Central City Opera and ISO Kick Off Tiny Tots Program Today

Central City Opera (CCO) partners for the fifth year with Inside the Orchestra (ISO) on their 2013 Fall Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra program. CCO will bring opera to the 28th annual program, which takes place today, Aug. 22 through Oct. 21 at venues throughout the Denver metro area ranging from Boettcher Concert Hall to City Park Pavilion (a complete list of performances is below and at www.insidetheorchestra.org).

A 45-minute performance, Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra engages, entertains and educates pre-school children six and under (but all ages are welcome). ISO's adult professional orchestra surrounds the audience as they hear well-known repertoire ranging from "Looney Tunes" to "Star Wars" to Beethoven. Children and their parents are creatively engaged in theatre-of-the-mind activities as they stomp like giants and throw a temper tantrum during Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, grow with music from "2001: A Space Odyssey" and ride into the sunset with the "William Tell Overture." And, back by popular demand, live opera music will be sung in alternating performances by local Central City Opera Ensemble Artists, Chad Reagan and Adam Ewing.

On Aug. 22nd, Inside the Orchestra will kick off the fall season with a family concert in City Park Pavilion. Two shows for all ages at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. will give families an opportunity to step inside the orchestra and opera while enjoying an evening picnic in the park. And for the first time ever, Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra will be performed at Boettcher Concert Hall on a Saturday, giving parents the opportunity to bring their children outside the work week to the famed Colorado concert hall.

"For the fifth year, we're thrilled to partner with Inside the Orchestra in providing a magical and interactive opportunity to introduce young kids and their parents to classical music through this unique concept of placing the audience inside the performance," says Central City Opera Education and Community Programs Director Deb Morrow.

Baritone Chad Reagan
A CCO Ensemble Artist, Denver-native baritone Chad Reagan performs and teaches throughout the region for the company year-round. Chad appeared with Opera Theatre of the Rockies in a production of Menotti's Old Maid and the Thief, in addition to performing with Lamont Opera as the Father in Hansel and Gretel. Currently he is an adjunct faculty member in the music department at the Community College of Denver.

Baritone Adam Ewing
Baritone Adam Ewing is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Colorado-Boulder, under the instruction of Patrick Mason. An avid performer and teacher, Mr. Ewing was most recently the vocal coach for the Colorado Music Festival's production of Brundibár, as well as singing the role of the Dog. Other favored roles include the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro and the Celebrant in Bernstein's Mass.

Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra Admission Information
Designed to bring orchestra music to underserved communities, Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra is the only music education program of its kind in the country and depends heavily on grants and donations. The cost of admission is a suggested ticket price of $7.50/person. (Complimentary admission will be offered to those in need, and children under one are free.) Performances do sell out, so it is encouraged to purchase admissions promptly. To register for tickets, go to www.insidetheorchestra.org and follow the registration and payment instructions. Patrons may also pay for admission at the door the day of the performance, but space is limited. Be sure to check the Inside the Orchestra website prior to the concert. Music lovers can give the gift to music by becoming an Inside Sponsor (starting at $7.50), which provides free admission to children in need. Email info@centralcityopera.org with questions or if you are a member of the press and will be attending.

Inside the Orchestra
The mission of ISO is to bring orchestra music to young children in the greater Denver metropolitan community, cultivating music appreciation and enhancing their education through an engaging first-hand experience with the orchestra. ISO is celebrating 50+ years in Denver supporting the orchestra and 28 years bringing professional live orchestra music to Denver's youth. ISO hired Thomas H. Jensen (previously the conductor of the Colorado Ballet, as well as a radio broadcaster) as Music Director 28 years ago, challenging him to develop an engaging orchestra program that would both entertain and educate children, sparking their creativity and igniting a love of learning. Mr. Jensen created two unique award-winning programs: Inside the Orchestra and Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra. In an effort to make orchestra music accessible to all children, regardless of any socio-economic boundaries, and to ensure that the arts stay alive in education, ISO underwrites almost all performances through private and corporate contributions, grants and special events. Each season ISO programs are performed for an average of 20,000 children in the Denver metro area at 30 elementary schools and ten different venues. For more information about ISO or for the concert schedule please visit www.insidetheorchestra.org.

Central City Opera's Education and Community Engagement
CCO's year-round Education and Community Engagement strives to enhance existing curriculum for young students and lifelong learning for everyone with programs for all ages. The company has visited over 100 communities across Colorado with these programs, entertaining and educating up to 100,000 people each year. CCO is one of the most active opera companies in the nation in education and community services. For more information on CCO's Education and Community Engagement, contact Education and Community Engagement Director Deborah Morrow at 303-292-6500 or visitwww.centralcityopera.org/education.

Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra Performance Information
August 22 to October 21
Thursday, August 22: 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., City Park Pavilion, City Park, Denver CO 80205
Saturday, Sept. 21: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St., Denver, CO 80202
Monday, Sept. 30: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., The Wildlife Experience, 10035 South Peoria, Parker, CO 80134
Tuesday, Oct. 1: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., Mile Hi Church, 9077 W. Alameda Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80226
Monday, Oct. 7: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., Temple Sinai, 3509 S Glencoe Street, Denver CO
Saturday, Oct 12: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., Commerce City Rec Center, 6060 Parkway Dr, Commerce City, CO ‎
Monday, Oct. 21: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape Street, Denver, CO 80220

Central City Opera 2014 Festival
Central City Opera House - June 28 to July 26
Mozart's beloved opera The Marriage of Figaro opens the Festival in Central City on June 28 and runs through July 26. Jake Heggie's operatic adaptation of Sister Helen Prejean's famous book, Dead Man Walking, based on the true story of her relationship with a Louisiana death row inmate is the second offering opening July 5 and running at the Opera House through July 27.

The Sound of Music in Denver - August 5 to 10
Central City Opera comes to Denver for seven performances of The Sound of Music, Rodgers and Hammerstein II's glorious musical, based on the memoirs The Story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, featuring classic favorites including "Edelweiss," "My Favorite Things," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "Do-Re-Mi," "The Sound of Music," and many more Tuesday, August 5 to Sunday, August 10.

Subscriptions for the 2014 Festival will go on sale this fall. In addition to its slate of operas and musical theatre for 2014, CCO will continue to present innovative initiatives that will engage a broader audience with exciting enhancements to the Festival experience. For more information, visitwww.centralcityopera.org or call 303-292-6700.