Racial Justice Opera Network

OPERA America’s Racial Justice Opera Network is an action group of opera professionals from all sectors of the field who are committed to enriching our art form and industry by seeking racial equity.

The Racial Justice Opera Network is a coalition of BIPOC and White antiracist members working to dismantle racism in opera by actively changing policies and practices that perpetuate the oppression of Black people, Indigenous people, and other people of color.

It aims to:

Encourage collaboration, resource-sharing, and opportunities to support a more racially equitable field.
Affirm the voices of those who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and/or people of color in the opera field through networking and relationship-building.
Create spaces for dialogue, learning, collective action, and support for people of color.

Get Involved

Join OPERA America's Racial Justice Opera Network by enrolling in the RJON Listserv for updates on network priorities and activities. Participation in the network is open to anyone affiliated with the opera industry and supportive of the network’s goals. Members can enlist by logging in to their member portal. All others can request access via the online form.

RJON Listserv Request Form

You can also share articles, opportunities, and other information with network members on the RJON Community Board on Facebook.

RJON Community Board

The RJON Steering Committee is accepting new members through an open application process. If you are interested in joining the Steering Committee, please read the Steering Committee duties and submit an application.

RJON Steering Committee Application

For additional information, contact us at Membership@operaamerica.org or 646.699.5248.

Upcoming Events

The Racial Justice Opera Network convenes at the annual Opera Conference and Racial Justice Opera Forum.

Racial Justice Opera Forum

Online | Fall 2025

OPERA America’s Racial Justice Opera Forum welcomes anyone committed to moving racial justice forward in the opera field to a series of webinars and discussions curated to support intentional learning, engagement, reflection, and practical application for enacting racial justice.

Upcoming sessions include:

Championing Racial Justice
Thursday, December 11, 2025 | 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Championing Racial Justice in Opera
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET

Registrants also receive access to watch the October 8 Hello, Star Webinar on demand.

The forum takes place virtually and is free for all OPERA America members. Non-members can participate by joining as Individual Members (starting at $75).

Member Non-Member

2025 Forum Sessions

Championing Racial Justice
Thursday, December 11, 2025 | 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Join the Racial Justice Opera Network to explore the ways opera companies, board members, artists, and audiences can champion racial justice amid current legal and social expectations. Through this discussion, participants will learn of best practices from legal professionals, racial healing practitioners, company leaders, and board members to continue their programmatic, company culture, and leadership efforts in racial and social justice.

Championing Racial Justice in Opera
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET
Building on the Championing Racial Justice webinar, participants of the Racial Justice Opera Forum will discuss their experiences with navigating racial justice work in opera. OPERA America social justice advisor Quodesia D. Johnson will facilitate an open discussion designed to support connection, creativity, and strategic action for continued efforts in programming, company culture, and company leadership. All are welcome through a shared commitment to the Racial Justice Opera Forum Group Agreements.

Past Sessions

Hello, Star Webinar
October 8, 2025 (Video Now Available to Registrants)
Join the Racial Justice Opera Network for a conversation on the artistic process of creating a new work and the collaboration between creators and producers. The webinar spotlights Hello, Star, a forthcoming opera by composer Carla Lucero and librettist Jarrod Lee, adapted from the picture book by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic with illustrations by Vashti Harrison. The piece honors the contributions of Black women in science through the heartfelt journey of a young girl who heeds the call of a dying star. Creatives Lucianovic, Lucero, and Lee will be joined by artistic directors Nicole Paiement (Opera Parallèle) and Mary Duncan Steidl (Peabody Opera) to discuss the creative path of bringing Hello, Star to the stage.

Racial Justice in the Artistic Process
October 22, 2025
Building on the Hello, Star Webinar, participants of the Racial Justice Opera Forum will discuss the importance of racial justice in the artistic process, sharing tools and practices for a more racially just opera field. OPERA America social justice advisor Quodesia D. Johnson will facilitate an open discussion designed to support connection, creativity, and strategic action in the artistic process. All are welcome through a shared commitment to the Racial Justice Opera Forum Group Agreements.

Resources

Collection

Racial Justice Websites: A Curated List

A collection of websites on the history of and movement for racial justice.

September 15, 2020

Collection

Key Reads on Racial Justice

A curated collection of significant articles about racial justice.

December 04, 2020

Video

Racial Justice Videos: A Curated List

A collection of videos on the history of and movement for racial justice.

September 15, 2020

Audio

Racial Justice Podcasts: A Curated List

A curated list of podcasts that offer insights into the racial justice movement.

September 01, 2020

Collection

Appeals for Racial Justice in the Arts

Calls to action from the Black Opera Alliance, Black Administrators of Opera, Cultural New Deal, and We See You White American Theater.

July 22, 2021

Collection

Racial Justice and the Arts: Headlines from Summer 2020

A collection of significant articles from June-August 2020 about racial justice in the arts.

September 01, 2020

OPERA America on Racial Justice

Article

OPERA America's Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity

January 01, 2019

OPERA America believes that opera companies have an obligation to be more reflective of their communities, and that the art form and the industry gain...

Article

Definitions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

January 01, 2019

OPERA America understands that language has power and that the meanings of words can change and evolve over time.

Article

OPERA America Equity Prime

January 01, 2019

An equity prime serves as a reminder to be race explicit within our work and to think through the impact various decisions can have on people of...

Article

A Statement from OPERA America: Black Lives Matter

May 27, 2020

In response to deplorable racist acts across our nation and the historic failure to respond to them, OPERA America reaffirms its commitment to be an...

OPERA America Programs

Program

IDEA Opera Grants

These grants support composers and librettists in the development of new operas and help advance of their careers in the opera industry.

Program

IDEA Opera Residencies

IDEA Opera Residencies welcomed NYC composers and librettists of color with grants, residencies, mentorship, and career support.

Program

Mentorship Program for Opera Leaders of Color

Supporting BIPOC administrators who are at the threshold of taking their next leadership step by pairing them with more seasoned leaders.

Racial Justice Opera Network Steering Committee

Quodesia Johnson
Social Justice Advisor, OPERA America; Consultant; Founder and Space Moderator, Black Administrators of Opera

Theresa Ruth Howard
Artist, Writer, and Consultant

Jessica Jahn
Costume Designer

Anh Le
Director of Marketing and PR, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Chevalier Lovett
Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Organize Florida; Board Member, Opera Orlando

Kristian Roberts
Director of Education, The Dallas Opera

Tracy L. Wilson
Director of Community Relations, Cincinnati Opera

In This Section

LGBTQIA+ Opera Network

Racial Justice Opera Network

Women's Opera Network

Opera Teaching Artists Network