OPERA America — The National Service Organization for Opera

OPERA America's Field Services Program
An Investment In Your Opera Company's Future

OPERA America's Field Services Program offers U.S. member opera companies with annual budgets up to $3 million one- or two-day on-site consultations on a wide range of organizational, governance, and presentational issues. This unique "mentoring" program, begun with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and now supported by Annual Fund donors, fosters collaboration between experienced specialists in a variety of disciplines and OPERA America's small and mid-size Company Members. On-site visits allow advisors to observe operations, assess contextual elements such as physical space and community identity, and personally facilitate discussion between staff and board members in the company's "home" setting—allowing for a deeper understanding of specific issues and providing the optimal environment for learning.

This will have a significant and lasting impact on our company. The consultant came up with one of those blatantly obvious answers to a problem that we should have thought of, but were too close to the problem to solve.

- Michael Ching, General and Artistic Director, Opera Memphis

Field Services Program consultants share the strategies, tools, and techniques that have produced successful results for other opera companies in similar circumstances. Additionally, an existing resource's true potential is often uncovered as is the company's own affiliation with OPERA America. Consultants provide an insider's view of how to make the most of OPERA America's publications, programs, and peer networking opportunities.

In addition, the Field Services Program helps OPERA America to identify the critical challenges facing our membership, so that we can develop programs that address the needs of the national opera community.

Wonderful energy and spirit! The consultant steered us in a direction we needed to go and had never really pursued. He was very encouraging with many constructive comments. We hated to see him leave!

- Reba Kochersperger, General Director, Opera in the Heights

Because the focus of this program is on smaller companies who often do not have the staff or budgetary resources to participate in OPERA America committees and task forces, consultations provide OPERA America an important channel for communication with this segment of the membership. The program provides an invaluable perspective on important issues affecting OPERA America's members and the larger world of opera, guiding our assessment of how existing services are utilized and what new programs must be developed to best serve our mission of promoting the creation, presentation, and enjoyment of opera.

Customized consultation services are available in the areas of:

audience development
board development
education
marketing
public relations
repertoire expansion
resource development (artistic, financial, human)
singer training
strategic planning
technical/production
volunteer relations

This was our second consultation in two years. We've already experienced visible, tangible results in board development and in the health of our company.

- Robert Swedberg, General Director, Orlando Opera

Most consultations involve preliminary telephone interviews, and participating companies must provide appropriate company materials to the consultant in advance of the on-site visit. Consultants submit a final written report to the opera company and to OPERA America, documenting the consultation and suggesting next steps for the company. Companies receiving on-site consultations pay only a modest fee to OPERA America.

For an application form or more information, please contact Traci Schanke, Assistant to the President, at TSchanke@operaamerica.org.

FIELD SERVICES PROGRAM
2004 ON-SITE CONSULTATIONS
Participating Company	Consultant	Consultation Topic
Connecticut Grand Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Fargo-Moorehead Opera	Russell Allen (Former) General Manager The Atlanta Opera	Board Development
Florentine Opera Company	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Knoxville Opera	Russell Allen (Former) General Manager The Atlanta Opera	Board Development
Opera North	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Opera Roanoke	Todd Schultz (Former) Director of Marketing Los Angeles Opera	PR & Marketing
Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh	Russell Allen (Former) General Manager The Atlanta Opera	Board Development
Pine Mountain Music Festival	Russell Allen (Former) General Manager The Atlanta Opera	Board Development
Skylight Opera Theatre	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Tri-Cities Opera	Chris Milligan Director of Marketing Cincinnati Opera	Audience Development
2003 ON-SITE CONSULTATIONS
Participating Company	Consultant	Consultation Topic
Amarillo Opera, Inc.	Felicity Jackson Young Artist Studio Director Florida Grand Opera	Singer Training
Forth Worth Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Opera in the Heights	Darren K. Woods General Director Fort Worth Opera	Capital Campaign
Opera Memphis	Esther Nelson (Former) General Director Glimmerglass Opera	Marketing
Orlando Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Portland Opera Repertory Theatre	Esther Nelson (Former) General Director Glimmerglass Opera	Board Development
Sorg Opera	Russell Allen (Former) General Manager The Atlanta Opera	Board Development
Tulsa Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
2002 ON-SITE CONSULTATIONS
Participating Company	Consultant	Consultation Topic
Anchorage Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Berkshire Opera Company	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Des Moines Metro Opera, Inc.	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Granite State Opera/Maine Grand Opera	Maria Levy Managing Director Connecticut Opera	Corporate Sponsorship
Harrisburg Opera	John Federico Director of Development Pittsburgh Opera	Board Development
Madison Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Mobile Opera	Robert Swedberg General Director Orlando Opera	Board Development
Opera Carolina	Sue Dahling Sullivan Deputy Director Boston Lyric Opera	Board Development
Opera Memphis	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Orlando Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Shreveport Opera	Russell P. Allen General Manager The Atlanta Opera	Board Development
Toledo Opera	Jeff Lawson Director of Institutional Gifts New York City Opera	Resource Development
Townsend Opera Players	Evan Luskin General Director Lyric Opera of Kansas City	Resource Development
2001 ON-SITE CONSULTATIONS
Participating Company	Consultant	Consultation Topic
Amarillo Opera	Karen Tiller General Director Opera Festival of New Jersey	Board Development
Ash Lawn-Highland Summer Festival	Richard Barger Director of Operations and Audience Development Opera Theatre of Saint Louis	Audience Development
Augusta Opera	Steve Grupe Director of Marketing Opera Omaha	Marketing
Chicago Opera Theater	Sue Dahling Sullivan Deputy Director Boston Lyric Opera	Resource Development
Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera	John Humleker General Manager The Minnesota Opera	Audience Development
Opera Southwest	Pelham Pearce General Director Central City Opera	Board Development
Pacific Repertory Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development
Triangle Opera	Marc A. Scorca President/CEO OPERA America	Board Development