CTO works with over 3500 youth and 80 schools each year in a huge variety and breadth of communities throughout South Africa, bringing professional singers, pianists, coaches and accompanists to disadvantaged and rural schools across the country under the banner of Opera Is My First Language. Our initiatives include a four-week National Schools Tour, a Rural Western Cape Provincial Choir Festival, West Coast choral training in the town of Vredenburg, Cape Town-based secondary school learner arts skills workshops, disability and arts access to professional opera performances (including sign language interpretation, both English and Xhosa surtitles and backstage tours) and a CTO Youth Choir trained for professional opera and concert performances.