Our 2025 schools project created and premiered in-school mini-operas based on The Comet Huntress, as we celebrated the life and career of local scientist, Caroline Herschel.

In Georgian Bath, in an era of horses and carts and Bridgerton-style balls and concerts, Caroline Herschel worked as a singer along with her brother the composer William Herschel. But as their musical careers blossomed, they both became more and more interested in space, and in astronomical discoveries. They built a telescope together in their house in Bath and gradually became famous for their astronomical discoveries. Caroline Herschel became the first woman to receive a salary as a scientist and the first woman in England to hold a government position, earning her the nickname, The Comet Huntress.

This year we worked with two schools in Wiltshire and two in Somerset to deliver five, half day workshops which culminated in a 30-minute ‘student and professionals’ performance. Students worked on creating their shows with singing, movement, drama and songwriting, and one prop-making session, to devise an in-schools performance inspired by themes of science, space and female empowerment. We will also introduced space-themed musical works from Holst’s The Planets and If Opera’s 2025 programmed Orpheus in the Underworld.

Learning from, working with, and performing alongside professionals, our aim is that pupils will gain confidence from being immersed in the performing arts. They work together in new ways to find means of self-expression, communication and engagement. Our projects aim to promote their imaginations and creativity, whilst immersing them in new music as well as giving them ownership of work they contribute to and create.

This year’s school projects were devised and led by charismatic soprano and founder director of Celebrate Voice, Lynsey Docherty. Lynsey has sung professionally for 20 years, was Director of Education at Dorset Opera for six years and has created opera workshops and been Creative Director for arts organisations across the UK, including the Royal Opera House, The Grange Festival, and previous projects for If Opera. Lynsey was also joined by composer/lyricist Tim Gilvin, and tenor Anthony Flaum.