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Hundreds of Chicago Public School Students Sing at Lyric Opera's Choral Fest
The annual event gives CPS students the chance to perform on the renowned opera stage.
Published on Feb. 12, 2026
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Hundreds of Chicago Public School students had the opportunity to perform on the stage of the Lyric Opera as part of the second annual Choral Fest. The event allows CPS singers to rehearse, learn, and perform at the iconic opera house, giving them a chance to experience the scale and grandeur of the venue.
Why it matters
The Choral Fest provides a unique and transformative experience for CPS students, many of whom may not otherwise have the opportunity to perform on a professional stage. This event helps expose young singers to the world of opera and classical music, potentially sparking new interests and passions.
The details
During the Choral Fest, nearly 200 students from six different CPS schools came together to sing on the Lyric Opera stage. Before their performance, the students were split into groups to learn about different aspects of the opera house, such as costumes. The event was led by Lyric chorus director and head of music Michael Black, who believes the experience will be life-changing for the participating students.
- The second annual Choral Fest took place on February 13, 2026.
The players
Paige Cameron
A teaching artist who noted that the Choral Fest gives CPS students the opportunity to experience the Lyric Opera in a way they don't get to during their annual visits to see a performance.
Michael Black
The Lyric chorus director and head of music who led the Choral Fest and believes the experience will be life-changing for the participating students.
Kerry Tyus
A student at Dyett High School for the Arts who said that when the students sing, they feel powerful and are there to "show out and just go for it."
What they’re saying
“Once a year they get to go see an opera. So they see it from the house, but they don't quite comprehend the size and the scale of what is happening in this building until they're on the stage itself.”
— Paige Cameron, Teaching artist (cbsnews.com)
“There's something about singing in a group together which you can't get just at school. Singing with a huge group here I think will mean something to many of these kids for the rest of their lives.”
— Michael Black, Lyric chorus director and head of music (cbsnews.com)
“When we sing, mostly like I just feel powerful. I don't feel like this is just a trip. It's actually the place you're at, we came here to show out and just go for it.”
— Kerry Tyus, Student at Dyett High School for the Arts (cbsnews.com)
The takeaway
The Choral Fest provides a unique and valuable opportunity for Chicago Public School students to experience the grandeur and scale of a professional opera house, potentially sparking new interests and passions in the arts. This event underscores the importance of exposing young people to diverse cultural experiences and the transformative power of music education.
