OperaLancaster

We are a member-driven, volunteer organization with most of our volunteers, members and performers coming from our local educational, business, and arts communities. Anyone who is interested in opera and supporting us can become a member. We provide development and career advancement opportunities for local singers and musicians coming out of our s... chools and colleges, and we provide performance opportunities for local music professionals who are raising families here and want to maintain and hone their artistic skills without extensive travel. Two singers who had early opportunities with us, and went on to full-fledged international singing careers with the Metropolitan Opera and other companies, are John Darrenkamp (currently on our Board of Governors) and Robert Brubaker. The general excellence of our productions, makes us one of the more unique companies in Pennsylvania with the exception of companies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Consequently, recent auditions have attracted singers from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Delaware, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and York. With rare exceptions, our principal cast members are volunteers even though they may travel many miles for rehearsals and performances. Minor cast members, chorus, and extras, are always volunteers. Even our artistic and music directors volunteer their time and talents, which we recognize with honoraria when we can. Only our orchestra members typically receive compensation. We recently re-designed an educational outreach program for school-age children and college students and hope to fully implement it in the coming months. We recognize the significance of music in a well-rounded education, and especially the added dimension that music with acting provides. Like other performing arts organizations, we depend heavily on community support in the form of grants, sponsorships and donations to supplement our ticket sales.Read More