OPERA America Announces Participants For Its 2019 Leadership Intensive Program

OPERA America has announced the 16 participants hailing from the U.S., Canada, and Latin America who will partake in its 2019 Leadership Intensive program. The program’s 6th generation of participants were chosen “through a competitive selection process focusing on candidates’ potential to make significant contributions to the opera field.” Participants for this year include Daniel Benavent, General Manager of Theatre Aspen; Vincent Covatto, {…}

Jan 10, 2019

OPERA America Announces IDEA Opera Grants

OPERA America has announced the launch of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Opera Grants. The Grants have been made possible by Charles and Cerise Jacobs Charitable Foundation and are intended to fund initiatives racial inequality in the opera world. Two grants will be awarded annually to composer-librettist teams with each partnership receiving $12,500 to advance their work through workshops, {…}

Oct 26, 2018

Ryan Speedo Green To Serve As Chair For Opera Week

Ryan Speedo Green will be the chair of OPERA America’s National Opera Week. In a post via social media, the organization announced that the bass-baritone would be the Honorary Chair of the week which celebrates opera through various panels and events. In response to the honor, Speedo Green said, “I’m honored to be the honorary chair of OPERA America’s National Opera {…}

Jun 30, 2018

Opera America Conference 2018: No Easy Answers Regarding Race and the World of Opera

Race and ethnicity continue to vex the opera world in the same manner as they do the rest of society. If events at last week’s Opera America Conference are indicative of the industry, it’s a topic that requires further discussion at future conferences with no easy answers in sight. There were no fewer than five panels related to race and {…}

Jun 25, 2018

Opera America Conference 2018: What Opera Companies Can Do to Confront Sexual Harassment and Abuse

The opera world has been rocked by the sexual abuse scandal at the Metropolitan Opera centering around maestro James Levine. The topic was confronted head on at Opera Conference 2018 hosted by OPERA America in a panel titled “Confronting Sexual Harassment, Abuse and Assault” that tackled these issues that have unfortunately become much too pertinent in the opera world. The {…}

Jun 22, 2018

Opera America Conference 2018: Star Soprano-Turned-Director Patricia Racette Leads Discussion On Career Transitions

Over the next few days, Santosh Venkataraman will be attending the Opera America Conference from St. Louis, providing us with in-depth coverage of some of the major events. Stay tuned! Patricia Racette recalled an email she got after the announcement was made that she would be making her directorial debut at Opera Theatre of St. Louis this summer with La {…}

May 4, 2018

Operamission To Host ‘Handel Warehouse’

On June 1, Operamission will hold a “Handel Warehouse.” The event, which will be open to the public, will be held at OPERA America’s National Opera Center. “Handel Warehouse” will offer a host of workshops, open rehearsals, refreshments, and festivities with conductor/harpsichordist Jennifer Peterson and stage director Jeff Caldwell lead the proceedings, to be held in the Charles MacKay Studio. Workshops {…}

Mar 15, 2018

Opera America Announces Grant Awards to 8 Female Composers

Opera America has announced the latest recipients of the Discovery Grants from the Opera Grants for Female Composers program. The grants are made possible by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and are given to promote the development of works by women. This year’s recipients include Lisa DeSpain for “That Hell-Bound Train,” Alexa Dexa for “Be a Doll,” Germaine Franco for “¡La Capitana!,” Elizabeth Kelly for “Losing Her Voice,” Leanna Kirchoff for “Friday After Friday,” {…}

Jan 31, 2018

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 {…}