Sarasota Opera has announced that Melissa Voigt will be its next Director of Development. She joined the company in 2000 as an Individual Giving Officer before becoming Director of Development in 2002. Following a seven-year tenure during which she led a $20 million capital campaign, she stepped down from her position. In 2021 she returned as a Senior Development Officer. {…}
(Photo credit: Lori Sax) Sarasota Opera is set to host the finals for the third annual national finals of the Schmidt Vocal Competition. The top three winners from each of the 15 regional competitions will compete for a $10,000 first prize. The second prize winner will receive $7,500, and $5,000 will be awarded to the third place winner. On June {…}
Sarasota Opera has received a $5,000 grant from the Jay K. Turner Fund of Manatee Community Foundation. The funding aims to support the company’s pilot outreach program which aims to bring opera to numerous schools over the course of six weeks. “We are especially excited to work with underserved communities and Title 1 schools that often do not have the {…}
Sarasota Opera has received a $60,000 Arts Appreciation Grant from the Wiliam S. and Jean W. Scott Endowed Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation in support of its 2023-24 season. “Gulf Coast Community Foundation has been one of the most generous and longtime supporters of Sarasota Opera. They have always recognized the importance of our arts and cultural sector and {…}
Sarasota Opera will host a volunteer fair Oct. 29 from 1 to 3 pm. The call seeks to fill volunteer positions such as usher, tour docent, supernumerary, costume studio data assistant, Jonas Kamlet Library Archive assistant, artistic department assistant, youth opera and education assistant, opera club volunteer and marketing assistant. Those attending will learn about a variety of behind-the-scenes, onstage {…}
The Patterson Foundation is joining Sarasota Opera’s effort to boost earned income by matching up to $50,000 in growth capital investments toward its Sarasota Opera Costume Studio. Sarasota Opera is one of the regional nonprofit organizations currently participating in the Patterson Foundation’s Margin & Mission Ignition. The initiative helps nonprofits develop and implement an earned-income plan to strengthen their impact {…}
Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival has announced new partners for its 2023 edition. Participating restaurants include 99 Bottles, EVOQ Sarasota/Westin Hotel, Jack Dusty Restaurant/Ritz-Carlton, Selva Grill, Happy Soul, Michael’s on East, Pier 22, Tsunami Sushi and Hibachi Grill, Five-O-Donut Co., Molly’s Pub Tzeva/Art Ovation, Mattison’s, Storii Coffee, Bahi Hut, Bridges/Embassy Suites, Food & Beer, Shore, Rise & Nye’s, Nothing {…}
Sarasota Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. The season opens with “The Music of Giacomo Puccini,” a concert featuring famed arias by one of opera’s most renowned composers. The showcase will feature soloists from the Sarasota Opera alongside the Sarasota Orchestra and conductor Victor DeRenzi. Performance Dates: Nov. 10 & 12, 2023 Next up is Benjamin Britten’s “The Little Sweep.” {…}
Sarasota Opera has received the GoodUse Grant from the Southface Institute. The grant, which provides $75,000 in funding and technical assistance, aims to support Sarasota Opera’s Pavilion Project, which was implemented to replace the organization’s failed HVAC system. “Southface understood the urgency of this project and will be partnering with us to evaluate additional energy efficiency that will help the {…}
The Sarasota Opera will host the Second National Schmidt Vocal Competition Finals, June 2-4, 2023, with the top three winners from each of the 14 regional competitions receiving a $10,000 prize. The Schmidt Vocal Competition is an annual event for US high school students in which more than 400 singers compete each year for more than $650,000 in cash prizes {…}
Sarasota Opera has announced the appointment of Cameron Maxwell as their new Youth Opera Coordinator. In this role, Maxwell will be the administrator for SYO programs and performances, as well as the liaison for parents and the community. An Orlando native, Maxwell has experience as a performer and stage director; after graduating from Flagler College, she worked in the development {…}