Opera Orlando
Where the City Goes for Opera
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Opera Orlando needs to add a full time Marketing Director in order to maintain audience growth as the company has expanded to three full scale productions in Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The proposed annual salary would be roughly $60,000 - $80,000, possibly being established in the 2022-2023 Season. Opera Orlando needs to procure rehearsal and office space or needs to renovate and remodel its current space to allow for a larger footprint for rehearsals which will match the size of Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center. Purchase or renovation would roughly cost between $2-5 million. Opera Orlando also needs to continue to grow its endowment fund to best provide for the future of the art form and create financial stability. The company has a goal of $10 million to be raised by its 10th Anniversary Season (June, 2026). Currently the company has $2 million committed or invested towards that goal.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Opera Season
Opera productions are fully staged with costumes, sets, hair and makeup, lighting, and orchestra. In the fall of 2020, Opera Orlando began performing in the larger venues of the Dr. Phillips Center, offering the opportunity to increase its audience base. For the 2022-2023 Season, all three MainStage operas produced by Opera Orlando will take place in Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center. With the continuing and growing support of the community, the Opera is poised to further the artistic excellence it currently brings to Central Florida and provide even more eclectic and high-quality operatic experiences. Opera Orlando’s 2022-2023 Season includes two series:
Opera on the MainStage Series:
The Magic Flute, October 2022
All is Calm, December 2022
The Daughter of the Regiment, April 2023
Opera on the Town Series:
The Marriage Contract and Gianni Schicchi at Bella Collina, March 2023
Baseball: A Musical Love Letter at Harriett’s, May 2023
Youth Opera
The Opera Orlando Youth Company is an all-inclusive singer/actor training program that focuses on developing the individual singer. The programs cater to young singers (ages 8-18) who are interested in Classical Music, Opera, Music Theater. The program prepares the singer with a well-rounded theatrical and musical training. This program is an after-school program during the school year which culminates in the Youth putting on their own production at the end of the school year with orchestra, costumes, sets, props, etc.
The Youth Company has been an integral part of past seasons appearing in Hansel & Gretel, La Boheme, Pagliacci & Pulcinella, Die Fledermaus, and Carmen. The Youth Company also presented Noye's Fludde in 2019 and Brundibar in 2017 and was featured in the World Premiere of The Secret River.
Opera Concert
Our Opera Concert Program showcases performances both by individuals and groups. Every season, Opera Orlando presents our Summer Concert Series which features guest artists who will be seen in our productions for the upcoming season. These concerts are presented at the Winter Park University Club in August and September and the upcoming series features Metropolitan Opera soprano Emily Pulley. Opera Orlando also presents Opera Salons (in-home concerts) and Opera Cabarets throughout Orlando at various venues including the Winter Park Playhouse, Frontyard at Dr. Phillips Center, the Roper Ballroom in Winter Garden, and private homes in Winter Park, Windermere, and Plymouth-Sorrento. Opera Orlando also brings in national talent for its annual Gala to be held at Steinmetz Hall in April 2023.
Studio Artist Program
The Studio Artist Program includes younger, emerging opera singers and a pianist engaged from October through May to do in-school programs introducing students to opera, masterclasses in schools, preview concerts and programs at retirement centers, community centers, and other neighborhood locations, and to cover roles and perform comprimario roles in the season’s productions. Studio Artists also receive training from Opera Orlando music staff and participate in masterclasses and workshops themselves with visiting principal artists.
Long term goals include expanding the in-school program to all Orange County High Schools and Seminole and Osceola county schools allowing Opera Orlando to fill Steinmetz Hall or Walt Disney Theater with 1500 students for open dress rehearsals in future seasons.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Opera America 2016
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsTotal number of paid admissions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Opera Season
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Paid admissions for Opera Orlando Mainstage Series and On the Town Series. Opera has consistently added additional productions and performances each year explaining the increase in paid admissions.
Total number of audience members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Opera Orlando participated in a Bocelli Tour in 2016 and 2018 with 20,000 seat venues thus explaining the increase in overall audience for those years. CoVid-19 had a huge impact for 2020 and 2021.
Number of favorable critic reviews/awards of art produced given by media or peers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Opera Season
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Opera News and Opera Magazine reviewed Opera Orlando productions in 2021.
Total number of performances
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Opera Season
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Goals for 2022-2023:
1) Engage, expand, and diversify the audience with captivating, original productions.
2) Maintain fiscal stability and steady growth.
3) Continue to Increase contributed income to sustain larger productions.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Board of Directors and Opera Orlando staff developed a five year strategic plan at the end of the 2016-2017 season with the help of industry professional and renowned consultant Michael Kaiser. Specific areas were targeted with an implementation plan put in place delegating these targeted areas. The steps taken have helped the company achieve many of its strategic initiatives. An updated strategic plan will be published in August, 2022 focusing on the following areas:
Capital Goal (New Building for Rehearsal and Office Space)
Financial Sustainability
Production/Artistic Goal
Education Goal
Audience Goal
Market research surveys and annual key stakeholder data are incorporated into all future planning. Using new qualitative post production surveys from five completed seasons, Opera Orlando will continue to annually identify and review qualitative data collected, comparing the data against strategic plans and providing advisory committees with outreach and targeted goals associated with fulfillment in accordance with demand.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Opera Orlando has identified a strong fan base and produced consistently sold out programs. There is a dedicated and growing audience looking for cosmopolitan endeavors to enhance their quality of life in Central Florida. The availability of young talent and the existence of strong music programs are sources of artists, audiences, and funding.
The dedicated staff and active board of directors are solidly committed to continuing the growth of the organization and working to accomplish strategic goals. There is also a commitment from a variety of community leaders to ensure that the Arts, and specifically Opera, are a viable and vibrant component of Central Florida. Opera Orlando's Board of Directors has the following standing committees which meet on a regular basis and evaluate company initiatives and strategies. Those committees include: education, development, marketing, finance, governance, and nominating. Opera Orlando also has a dedicated group of over 300 opera Ambassadors who both volunteer and contribute financially to the organization.
Opera Orlando has been fortunate to have a number of in-kind services donated in the areas of marketing, printing, rental, artist accommodations, shop space, and graphic design. The Opera also looks to other organizations within the community, such as local foundations and other arts institutions, who assist with special projects and provide outside expertise as needed.
Opera Orlando is also a member of Opera America which is a resource for information, innovation, and support from national foundations and/or institutions.
Opera Orlando has always been an excellent and conscientious steward of financial support (earned and donated) continually in the black financially and prepared to strategically invest in accordance with the interests of its stakeholders and under the guidance of its Board of Directors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Opera Orlando has collected surveys throughout the past six seasons to provide quantitative indicators for future season planning. Opera Orlando has also added more part time staff to assist with marketing and production elements within the company. Opera Orlando is still looking to add and hire a full-time Marketing Director.
Opera Orlando had a major step forward in the 2020-2021 Season with its acceptance into the United Arts Campaign of Central Florida. With the addition in 2020-2021 of a full-time Development Director, an even more targeted effort at fundraising was possible and the first Opera Orlando United Arts Campaign exceeded goal five-fold. It is anticipated that the Opera’s base of support will continue to grow and support will be more robust from the donor community. The growing audience base also provides greater potential for new donors to the company.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Opera Orlando
Board of directorsas of 06/22/2022
Mrs. Kathy Cressey
Retired - Boeing
Term: 2022 - 2024
Frank Barber
Retired
John Wettach
Attorney
Chevalier Lovett
Organize Florida
John Parker
Community Volunteer
Deede Sharpe
Community Volunteer
Sherry Bremer
Community Volunteer
Alecia DuPont
Merrill Lynch
Aaron Penfield
Howard Middle School
Kathy Cressey
Retired - Boeing
Angie Ritti
Mark Wright
City of Orlando
Lizette Valarino
Roseann Harrington
Orange County Government
Vincent LaRuffa
Universal Studios Orlando
Michael Hsu
Finance
Steven Nakagawa
Lockheed Martin
Edward Wimp
Leach Firm
Robert Rollins
Retired Military
Tara Rollins
Retired Military
Sarah Hansard
Forensic Accountant
Robert Kohn
Philanthropy
Judith Kovisars
Real Estate
Walter Bissett
Coldwell Banker Real Estate
Kara Roberston
Catchafire (fundraisining)
Guillaume Labelle
Technology
Rita Wilkes
Retired
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/22/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.