World Premiere of Amazing Grace

For the past six weeks, Opera Parallèle’s Hands-on-Opera team has been hard at work preparing the 4th and 5th grade students of St. Martin de Porres Catholic School in Oakland for the world premiere of Chris Pratorius’ new children’s opera. You won’t want to miss Amazing Grace, based on the children’s book by Mary Hoffman, which tells the story of a little girl faced with adversity. When encouraged by her Nana and inspired by great stories of the past, Grace perseveres and becomes an inspiring story to us all!

Like Grace, the students of St. Martin De Porres have big dreams and great imaginations. OP’s Hands-on-Opera program is a true testament to the power of art in education. The students are singing beautifully, have endless ideas for dramatic interpretations, and will even perform a ballet choreographed by Jené Levine Snipes of the Village Dancers. Students will be singing alongside professional singers Yemonja Stanley (Grace), Jasmine Johnson (Nana), and Joe Meyers (Paw Paw the trusted cat). Krista Wigle directs; David Gordon conducts.