The Canadian Opera Company’s Education and Outreach team has had the honour and pleasure of collaborating and connecting with thousands of young people through its opera programs for students, children, youth, and their families. There is no greater moment of pride than hearing about the positive impact a COC program had on a former participant. 

A few weeks ago the COC Education team received a heartwarming update from a parent of a former participant of the COC’s After School Opera Program (ASOP) that her son Nassir had landed the lead role in his school’s upcoming production of High School Musical. Today we take a look back at how Nassir’s experience in the After School Opera Program helped him make the leap from a COC rehearsal room to the school stage. 

Nassir’s mother, Miriam, signed him up for the After School Opera Program back in 2010: “I signed Nassir up for the program because I wanted him to occupy his time doing something fun. I also thought it would help him with public speaking.” Little did Miriam know that her attempt to help Nassir gain confidence speaking in public would ultimately spark his interest in the performing arts. “I realized I had an interest in the performing arts after my first performance at the After School Opera Program,” says Nassir. “I had such a good time putting on that specific performance.” The opera was called Otherworldly (appropriately titled for its Halloween theme) and was written specifically for children by lead artist and composer, Dean Burry. Nassir excelled in character creation and acting, incorporating different voices, postures, gestures, and movements that suited his ghostly character. Musically, he never shied away from singing when asked to take on small solos or be a part of the chorus.

He credits his positive experience to Dean: “Dean made it very memorable by his whole approach towards our learning. He was extremely positive and supportive, even when we messed up.” With Dean’s encouragement and guidance, Nassir was able to explore his artistic abilities through a variety of characters including a Bumble Bee in The Bee Opera, a Royal Guard in The Tragedy of Icarus, a clown doctor in Clownin’ Around, and a young soldier in A Bucket Brigade, which was inspired by the war of 1812. 

The biggest surprise would come in 2012, after Nassir graduated from the After School Opera Program, when he applied, auditioned, and was accepted into St. Patrick Catholic Secondary School’s Centre for the Arts, Media and Technologies arts program. “ASOP [After School Opera Program] impacted me by adding to my personality. I was always an outgoing person, but ASOP has made me more social and charismatic. I’m more confident speaking in large groups of people and enjoy performing for class assignments rather than reading from a PowerPoint.”

Thanks to the support of his teachers Ms. Cossaro, Mr. Mayne, Mr. Sousa and Ms. Gaudette, Nassir’s enjoyment and appreciation of the arts lives on. In 2014, Nassir landed the supporting role of Roger in the school’s performance of Grease and tomorrow he has his big role debut in St. Patrick Secondary School’s production of High School Musical. Dean and the Education staff at the COC couldn’t be prouder. And Nassir’s mom? “I’m most looking forward to seeing Nassir hold his own in his first lead role. He can sometimes doubt himself. I want to see him put on the best performance ever! And let this experience teach him that if he works hard, he can accomplish just about anything!”

The COC wishes Nassir and his fellow classmates and teachers a successful run of High School Musical!

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The COC’s After School Opera Program operates out of five community centres in Toronto. Registration for the spring term opens on March 7. Find more information on the arts program at St. Patrick Secondary School at the Toronto Catholic District School Board here.  

Photo Credits (top down): Nassir (left) as a Guard in the After School Opera Program production of The Tragedy of Icarus. Photo: COC, 2011; Nassir at school; Nassir (centre) as a Young Soldier in the After School Opera Program production of The Bucket Brigade. Photo: Mark Harris, 2012.

Program Sponsor:



Program Supporters:
The McLean Foundation 
The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation
The Chawkers Foundation