Augusta Opera
HISTORY: Founded in 1967, The Augusta Opera http://www.augustaopera.com/index.shtml is the oldest, continually producing opera and music theatre company in Georgia. Beginning with a small group of opera lovers, including an assistant conductor of New York’s Metropolitan Opera stationed at nearby Fort Gordon, The Augusta Opera has grown from productions on a ‘shoestring’ to a full season of performances with an annual budget of over $600,000. The Augusta Opera enjoys wide-spread critical acclaim regionally, nationally, and even internationally. The Company’s outstanding reputation has led to national television and radio broadcasts and selection by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Showcase Company.
The Augusta Opera initiated naming The Jessye Norman Amphitheatre and Plaza on downtown Augusta’s Riverwalk, in honor of international opera star and Augusta native, Jessye Norman. The Augusta Opera also co-produced with Ms. Norman and GPTV Jessye Norman: Home for the Holidays, a Christmas special filmed in Augusta with local adult and children’s choirs. The initial international broadcast and subsequent years of re-broadcast was a proud endeavor of The Augusta Opera. Other unique collaborations include a partnership with The Augusta Ballet in an original multimedia production entitled Song and Dance at the Movies. Also unique for an opera company was an in-house residency at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, where for 2 years The Augusta Opera staged Oklahoma and H.M.S. Pinafore. These performance-based residencies provided students and faculty with an opportunity to work closely with the production, either on-stage, back-stage, or in Master Classes with the Stage Director, Lighting Designer, Rehearsal Pianist, Technical Director, or Principals in the cast
The Augusta Opera maintains an annual season of high quality professional productions of both traditional and American operas; The Augusta Opera at St. Paul’s, an annual holiday performance, now rebroadcast annually on Georgia Public Radio; and, an expanding educational outreach program for students, seniors, and the physically and financially challenged. The Augusta Opera serves over 70,000 CSRA residents yearly through main stage productions, holiday concerts, educational outreach services, and radio and television broadcasts.
In February 2002, The Augusta Opera’s General Director, Edward Bradberry suddenly passed away. Mr. Bradberry had guided The Augusta Opera for 30 years mounting over 90 main stage productions and 18 annual holiday concerts. Mr. Bradberry was instrumental in co-producing Jessye Norman: A Holiday Homecoming. With his passing, The Augusta Opera Board, Guild, and Staff have embraced the company that Mr. Bradberry loved so much, continuing his dedication to excellence. Mark D. Flint, longtime friend of Edward Bradberry and principal conductor for the Opera company, took the position of Artistic Director in 2004 and he remains with the company to this day.
Auditions
Augusta Opera holds local auditions for comprimario roles and Educational Outreach performers in the Spring of each year. We are very interested in hearing local singers for these positions. Singers are encouraged to prepare a song in an operatic, musical theatre, or art song style for Maestro Flint to hear. An accompanist is always provided but you are welcome to bring your own.
During other parts of the year, individuals seeking to join the volunteer choral ensemble, may call the Opera office at (706) 826-4710 and arrange for the Chorus Master, Les Reagan, to hear you.
Augusta Opera is an equal opportunity employer and we strive to achieve a level of diversity in our productions.
Information provided by the Augusta Opera - http://www.augustaopera.com/index.shtml