San Francisco Opera has announced a new program entitled Opera for All Voices: Stories of Our Time. This program specializes in storytelling, regardless of age or experience in the field of opera, to incorporate all audiences.

The idea behind Opera for All Voices is to work together in order to bring about new American operatic works that are flexible in scope and scale.
The first new work will be composed by Grammy Award–winning composer August Read Thomas. Joining Ms. Thomas is playwright and screenwriter Jason Kim as the librettist. The production’s expected debut is 2019 at the Opera Theatre.

The second commission will be created by Laura Kaminsky and librettist Kimberly Reed. This performance is set to premiere at the San Francisco Opera in 2020.

Opera for All Voices has extended an open invitation for upcoming productions. Applications are currently being accepted for additional new commissions. They will be reviewed by a jury and moderated by San Francisco Opera dramaturg Kip Cranna. Selected projects will receive a workshop, a premiere at one of the partner companies, and the opportunity for subsequent performances. In addition, each chosen composer and librettist team will have the opportunity to be mentored by one of the lead composer and librettist teams.

Emerging and non-classical composers and librettists are highly encouraged to participate and submit proposals. Applications are due by September 15, 2017.