Access Opera

Access Opera: Guild Open Rehearsals for Students enables local students and educators to experience extraordinary performances live at the Metropolitan Opera House. Each season, the program offers 12-15 final dress rehearsals to school groups, including five dedicated student-only final dress rehearsals, providing attendees with the unique opportunity to watch the final run-through rehearsal before opening night at the Met. School groups wishing to take advantage of this exciting opportunity should contact us for details about program registration, which includes:

Final Dress Rehearsal Tickets: All schools with Title I designation will receive up to 200 free tickets for the entire season. Non-Title I public schools of any grade level and nonprofit educational organizations will receive a reduced rate of $5/ticket. Private schools and other educational institutions will receive a reduced rate of $8/ticket. (Non-Title I schools and organizations requiring additional financial assistance will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Title I schools may purchase additional tickets at the $5 rate.)
Curricular Resources: Teachers will receive a digital Educator Guide and available online resources—including audio tracks and illustrated synopses—for each production they plan to attend.
Professional Development: Educators have the option to participate in one or more complementary, half-day workshops offering strategies for connecting elements of opera (e.g., music, theatre, movement, visual design) with other subject areas. These sessions are designed to interest both the seasoned opera lover and the teacher new to opera.
Discount Tickets: Schools who participate in Access Opera receive special educator discounts to select evening performances at the Metropolitan Opera, subject to availability.

For more information about Access Opera in the new school year, please refer to our 2024-25 Season Overview and 2024-25 Season Chart.

Access Opera: Guild Open Rehearsals for Students is made possible by The Stephen E. and Evalyn E. Milman Foundation.

Additional generous funding from Michael Spolan, The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, The Halff Windham Foundation, Jim and Rebecca Neary, and Dalio Philanthropies

This program is also supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Curricular Resources

Access Opera members receive our signature Educator Guides, which provide contextual information and historical timelines, explanatory essays and interviews, and musical and textual analyses, as well as online audio tracks and illustrated synopses when available.

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Professional Development

Access Opera educators are invited to participate in half-day professional development workshops hosted at the Met Opera, which provide strategies for connecting elements of opera to other subject areas across the curriculum.

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Repertoire Exploration

Met Opera Education provides multiple opportunities for schools to deepen their students’ opera experience through in-school residencies and one-time workshops. Led by a teaching artist, these interactive programs are fully customizable to each school’s needs.

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