<<  -- 6 --  Malcolm Miller    CULTURAL FLOWERING

Overall we have had 95% houses, including subscription sales and many school parties. We host some 250 school students at almost every performance, which is a lot. The interaction with schools also works through our outreach and educational programmes. Every year we have a community opera project in which our music staff and singers go into the community and work with local people, amateur choruses and players, often people who have had no background in music. Last year our community Carmen was produced in Tel-Aviv. The response was amazing. Initially some of the participants, including the unemployed and drug addicts, were hostile to the whole idea; but since the project they have become avid supporters, attending more than six of our productions. We toured Carmen to various centres in Tel-Aviv and beyond. Next year's project is Il barbiere di Siviglia in the South Tel-Aviv district near Jaffa. In addition we have a regular concert program which takes place in the kibbutzim. So NIO plays a valuable social and community role.

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