"The significance of the project has already been recognized and supported by a grant from the Joy McCann Foundation and many of our other key supporters," Sarasota Opera artistic director Victor DeRenzi said in a statement. "To have such a distinguished team write a piece for our Youth Opera program is certainly an honor and a unique opportunity for the community and our Youth Opera members."
Established in 1984, SYO is one of relatively few organizations in the U.S. devoted to presenting musical works composed expressly for children. Its members receive year-round vocal instruction and performance opportunities through a program culminating in the production of an operatic work written to be sung by young people. Guided by Sarasota Opera professional music and production staff, members perform the work on the main stage of the Sarasota Opera House.
The Rorem-McClatchy opera will be SYO's fifth commission by Sarasota Opera. Previous SYO productions include Britten's The Little Sweep, Copland's The Second Hurricane and John Rutter's The Piper of Hamelin. The SYO also commissioned a work in 2004: John Kennedy's The Language of Birds.