Festival Opera Association

Under the aegis of its long-time artistic and music director, Michael Morgan, Festival Opera is widely regarded for its high-quality, innovative productions of classic operas, which are often presented with contemporary themes and settings. Each year, the organization produces two operas during its summer season and reaches more than 5,000 audience members at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Festival Opera also functions as a training ground by casting young American singers in lead roles and providing them with a rich opportunity for learning as they launch their careers. With renewed support, the organization plans to add a third production to its season, reinvigorate its programming for school-age children, retire its debt, and complete succession plans for pending administrative and artistic leadership changes. We are recommending a two-year grant term to closely monitor this leadership transition and the organization's financial stability.