2024 ANNUAL REPORT
FROM THE DIRECTOR
OUR MISSION
Create distinctive theatrical experiences and inspirational learning opportunities for artists and audiences of the 21st century.
INSPIRE diverse audiences through statewide educational programs and unique community collaborations.
ENCOURAGE established and emerging artists and administrators to produce their best work through a creative, inclusive environment.
CURATE innovative repertory from four centuries of composition presented at the highest levels of artistic and vocal achievement.
IMPACT the economic vitality of the Greater Des Moines region through programming that generates national and international tourism.
As I write to you, I’m getting ready to depart for Munich, Germany for the 2024 International Opera Awards. In case you hadn’t heard, Des Moines Metro Opera was nominated as one of six in the category of Festival of the Year, joining peers from some of the most prestigious international opera festivals: Buxton International Festival (England); Garsington Opera (England); Savonlinna Opera Festival (Finland); Smetana Opera Cycle Ostrava (Czech Republic); and Tiroler Festspiele Erl (Austria). We are the only American festival to be nominated this year. So please keep your fingers crossed for the Awards Event on October 2, but as the saying goes: It’s an honor just to be nominated!
By all measures 2024 was one of the most successful in DMMO’s 52-year history. Record-setting ticket sales with 15 of 17 performance dates sold-out, along with philanthropic support that exceeded all goals indicate that enthusiasm for the work of the company is at an all-time high. Four mainstage operas, which began with a vibrant reimagining of a classic comedy and ended with a long-awaited world premiere, then in between two large scale 20th century masterpieces, proved to be just the right mix to attract a number of critics. DMMO welcomed reviewers from The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Musical America and several others. Their remarks are contained in these pages and available online. We were also pleased to host opera professionals to our company from over 20 national and international peer organizations who believe there is great value in observing the work of a company that is doing remarkable work. If you attended the festival, you likely were able to sense the enthusiasm and energy that come with tremendous success. It is true that Des Moines Metro Opera is on a roll!
But none of this would have been possible without you. In the pages that follow, you will read in more detail about how your support helps to make all of this success possible. In addition to working hard to bring the highest quality arts experiences to our stages and classrooms, we work hard to make every dollar count. Donors understand that an investment in Des Moines Metro Opera is a wise decision and will have artistic, educational and economic impact for years to come. When The New Yorker calls us “one of America’s boldest smaller companies,” know that you have played a part in making that statement true. Thank you for allowing us all to envision the future of this remarkable endeavor from a position of strength! We have great things ahead.
MICHAEL EGEL
The Linda Koehn General and Artistic Director
“ It proved to be one of its most intriguing seasons to date and easily reverified DMMO as one of the boldest and most resourceful opera companies around. ” OPERA WITH OPERA NEWS
ROSSINI THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
OPERA NEWS
“ This Barber went some distance towards convincing jaded patrons who might have thought they never needed to see Rossini’s perennial comedy again...Barber may be an overly ubiquitous piece, but it shone here and brought this festival weekend to a joyous conclusion. ” OPERA WITH
R. STRAUSS
SALOME
“ Two formidable prose operas emerged just after 1900: Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande,” a condensation of the play by Maurice Maeterlinck; and Strauss’s “Salome,” after the decadent drama by Oscar Wilde.
This summer, Des Moines Metro Opera, one of America’s boldest smaller companies, staged those two works side by side, sending psychic shivers into the hot summer night. ” THE NEW YORKER
DEBUSSY PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE
“ Well, well, well, Des Moines Metro Opera has done it again. With their unerringly imaginative and evocative staging of Claude Debussy’s hauntingly lovely masterpiece Pelléas et Mélisande, they have made it impossible for me to ever see it again, lest any future encounter pale in comparison with this singularly stunning artistic achievement. ” OPERA TODAY
GETER/PALMER
AMERICAN APOLLO
“ ...When the creators delve into the emotional intimacy and fervor of the relationship, the opera blossoms. The opera’s most affecting moments revolve around the melding of artistic inspiration and growing love in Sargent’s studio. ”
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
SUMMER FESTIVAL
DMMO’s Summer Opera Festival makes it one of the state’s largest professional, producing performing arts organizations. The festival runs each summer with 15-17 mainstage opera performances occurring in June and July. The mainstage performances take place in the intimate 467-seat Pote Theater at the Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola, Iowa. This year’s mainstage season included performances of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, R. Strauss’s Salome, Debussy’s Pelléas & Mélisande and the world premiere of Geter/Palmer’s American Apollo. Here is a summary of this year’s mainstage summer festival:
7,149 TICKETS SOLD
15 SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES (OUT OF 17)
90% OF SEATS SOLD
421 NEW HOUSEHOLDS ATTENDED MAINSTAGE OPERAS
40 STATES REPRESENTED, PLUS D.C.
76.7%
ATTENDEES FROM IOWA HOUSEHOLDS
23.3%
ATTENDEES FROM OUT-OF-STATE HOUSEHOLDS
5 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED: USA, CANADA, ENGLAND, HUNGARY, NEW ZEALAND
250+ ARTISTS INVOLVED THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
OPERA IOWA
Since 1987, OPERA Iowa has offered more than 1 million K-12 students and their families professional arts experiences while building new and enthusiastic audiences for the future. The troupe quite literally takes art to every corner of the state as it travels across the state of Iowa offering in-person experiences. Members of the OPERA Iowa team present half-day residencies in rural schools, city classrooms, multi-purpose room, auditoriums, community centers, concert halls and gymnasiums. The OPERA Iowa curriculum features comprehensive study guides, curriculum-based workshops and professional musical performances designed specifically for young people and families.
25,000+
TOTAL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BENEFITTED FROM OPERA IOWA IN 2023
77 PERFORMANCES OF SID THE SERPENT WHO WANTED TO SING AND BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
107 WORKSHOPS
10 MASTERCLASSES
9 ARIAS CONCERTS
71 SCHOOLS VISITED 5,104 MILES TRAVELED 20% OF SCHOOLS WERE IN RURAL AREAS
SID THE SERPENT WHO WANTED TO SING
APPRENTICE ARTIST PROGRAM
Begun in 1975 (two years after the company was founded), DMMO’s Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist Program is a comprehensive career training program that bridges the gap between academic studies and a professional career in opera for some of the brightest and best talents. It is one of the oldest, largest and most respected programs of its kind in the US. During their time in Iowa, apprentice artists participate in a seven-week training program including performance opportunities and coaching in standard and contemporary operatic scenes, career training seminars, opportunities to perform in mainstage productions, opportunities to be heard by artist representatives and other companies and a special concert with the Festival Orchestra.
APPRENTICE ARTISTS
18
STATES REPRESENTED PLUS WASHINGTON DC, CANADA, COLOMBIA AND SERBIA
22
SCENES PERFORMED WITH PIANO 12
ENSEMBLES PERFORMED AT THE STARS OF TOMORROW CONCERT WITH ORCHESTRA
28
INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS HEARD AUDITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE AAP
ANNUAL FUND AND FINANCIALS
Des Moines Metro Opera continues to thrive in fulfilling its mission to create distinctive theatrical experiences and inspirational learning opportunities for artists and audiences of the 21st century. During this time of inflationary increases in the cost of labor and materials, our commitment to mission requires a balanced and responsible fiscal policy. DMMO has earned a record of fiscal responsibility and enjoys a strong base of support from loyal patrons and individual donors. In addition, robust support from area businesses, foundations and government entities are vital to funding the work at Des Moines Metro Opera. Beyond DMMO’s annual fund contributions, the company receives an annual gift from the Des Moines Metro Opera Foundation to support mainstage and educational programming. DMMO is grateful to have such a dedicated base of donors and community partners in Central Iowa and beyond.
2024 EXPENSES
In FY24, 76% of expenses directly supported programming at DMMO. Mainstage and Education spending include the summer festival, the OPERA Iowa touring troupe and the Apprentice Artist Program. They represent significant investments in the mission at DMMO.
For greater detail and access to the company’s 990 filings and audited financials, please refer to our website
2024 REVENUE
Des Moines Metro Opera, a non-profit organization, relies on contributed revenue from individuals, corporations, foundations and public sources to support and grow in its mission to create distinctive theatrical experiences and inspirational learning opportunities for artists and audiences of the 21st century. In FY24, contributed revenue funded fully 81% of the company’s $5.57 million operating budget. Earned revenue accounts for less than 19% of the company’s annual budget and includes sources such as mainstage festival ticket sales, lobby retail sales and tickets to fundraising events.
CONTRIBUTED REVENUE
DMMO exists because of the committed generosity of thousands of people who believe in the power of providing opportunities for arts education. Individual donors continue to represent the largest source of contributed revenue. Public grants in FY21 and FY22 were outsized due in large part to pandemic-related recovery dollars, which are no longer part of the arts funding landscape. In an effort to find post-pandemic equilibrium, we are pleased to show a reduced reliance on the Foundation,which was at an all-time high during the 2022 anniversary year due to special artistic initiatives that were part of the company’s 50 Next Campaign. DMMO is grateful to its donors who support the annual fund each year. Please see the 2024 Summer Festival Program for a full listing of supporters.
$4,442,386
EARNED REVENUE
Earned revenue comprised less than 19% of the operating budget in FY24. The sale of tickets to performances and events is the largest source of earned revenue with the mainstage season leading that source of income. Other sources of earned revenue are indicated in the chart to the right. The significant increase in mainstage ticket income in 2024 reflects 17 mainstage performances of 4 productions as opposed to 15 performances of 3 productions in previous years.
2023-24 DIRECTORS AND STAFF
BOARD of DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
President EMILY PONTIUS
President-elect DARREN R. JIRSA
Vice President CARRIE CLOGG
Treasurer JOHN WILD
Secretary ANN J. MICHELSON
At-large TIMOTHY J. KRUMM, PAXTON WILLIAMS
Immediate Past President VIRGINIA CROSKERY LAURIDSEN
Counsel to the Board ELIZABETH COONAN
FOUNDATION BOARD of TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
President VIRGINIA CROSKERY LAURIDSEN
President-elect EMILY PONTIUS
Treasurer DENISE WIELAND
Secretary BARBARA CAPPAERT
HONORARY
DIRECTORS
PAMELA BASS-BOOKEY
MARY BEH
SUE RUTLEDGE BRENTON
PAT BROWN
FRANK R. BROWNELL III
KATE CAREY
PATTY COWNIE
ARDENE DOWNING
SIMON ESTES
MARSHALL FLAPAN
BARBARA GARTNER
BRYAN HALL
CHARLOTTE HUBBELL
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
The Linda Koehn General and Artistic Director MICHAEL EGEL
The Marshall and Judy Flapan
Music Director and Principal Conductor DAVID NEELY
Assistant Production Manager BRIDGET ANDERSON
Director of Marketing and Public Relations SCOTT ARENS
Company Dramaturg and Head of Directing Staff JOSHUA BORTHS
Orchestra Personnel and Operations Manager MARK DORR
Creative Director KIM DRAGELEVICH
The Irene Graether Chorus Director and Director of the Apprentice Artist Program LISA HASSON
DIRECTORS
MOLLIE BAKER
TONY BRAIDA
ELIZABETH CARTER
ELIZABETH FREESE
BRYAN HALL
HARRIETT “RUSTY” HUBBELL
BRUCE HUGHES
JOSHUA KIMELMAN
MARLA LACEY
PROCTOR LUREMAN
TRUSTEES
HARRY BOOKEY
AUSTIN FISHER
DARREN R. JIRSA
NANCY MAIN
ADRIENNE MCFARLAND
MARY KELLY
LINDA KOEHN
JERILEE MACE
NANCY MAIN
ELVIN MCDONALD
JAMES O’HALLORAN
SUNNIE RICHER
KAY RILEY
JANIS RUAN
MARY SEIDLER
CRAIG SHADUR
CHÉRIE SHRECK
JUDY WATSON
NANCY MAIN
ADRIENNE MCFARLAND
ERIC NEMMERS
CRAIG PORTER
NICK RENKOSKI
MARINA SANDQUIST
KAREN SHINN
JACQUELINE THOMPSON
SHEILA TIPTON
SUSAN E. VOSS
JULIA HAGEN (EX-OFFICIO)
DIANE MORAIN
COLIN PENNYCOOKE
JOHN SCHMIDT
SUSAN E. VOSS
Office and Company Manager SUE HOSS
Orchestra Librarian SOPHIA LEE
Production Advisor JIM LILE
Director of Advancement TIM MCMILLIN
Guest Experience Manager ELYSE MORRIS
Assistant to the General Director MICHAEL PATTERSON
Director of Artistic Administration ALLEN PERRIELLO
Director of Business and Finance ELAINE RALEIGH
Development Coordinator NATALIE RUMER
Festival Company Coordinator JORDAN THOMAS
106 West Boston Avenue Indianola, IA 50125-1836
P: (515) 961-6221
E: info@dmmo.org
W: desmoinesmetroopera.org
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