The School of Music will host two performances of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., Dec. 11 in the Lied Center's Johnny Carson Theater. The performances are free and open to the public. To reserve seats, call 472-2494.
This is the seventh consecutive year professor William Shomos has directed this opera as a collaborative effort between UNL and Lincoln Public Schools.
Shomos currently makes special visits to Title 1, fifth grade classrooms in Lincoln. He teaches them about the art of opera and puts the technical language in fifth grade terms.
"I personally have a commitment to outreach. We're a public university and we have a certain responsibility to our state and our community," Shomos said. "I believe one way we can do this is bringing the young people in to our performances."
By involving high school students in the chorus and placing a fifth grader as the main character of Amahl, the young audience can better relate to the opera. Typically hosting a total of 800 students for four or five performances, Shomos said the elementary students will have an close, personal view of the mixture of new and veteran cast members.