. >> my name is james hartley, a member of the board of the san francisco opera. as a fourth grader in oakland, i have music in my life. i played the violin in the school orchestra, i sang in the church choir, and i learned the lyrics to every broadway musical on 78th. that year, my class attended madame butterfly at the opera house, and that began a lifetime of experiences that have arranged -- enriched my life. as the director of the san francisco opera guild, more recently at the san francisco opera, my goal has been to share this treasure of musical experience. opera is a combination of music, history, dance, music, and theater, and is the perfect vehicle to bring to our classrooms where music programs have all but disappeared. with opera programs in the school, people saying shortened versions of operas, create their own, tell their own stories through words and music, and for for them before their school and family. they come to the opera house to see dress rehearsals to full- length operas. they seashore and movies up on stage performances and they come to