Opera America has launched Opera Grants for Stage Directors and Conductors, an initiative for opera companies to hire women for key leadership roles while promoting gender parity across the artistic field. The grant, funded by the Marineau Family Foundation, will make a contribution of $ 10,000 to cover up to 50 percent of the fee of a female stage director or {…}
OPERA America has announced the inaugural participants of their new IDEA Opera Residencies (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) program. Supported by the Katherine S. and Axel G. Rosin Fund of The Scherman Foundation, this initiative will allow NYC-based composers and librettists of color an opportunity to explore opera as an expressive medium. The first resident artists are composers Laura Jobin-Acosta {…}
Opera America has announced the winners of its Next Stage Grants program, in support of second performances, or subsequent productions of North American works. The grants were funded entirely by Gene Kaufman, Terry Eder-Kaufman, and New Vision for NYC Opera. Recipients will receive a total of $ 250,000 dollars, allowing producers the opportunity to adjust, edit, and refine works for {…}
Opera America has announced that it is committed to engaging the Biden-Harris Transition Team on several major issues essential for the arts community. In a press release, the organization noted that it has engaged the transition team during the current lame-duck session with increased FY2021 appropriations for all federal arts and cultural-related programs, as well as initiatives to provide more {…}
Opera America has announced the inaugural group of inductees to its Opera Hall of Fame, meant to recognize outstanding achievements of American artists, administrators, and advocates. The establishment of the Opera America Hall of Fame comes on the organization’s 50th anniversary, and celebrates the progress of the art form. The inductees are Patricia K Beggs, General Director Emerita of Cincinnati Opera; {…}
OPERA America has announced the 13 Professional Company Members who will receive a total of $980,000 in the fourth cycle of the organization’s Innovation Grants program. Recipients of a two-year grant are American Lyric Theater, Center for Contemporary Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, IN Series, Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Omaha, Opera Saratoga, Portland Opera, and San Diego Opera. Recipients of a {…}
Opera America has announced the launch of the Campbell Opera Librettist Prize. The prize was created and funded by renowned librettist Mark Campbell with the intention of awarding an American librettist “who demonstrates an exceptional talent for writing opera librettos and who exhibits the potential for making a substantial contribution to the opera literature.” The $5,000 award will be given {…}
OPERA America has announced the nine companies that will be awarded $100,000 in grants for commissioning operas by female composers. The recipients include Beth Morrison Projects for Du Yun’s “In Our Daughter’s Eyes,” which is written by Michael Joseph McQuilken; Boston Lyric Opera for Ellen Reid and librettist Christopher Oscar Peña’s “The Desert Inn;” Guerilla Opera for “HER: alive / {…}
Clare Burovac has been named General Director – Designate of New Orleans Opera, effective immediately. Burovac is the first woman to take the helm of the historic arts organization and succeeds Robert Lyall who is stepping down as General Director, as of September 15, 2020. Lyall will continue serving as Artistic Director for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. “Clare {…}
OPERA America has announce the recipients for the 2020 Discovery Grants, which include over $100,000 for Female Composers. This year’s recipients include Lisa Bielawa for “Centuries in the Hours;” Justine F. Chen for “Seven Sisters;” Melissa Dunphy for “Alice Tierney;” Johanny Navarro for “¿Y los Pasteles? Ópera Jibara en Dos Actos;” Milica Paranosic for “Penelope and the Geese;” Kirsten Volness {…}
OPERA America has announced the recipients of its 2020 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards, which are given to trustees of opera companies for their strong leadership and generosity. This year, the recipients include Robert Ellis of San Francisco Opera, H. Bernt von Ohlen of Minnesota Opera, Linda Koehn of Des Moines Metro Opera, Phil Meyer of Pacific Opera Project, and {…}