Opera America Unveils Recipients for 2018 National Opera Trustee Recognition

Opera America has announced the recipients for the 2018 National Opera Trustee Recognition. The recipients are “Carol F. Henry, Los Angeles Opera; R. Jamison Williams, Michigan Opera Theatre; Henry Fogel, Chicago Opera Theater; and John Serrage, Opera Maine.” The award is in its 11th year and its intention is to honor “U.S. opera companies for their exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective {…}

Jan 16, 2018

Editorial: Opera’s Diversity Problem & How to Fix It

I was lucky enough this past November that a friend of mine had an extra ticket for “Die Walküre” at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Now I had already seen it opening night and reviewed it for this site. Of course, the chance to again see Wagner at Lyric with top-notch performers like Christine Goerke and Eric Owens wasn’t something that {…}

Jan 8, 2018

OPERA America Announces Inaugural Participants For Mentorship Program For Women

OPERA America has announced that protégés and mentors have been selected for the organization’s new Mentorship Program for Women. The Mentorship Program for Women is intended to provide a unique opportunity for promising female administrators (protégés) in the field to be paired with established leaders (mentors), to help the protégés identify advancement barriers and create a plan for professional growth. This {…}

Dec 14, 2017

Metropolitan Opera Wins Opera America Grant For New Work ‘Eurydice’

OPERA America has announced the grant awards for 11 opera companies through the Repertoire Development Grants program, supported by The Opera Fund. A total of $225,000 was awarded to 11 opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera’s upcoming opera “Eurydice” by composer Matthew Aucoin and librettist Sarah Ruhl. The work will be based on the play by Sarah Ruhl and tells the Orpheus story from the perspective of {…}

Sep 12, 2017

Ailyn Pérez, Michael Fabiano, Angela Meade to Appear in Opera America’s Onstage At Opera Center 2017-18

Opera America has announced its 2017-18 Onstage at the Opera Center season and it will feature quite a number of exciting artists. Kicking off on Oct. 5, 2017, the season will feature three different series, including “Creators in Concert,” “Conversations,” and “Emerging Artist Recitals.” “Creators in Concert” will feature “Thumbprint” composer Kamala Sankaram on Oct. 19, 2017. Then on Feb. {…}

Jul 31, 2017

Opera America Bestows $100,000 To Opera Companies Commissioning Female Works

Opera America has awarded $100,000 to six opera companies for their support for female composers. The six companies include the Houston Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Parallèle, Sarasota Opera, Seattle Opera and Washington National Opera. The Houston Grand has commission Nkeiru Okoye’s “Home of My Ancestors” while Minnesota Opera’s grant is for Paola Prestini’s “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.” {…}

Jul 20, 2017

Opera America Picks 13 To Develop Administrative Skills At Week-Long Program

Opera America continues its busy summer, recently announcing 13 participants from the U.S., Canada, and Latin America that will join its 2017 Leadership intensive Program. The 13 include Lyric Opera of Chicago’s director of community programs Alejandra Boyer, Austin Opera’s chief development officer Jennifer Dubin, Minnesota Opera’s assistant production director Julia Gallagher, Opera Memphis’ director of development Jason Hardy, Opera Philadelphia’s {…}

Jun 27, 2017

Famed Mezzo Denyce Graves Joins Opera America Board of Directors

Opera America has re-elected its five current board members and has added a total of seven new members. Among the first time board members are opera patron Carol E. Domina, famed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves-Montgomery, San Diego Opera board chair Carol Lazier, Seattle Opera board chairman John Nesholm and general director of San Francisco Opera Matthew. Additionally, M. De Sisto, global executive for arts and {…}

Jun 2, 2017

Opera America Gives Out $1.4 Million In Grants

Opera America continues its advocacy for up-and-coming opera companies. The organization recently announced grant awards for female composers. Now it is turning toward helping companies looking to change the opera world. In a press release, the organization revealed that it would be giving out $1.4 million to 27 companies, including American Lyric Theater, American Opera Projects, Anchorage Opera, Arizona Opera, {…}

May 31, 2017

Opera America Shows Support For Female Composers

Female composers are about to get a major boost, as Opera America has announced projects to advance the work of female composers and administrators. Among the many projects included in this new initiative are $100,000 grants to female composers and a song cycle commissioned for four female composers and a female librettist writing about the first woman elected to Congress, “Fierce {…}

Mar 29, 2017

How President Donald Trump’s Federal Budget Cuts to NEA Would Hurt Opera Companies

On March 16, 2017, President Donald Trump formally released his outline for the 2018 Federal Budget, officially making clear his intent to defund numerous agencies and projects while investing billions into the already well-funded military complex. Among the agencies getting the boot was the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which provides tremendous support for numerous arts organizations. As noted {…}