MINNESOTA OPERA
620 North First Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401 www.mnopera.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: The Minnesota Opera changes lives by bringing together artists, audiences, and community, advancing the art of opera for today and for future generations.

Minnesota Opera changes lives by bringing people together to advance the art of opera.

The company is an industry leader, widely recognized for bold, forward visioning in all that it does -- one-of-a-kind education programs, new engagement efforts, and a groundbreaking commitment to reinvigorate the American canon. In 2008, at a time when new work was largely considered too risky by the field, MN Opera launched its New Works Initiative, which supports the commission, development, and production of new American opera. The first commission of this project, Silent Night was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Music. The New Works Initiative has since become a model for the industry; MN Opera is proud to be leading a renaissance of contemporary American opera. Over 1 million persons are served annually by MN Opera programming, through performances (presented live and in-broadcast), education programs, and engagement efforts. The company's producing home is the Ordway Center of the Performing Arts in downtown St. Paul. MN Opera also regularly partners with Minnesota Public Radio and Twin Cities Public Television on broadcasts of mainstage productions Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is a top priority for MN Opera. MN Opera has recently committed to becoming and anti-racist and anti-oppressive organization. During its 56th season, MN Opera successfully produced 3 mainstage productions, Elektra, Barber of Seville and Flight reaching over 20,000 persons. The company also successfully developed the world premiere of commissioned opera Edward Tulane, with music by Paola Prestini and libretto by Mark Campbell. The Opera was fully developed and built and is ready for production. The Opera supports learning as a lifelong pursuit by offering education programs to youth and adults. This year, activity included in-school residencies; an after-school program supporting social-emotional learning in addition to skill building (Music Out Loud); an expanded technical training program where students receive hands-on learning and mentorship opportunities in technical theater production (Technical Theater Lab); creative aging initiatives. The latter included residencies in assisted living facilities (Opera Connections) and a chorus for active adults age 55+ (Voices of Opera).The company also runs a young singer training program, Project Opera, which annually produces an opera entirely for youth and by youth. This season's production was Belongings, which explores the stories of two groups of children across two time periods who are forced to flee their homes because of war. MN Opera continued to develop its commission for Project Opera, an adaptation of The Song Poet by St. Paul author Kao Kalia Yang. The piece, for which Kalia is also writing the libretto, tells the story of the Hmong American experience. Community engagement efforts are underway, in partnership with a community organizer, to build relationships with the local Hmong community. The Opera's nationally recognized Resident Artist Program nurtures the next generation of opera artists, providing them a critical bridge between conservatory training and a professional career. In the 2019-20 season, the Opera supported the careers of ten emerging opera professionals Participants received nine months of intensive professional development, including master classes, audition training, and the chance to network with agents and other companies. In addition to participating in the Opera's productions, these artists were an integral part of the company's outreach and education efforts, serving as operatic ambassadors throughout the community both in schools and at special events. For the first time ever, MN Opera offered a fellowship for an Assistant Technical Director and dedicated the position to an emerging leader of color.

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