Maestra magic!

MaestraMagic! is a mixed-media children’s edutainment show featuring conductor Elizabeth Askren and her daughter Lily as co-hosts.

Maestra Askren created MaestraMagic! while homeschooling her daughter in Transylvania during the COVID lockdown, drawing inspiration from such formative PBS educational series as Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and Sesame Street, along with Leonard Bernstein's immensely popular Young People’s Concerts.

The result is a gentle, inviting children's program which celebrates the essence of humanity through the music we make from our natural world.

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                   *** Watch MaestraMagic! video series on Youtube ***

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MaestraMagic! offers four kinds of episodes:

- Oh!Verture – a short introduction to a new musical concept

- Ask Maestra Askren – a Q&A segment featuring children's video questions for Maestra Askren to answer

- The Green Room – exclusive interviews with stars from the world of performing arts

- Opera Bytes – snackable opera storytime segments told for children by children

To leave feedback or to submit a video question for Maestra Askren, send us email at maestramagic@gmail.com

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UPDATE 2026: OPERABYTES COMIC BOOK SPANISH RELEASE!

In 2025, Maestra Askren released the first volume of the new Opera Bytes' comic book series, in English, bringing opera storytelling into the hands of readers great and small.

Volume 1 dives into the adventure of Mozart's The Magic Flute - an opera about courage, growing up, some scary stuff, magic, and a monster (but don't worry, it's not too scary).

Young readers follow Prince Tamino's journey as he and his friends face challenges, learn important lessons about honesty and love, and discover the strength to overcome obstacles.

Perfect for elementary school-aged and homeschooled children, this vibrant adaptation makes opera exciting and relatable while sharing lessons about character and values.

To ensure a more inclusive comic book experience, MaestraMagic!’s Magic Flute will soon be available in ebook and audiobook versions, narrated by 7-year-old Lily Brie. These new formats will share opera with audiences of many abilities.

We are also preparing the comic book in several languages, and we are excited to announce that the Spanish version is now available on Amazon ---> link here.

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*** For libraries & bookstores: The Magic Flute is also available on IngramSpark, ISBN: 979-8-2955-3498-0 ***

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We love collaborating with opera houses, libraries, bookstores, schools, and community organizations to bring opera closer to young audiences. Recent partnerships include: MET Opera, Dallas Opera, and Opera Carolina.

If you’re interested in working together, we’d love to hear from you! Write us at: maestramagic@gmail.com‍

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Credits:

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Opera Bytes comic book

Creator, Writer: Elizabeth Askren 

Illustrator: Daryna Kudenko

Visual narrative adaptation artist: Anca Stefania Robu

Spanish translation: Alba Luna Feijóo & Lulu Alcocer Guzman

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‍MaestraMagic! Video series

Creator, Producer, Writer, Hostess: Elizabeth Askren 

Director: Michael Wende 

Director of Photography: Marian Iancu 

Show Runner: Andrew Lombardi 

Animators: Daryna Kudenko (Opera Bytes), Andreea Varga 

Featuring: Eliane "Lily" Askren-Brie 

Special Guests: Rainelle Kraus, Sophie Selvaraj-Akpo 

With special thanks to: Shawn Jeffrey, ADA Artists, David Lomelí, The Dallas Opera, Viviane Eisenberg, Moses Singer

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Copyright MaestraMagic! 2024. All rights reserved.‍

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