Conferences and Convention

OPERA America’s annual conference is the largest annual gathering of opera professionals in the world. The conference offers an array of sessions for administrators working in all areas of opera, as well as for trustees, volunteers and artists. General sessions explore broad issues in the field; open sessions offer important, practical and up-to-date information about best practices in all facets of an opera company's operation; and specialty sessions allow for frank conversation with colleagues about sensitive issues and particular challenges in opera today.

2008 National Performing Arts Convention in Denver, CO [Click here] to learn more about Opera Conference 2008 and the National Performing Arts Convention. The second National Performing Arts Convention, to be held in Denver, Colorado from June 10-14, 2008, will convene over 5,000 artists, arts administrators, trustees and volunteers. The Convention offers an opportunity to address issues facing the entire performing arts community. Speakers and presenters will include well-known luminaries such as Jim Collins, author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … And Others Don’t. Within the National Performing Arts Convention, OPERA America will hold its annual Opera Conference, including a variety of opera specific events, performances, speakers and workshops. Highlights will include performances of The Rape of Lucretia at Central City Opera and Nixon in China at Opera Colorado. The New Works Showcase and Lunch will acquaint listeners with the latest works composed for the opera stage; a separate session will feature two new bilingual operas for youth. The Convention and Conference boasts an array of sessions — cross-disciplinary and opera-specific — that speak to issues faced by arts leaders today. A sampling of conference sessions for opera professionals include such topics as Electronic Media, Group Sales, 21st Century Marketing Techniques, Making the Case for Education Programs, Leadership Transitions, Capital Campaigns, Creating/Managing Fellowships, Visa Roundtable and Partnerships with Universities.   View the Press Release [Photo Credits:(top to bottom, left to right) Nixon in China featuring Robert Orth and Maria Kanyova. Courtesy of Chicago Opera Theatre, photo by Steve Kagan. Joyce Castle as Queen Elizabeth in Central City Opera's 2001 America premiere production of Britten's Gloriana. Photo by Mark Kiryluk. The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Photo by Steve Crecelius. Central City Opera House interior courtesey of Central City Opera.]

Past Conferences

  Previous Conference Videos and Audio

  2007 Conference in Miami, FL

  2006 Conference in Seattle, WA

  2005 Conference in Detroit, MI