulate critical conversations, promote and enduring appreciation of the arts, and create audiences for the future.

Founded in 1980, The Atlanta Opera Studio Tour is the company’s longest running educational initiative. Over the past 40 years, more than one million students have been introduced to opera through the Studio Tour. Designed to travel, Studio Tour productions are presented in schools and community venues across the state of Georgia each season. Educators are provided with comprehensive study guides which feature an in-depth look at opera as well as cross-curricular activities corresponding to the Georgia Standards of Excellence.

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The Hansel & Gretel cast poses with CHS Choral Director Julie Lowry who secured the Atlanta Opera Studio Tour performance through a grant she was awarded by the Carrollton City Schools Education Foundation. From left are Choo Choo Hu, pianist; Amy Smithwick, Gretel; Jessica Wax, Hansel; Lowry; Robert Banks, the Witch; and Samuel Ferriera, the father/Sandman.