OPERA America Salutes
Celebrating Opera's Great Leaders
OPERA America Salutes brings together artists, producers, and advocates in a special tribute to some of the field’s most accomplished figures. The unforgettable evening honors industry pioneers and supports the next generation of opera leaders.
In addition to saluting new classes of the Opera Hall of Fame and National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards, the 2026 event features a final curtain call and farewell for OPERA America's president emeritus, Marc A. Scorca, after 35 years of visionary leadership for the field.
Register by Friday, February 27, 2026
Friday, March 20, 2026
The Plaza Hotel
768 5th Ave, New York, NY
Honoring
- Opera Hall of Fame Inductees
- National Opera Trustee Recognition Awardees
Saluting
- Marc A. Scorca, president emeritus, OPERA America
Featuring
- Cocktails and dinner
- Special musical performances by singers from the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program
Your support of the event sustains OPERA America's professional development programs, including Leadership Intensive, New General Director Roundtables, and Mentorship Programs.
Business attire
Opera Hall of Fame
Donnie Ray Albert, baritone and teacher
Mark Campbell, librettist and teacher
Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano and teacher
Christopher Hahn, arts leader and administrator
Susan F. and William C. Morris, philanthropists and advocates
Bernard and Barbro Osher, philanthropists and advocates
Francesca Zambello, arts administrator and director
National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards
Marc Chalifoux,* Against the Grain Theatre
Jeffrey Cunard, Washington National Opera
Janet Farrell, IN Series
Erin Flannery, Experiments in Opera
Liz Kathman Grubow, Cincinnati Opera
Robert Milne,* Pacific Opera Victoria
Mel Weingart, OPERA San Antonio
Tribute & Curtain Call
Marc A. Scorca, president emeritus, OPERA America
*Recipient of the Association for Opera in Canada’s Best in Governance Award
The National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards are generously supported by Bank of America.
Event Tickets
Single Tickets
- General - $500 (priced at cost; $0 tax deductible)
- Advocate - $750 ($250 tax deductible)
- Supporter - $1,500 ($1,000 tax deductible)
- Industry Professional* - $250 (Discounted; $0 tax deductible)
Tables (for up to 10)
- Patron - $6,500 ($1,500 tax deductible)
- Sponsor - $12,500 ($7,500 tax deductible)
- Underwriter - $25,000 ($20,000 tax deductible)
- Benefactor - $50,000 ($45,000 tax deductible)
- Visionary - $100,000 ($95,000 tax deductible)
* All subsidized tickets for artists and administrators are now sold out. To be added to the waitlist, please contact membership@operaamerica.org. Availability is not guaranteed.
Special Thanks to the OPERA America Salutes Host Committee
American Opera Projects
Jim and Nancy Barton
Karin A. Eames
David and Frances Ertel
Michele Fabrizi
Gordon P. Getty
The Denyce Graves Foundation
Liz Kathman Grubow
Carol F. Henry
Lynn J. Loacker
Karen J. Kubin
Jacqueline Badger Mars
Susan F. Morris
The Dr. M. Lee Pearce Foundation
Pamela and Richard Rigg
Sarah Billinghurst Solomon
Penelope R. Steiner
The Tobin Endowment
Washington National Opera
Diane B. Wilsey
List as of January 26, 2026
Register by Friday, February 27, 2026
For questions, contact us at Membership@operaamerica.org or 646.699.5248.