World Opera Day: Beacon of Light students express themselves through music

“The question for schools is no longer simply what enrichment we offer, but what difference it makes.”

For students at Beacon of Light Alternative Provision, taking part in ETO Lyrics offered an opportunity to explore music, write their own lyrics and express themselves in a different way.

Delivered by English Touring Opera (ETO), the programme brought together students and professional artists Kema and Nathan for a series of creative sessions. Working together, students wrote lyrics and made music, using their ideas and experiences to create something of their own.

Songwriting gave students a positive outlet to communicate their thoughts and feelings, while the sessions provided space to be creative, share ideas and work together.

ETO Lyrics was part of the wider partnership between Laidlaw Schools Trust and ETO, supported by the Laidlaw Foundation. Its funding enabled pupils across all LST Academies to experience opera and take part in creative activities last academic year.

World Opera Day is a chance to celebrate the role of opera and the arts in people's lives. At Beacon of Light, ETO Lyrics showed how creative opportunities can reach young people in different ways, giving them the chance to express themselves, build confidence and enjoy the process of making something together.