Opera Jeunesse has been producing Opera and Music Theatre in Oakville Ontario since 2004. Our earliest production was a benefit concert for charity in February of 2005. In May of 2006, we performed a staged produciton of Mozart's one-act opera "The Impresario." (Rehearsal photo above, Rachael Harwood-Jones, Soprano and Dr. Christopher Foley, Music Director). In the fall of 2007, we decided to expand beyond our previous size. We partnered with Balletomane Performing Arts in Motion and The Oakville Children's Choir to produce a fully-stage production of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. We performed it at The Oakville Centre for Performing Arts, and at a local Elementary School for all the students. In 2008, our Artistic Director Madeline Hubbard moved to the Quinte Region to further pursue her career in Arts Education. Opera Jeunesse has now been expanded to include a performing arts, music and theatre academy. In May 2009, we partnered with Riverside Music and Tonya Lowther Vocal Arts to offer the production "I Need a Vacation!" (Reviews Below, Photo Above)

EMC Artivcle: "Opera Jeunesse offers Fine Performance" by Kate Everson

Quinte West- Students at the Opera Jeunesse Music Theatre Academy put on their first performance at the Trent Port Museum on the weekend. It was called I Need a Vacation and included nine children, ages six to 11.

“It’s amazing how well they do,” said artistic director and founder Madeline Hubbard. “They are very dedicated and we have a lot of fun.”

Madeline worked with music director Tonya Lowther and partnered with Riverside Music for the 18-week classes. Madeline has experience from the University of Toronto opera school and moved to the Quinte area in August last year.

“This is a pilot project,” she noted. “Our hope is to have a training program which is academically based, to be a foundation for children to go on.”

Tonya Lowther is a local singer and music educator, while Madeline directs the acting and stage production. They also had a student from Trenton School of Dance to help with the choreography.

“We have a huge focus on team spirit,” Madeline adds. “They all take ownership of what they do. I can’t believe how well it’s gone.”

She hopes this will become part of a network of arts in the community, one place to learn everything at a high level.

“We present a challenge and the children feel like they have achieved something,” Madeline says. “It fosters their strengths.”

The group plans to put on a two-week camp this summer in August with the Trenton School of Dance.

The Trentonian: "Opera Jeunesse performs first Creation" by Jerome Lessard

Mutual love for music theatre and a strong desire to see it grow in Quinte received a standing ovation last weekend.

The Quinte Music Theatre Academy’s Opera Jeunesse presented its first creation “I need a vacation,” last Friday and last Saturday at the Trent Port Museum.

Featuring a cast of talented local music theatre students, this music theatre pilot project has run in partnership with Riverside Music and TL Vocal Arts Studio since early January 2009 with a goal to provide a solid, broad-based arts education in music, theatre and dance. The curriculum includes both academics and live performance, which make the final show a fine representation of both theatre training and musical techniques.

“We have been all working very hard,” said Madeline Hubbard, the academy’s artistic director, a few minutes before the curtain was raised. “We make it a priority to offer students a strong educational foundation and the freedom to explore, so they feel comfortable while performing.”

Opera Jeunesse is an organization that operates on the platform that academic study should be used in conjunction with practical applications. The Music and Theatre Academy’s curriculum is designed and primarily taught by educators like Hubbard who have extensive professional training and experience in the arts.

They also encourage students to work with a wide variety of arts professionals who are experts in their disciplines before venturing out into the arts profession.

“Not only entertaining for the entire family, the show was a unique experience the students will not soon forget, as some took the stage for the very first time,” said Hubbard. “It was a fine representation of what can be achieved when you expect greatness from a group of young people with passion and energy.”

While Hubbard uses her education and background as an opera stage director to design and teach the theatre curriculum for the academy, she has partnered with Tonya Lowther of TL Vocal Arts Studio to teach and create the musical curriculum.

“This session we explored countless performance techniques, both musical and theatrical, which the students have implemented in their show,” said Hubbard.

“It’s so encouraging and exciting to watch them perform and see their progress.”

Lowther is a local singer and arts educator. After an extensive education and career across Canada, Lowther has recently located in the Quinte area and runs several choral groups throughout the region.

“Another aim of the academy is to provide talented, advanced students with the opportunity to work in the arts field,” said Hubbard.