Pensacola Opera’s Voices for Change provides unique opportunities for at-risk and disadvantaged children to experience the professional performing arts firsthand. The arts can play a crucial role for at-risk youth, especially in addressing healing and trauma. The arts provide an outlet to process their emotions so they can begin the healing process and build resiliency.  Additionally, the arts develop individual creativity and self-expression, improve academic achievement, and enhance their social, cognitive, and critical thinking skills.

In 2023, we partnered with Pace Center for Girls and Milton Girls Home, bringing professional opera singers into their school for special performances and Q&A sessions. The program culminated with a select group of students receiving a VIP experience–complete with new outfits, professional hair and makeup services, photo shoot and reception–before attending Pensacola Opera’s production of Carousel.  We took this program a step further this season by opening up the final dress rehearsal of Pensacola Opera’s Carousel on March 15 to all local non-profits that serve at-risk and disadvantaged children. All children in attendance were invited to the VIP reception and have the chance to meet some of the stars of Carousel prior to the show.

We are excited to continue this program, now in its third year, by inviting more non-profit organizations to join us for the final dress rehearsal of Die Fledermaus, and opening our VIP experience up to young men as well as women.