Florida Grand Opera (FGO) and the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center’s (SMDCAC) presented their second annual Family Day — a free day full of hands-on, interactive workshops, musical activities, and a live performance of family-friendly opera selections — on Sunday, Feb. 1.
After attracting a sold out crowd of over 250 children last year, FGO and SMDCAC, located in Cutler Bay, increased the ticket allocation for the event and still managed to sell out pre-sale tickets and attract more than 350 families to this year’s activities.
“This event is truly the highlight of our education and community outreach program every year,” said Cerise Sutton, director of education at Florida Grand Opera. “To see children engaging in classical music for the first time, and genuinely loving it, is so refreshing. People like to say that opera is a dying art form, but you’d never know it after events like today.”
Highlights from the day included an impromptu performance of Row, Row, Row Your Boat by the younger participants in the “Kids Chorus.”
In addition to the many hands-on activities offered, children and parents alike enjoyed a spectacular performance by Florida Grand Opera’s Young Artists, who performed a variety of beloved Spanishlanguage music, including selections from Luisa Fernanda and Cecilia Valdés.
Attendees also were treated to free face painting sessions and a free goodie bag, which included an Opera Funtime book, generously donated by the Young Patronesses of the Opera.
Another Family Day event has been scheduled on Friday, Mar. 27, at the Milander Center in Hialeah.
