Local heroes: How Opera North is bringing music, opera & opportunity to communities across Leeds & Yorkshire

Singing out loud and proud: Opera North shows Yorkshire Runs on Heroes.

Not only is Opera North one of the UK’s leading arts organisations, taking its contemporary and classic operas, family shows and orchestral pieces on tour around the north of England; but it is also deeply embedded in the community of Leeds and proud of its Yorkshire connections.

“This is not only where we have our home but also where most of our staff are based and, of course, where many of our audience members live, said Harpreet O’Brien, Head of People at Opera North.

Part of the community

She explained how Opera North’s commitment to the city goes wider than just having a home here in the Howard Opera Centre next to the Grand Theatre; but in reaching out to all corners of the city, all ages and all communities.

From running a dementia café, to free musicianship, singing and music lessons for local schoolchildren; putting on ‘pay what you can’ performances to family-friendly shows and films with live orchestra, and its audio-described, BSL interpreted and relaxed performances, they are always looking for ways in which to make their work accessible to as many people as possible.

Opera North’s work and reputation has led to many prestigious awards, including the 2025 Sky Arts Award for Opera, giving it a national profile. But its grassroots work here in the north is just as important.

Opera North’s 240 employees and freelancers are all involved in some part of community work.

“Whether it’s those directly going out to bring music to people through the dementia cafes, or teaching music and singing in schools, or the back office staff supporting this or administrating ‘pay what you can’ events and the like, we are all contributing,” said Harpreet.

Opera North wants to ensure everyone who engages with them – whether it’s for the first time or the 100th time – gets a warm welcome and feels included.

This might include a family-friendly or relaxed show – which allows attendees to enjoy the show in a more informal setting and interpret their enjoyment in whatever way they choose.

“A lot of people may be put off by Opera, because they’ve never been, or they worry about what it would cost,” she said.

‘Pay what you can’ events, such as an upcoming performance of Rigoletto are perfect for first-timers.

“These are a fantastic way to encourage the community to come along and experience our work,” said Harpreet.

Opera North also helps some of the city’s thousands of students to enjoy the art form. Students from the five universities and young people in the area can come and experience opera thanks to the popular Under 30s scheme which currently has over 8,000 members. And the In Harmony Programme brings free music and singing lessons to over 3,000 young people across the city’s schools.

In partnership with Leeds City Council’s Peer Support Services, staff run a monthly dementia café onsite for people living with dementia and their carers.

One user said: “[My wife] found it quite emotional. Took her back to singing at home. We both left the sessions feeling less stressed and more relaxed.”

Harpreet added: “This gives participants the opportunity to engage with music in a way which feels appropriate for them. These have proved incredibly enriching for the participants with many interacting with and through music in a way which may no longer possible with verbal language,” said Harpreet.

The Howard Assembly Room is a thriving cultural venue in a beautiful historic building in the heart of the city, and can now be hired out for anything from a wedding to a corporate event.

Away from the stage the learning and engagement team works in and with local communities to help facilitate community cohesion and enhance wellbeing through engagement with the arts.

“The important thing for us is to work with pre-existing groups to ensure we give residents what they want and need with a view to having a long-lasting impact which is genuinely valued by all involved,” said Harpreet.

Employment Heroes

Employment Hero UK, works closely with Opera North. The company offers businesses and organisations support in managing staff – from recruitment to payroll, all of which is underpinned by its commitment to celebrating everyday heroes in workplaces and the local community

“Our staff definitely make us what we are,” said Harpreet. “We have a staff suggestion scheme to enable everyone to share their ideas with us, a monthly staff newsletter to share all our news and to celebrate everyone’s achievements, and use Employment Hero announcements to welcome newcomers and give staff shoutouts.”

Maisie Goss, VP Marketing UK, Employment Hero said “Few organisations connect with Leeds and Yorkshire quite like Opera North. What Harpreet and the whole team do every day to take music and opera into schools, dementia cafés and communities that might never otherwise set foot in a theatre is remarkable. The reach of that work, and the care behind every session, is something we have huge respect for and we are really proud to help support the team.”

This interview is part of a content series called Yorkshire Runs on Heroes, supporting Employment Hero's campaign All Heroes, aren’t we?, which aims to celebrate the everyday heroes and businesses throughout the county making a huge difference to the region.

And find out more about Employment Hero UK’s campaign All Heroes, Aren’t We? go here.