PUCCINI TOSCA
with Laura Wilde as Tosca
JUNE 26 - JULY 19
with Alexander Birch Elliot as King Roger
FLOYD OF MICE AND MEN
with John Moore as George and John Findon as Lennie
Experience world-class opera in a theatre that brings you within arm’s reach of the action onstage. Join us in the rolling cornfields of Iowa for “the Midwest’s must-see summer opera festival” (The Dallas Morning News). Plan your visit now—many performances are sold out.
Best availability: July 3–4, July 8–9, and July 14–16 / Three-opera package: July 14–16 For tickets, visit DMMO.ORG or call (515) 209-3257
SZYMANOWSKI
Summer at Orchestra Hall
CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS
Beethoven Triple Concerto
THU JUL 16 11AM
FRI JUL 17 8PM
SAT JUL 18 7PM
Stephanie Childress, conductor
Sarah Grimes, violin
Silver Ainomäe, cello
Alessio Bax, piano
Legend of Cinema: John Williams’
Greatest Scores
THU JUL 23 7PM
FRI JUL 24 7PM
SAT JUL 25 7PM
Sarah Hicks, conductor
Countertenor John Holiday with the Minnesota Orchestra
FRI AUG 7 8PM
Jonathan Taylor Rush, conductor
John Holiday, countertenor
An American Songbook with John Holiday with the Minnesota Orchestra
SAT AUG 8 7PM
Jonathan Taylor Rush, conductor
John Holiday, countertenor
Jearlyn Steele, vocals
Jevetta Steele, vocals
Hic
Holida
Childre
The Barber of Seville, 2025 © Cory Weaver
the Ordway stage, audiences to share in transformation . Immersive drama, comedy—drawn from three centuries testament to the power of this to be human
SOMETHING NEW
Subscription packages are available now!
Music by George Frideric Handel Libretto by Antonio Salvi after Ludovico Ariosto
Music by Kamala Sankaram | Libretto by Minita Gandhi
Based upon the BOOM! Studios graphic novel
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V. and Filipe Andrade.
Jealousy. Treachery. True love put to the test.
Dear Friends,
Reincarnated. Resolute. Revolutionary.
MAR 13–21, 2027
MAY 8–16, 2027
As we arrive at the final curtain of our season with I find myself reflecting on the remarkable journey we’ve shared together.
Music by George Frideric Handel Libretto by Antonio Salvi after Ludovico Ariosto
Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Arrigo Boito
OCT 31–NOV 8, 2026
Everything in the world is a jest.
This season has been a testament to opera’s ability to evolve, surprise, and endure. We began the season by Così fan tutte, finding new layers in a familiar classic. The spirit of discovery was on a full display with My Name is Florence—bringing a vital and longoverdue voice to the operatic stage. And we embraced a truly once-ina-lifetime experience with Edgar in Concert, a rare glimpse into the early imagination of a composer still becoming himself.
works never before seen on the Ordway stage, 2026–2027 season invites audiences to share in desire, and transformation . Immersive drama, sparkling comedy—drawn from three centuries storytelling—coalesce in a testament to the power of this illuminate what it means to be human
Jealousy. Treachery. True love put to the test.
And now, we close with Pagliacci—a work that reminds us why opera continues to matter. Raw, immediate, and emotionally unflinching, it collapses the distance between performer and audience in a way that feels as visceral today as ever.
MAY 8–16, 2027
Music by Kamala Sankaram | Libretto by Minita Gandhi
Based upon the BOOM! Studios graphic novel
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V. and Filipe Andrade.
Reincarnated. Resolute. Revolutionary.
MAR 13–21, 2027
There’s been plenty of conversation lately about opera—some of it even finding its way into unexpected corners of pop culture (yes, we saw that Timothée Chalamet comment). But beyond the headlines, what truly sustains this art form is something far more meaningful: you. Your curiosity, your presence, and your willingness to show up for something live, human, and shared.
Subscription packages are available now!
Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Arrigo Boito
Everything in the world is a jest.
Music by George Frideric Handel Libretto by Antonio Salvi after Ludovico Ariosto
As we take our final bow this season, I invite you to continue that journey with us. Subscribing to next season is more than securing your seat—it’s a commitment to the future of opera, to new stories, bold ideas, and the collective experience that only this art form can offer.
Thank you for being part of this season. We can’t wait to welcome you back.
before seen on the Ordway stage, season invites audiences to share in and transformation . Immersive drama, comedy—drawn from three centuries storytelling—coalesce in a testament to what it means to be human
With gratitude,
RYAN
Jealousy. Treachery. True love put to the test.
MAY 8–16, 2027
TAYLOR PRESIDENT AND GENERAL DIRECTOR
Minnesota Opera | MNOpera.org
Subscription packages are available now!
Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Arrigo Boito
Everything in the world is a jest.
MUSIC + LIBRETTO BY Ruggero Leoncavallo
Premiered May 21, 1892 at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan, Italy
TONIO
This production was originally produced by The Glimmerglass Festival.
Sung in Italian with English captions projected above the stage. in order of vocal appearance
BEPPE
CAST
Reginald Smith, Jr.
CANIO
Won Whi Choi
PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR
Christopher Franklin
STAGE DIRECTOR
Dylan Morrongiello
FIRST TOWNSPERSON
John Mburu+
Brenna Corner
ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHER
Eric Sean Fogel
ASSOCIATE STAGE DIRECTOR
Nora Winsler
FIGHT AND INTIMACY DIRECTOR
Annie Enneking
SCENIC DESIGNER
James Rotondo
COSTUME DESIGNER
Erik Teague
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Robert Wierzel
WIG, HAIR, AND MAKEUP DESIGNER
Priscilla Bruce
STAGE MANAGER Luci Burdick
SECOND TOWNSPERSON Roland Hawkins II
NEDDA Amanda Batista
SILVIO David Wolfe+
CREATIVE TEAM
MUSICAL PREPARATION
Mario Antonio Marra Head of Music and Assistant Conductor
Celeste Marie Johnson* Principal Coach and Chorus Director
Fumiyasu Kawase+ Répétiteur
Sound Design by Joel T. Morain originally for The Glimmerglass Festival
Scan to Unlock Exclusive Content!
Go behind the scenes with costume renderings, performance videos, exclusive interviews, and more.
SEASON SPONSOR
Minnesota Opera gratefully acknowledges the special support of generous donors who helped make these performances possible.
ESTIMATED RUNNING TIME
One hour and forty-five minutes with one intermission.
CONTENT WARNING:
Sexual assault, gun violence, intimate partner violence
CONTENT ADVISORY:
Act I of this production depicts an attempted sexual assault. Act II of this production depicts a murder of two characters by gunshot, witnessed by children.
Minnesota Opera would like to recognize that we occupy land that is of great historical, spiritual, and cultural significance to the Dakota people. To learn more, visit mnopera.org/land-acknowledgement.
Special thanks to Dr. Lisa Butcher, Dr. Stephanie Misono, and the care team at Lion’s Voice Clinic, Dept. of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota for their exceptional care of our vocal artists.
United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE is the union representing Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound and Projection Designers in Live Performance.
Tonio announces that tonight’s story is a “slice of real life”— and that those on stage are every bit as human as their audiences.
Asmall theatrical company has arrived in town. Canio, the head of the troupe, advertises the night’s performance to the gathered crowd. As he prepares to head to a local bar with Beppe and the troupe, one of the locals jokes that Tonio might stay behind to make a move on Nedda, Canio’s wife. No one can tell if Canio’s threatening reaction to the joke is showmanship or real. As everyone leaves, Nedda anxiously reflects on Canio's jealousy and looks up to the sky, wishing she could fly free like the birds. Tonio interrupts her reverie, confessing his feelings for her—which she rejects bluntly. He tries to force himself on her, but she beats him back. Humiliated, Tonio swears revenge.
Nedda’s actual lover, Silvio, surprises her after Tonio retreats. He pleads with Nedda to run away with him that night, and she eventually agrees to do so as the two reaffirm their love. Tonio overhears the end of their conversation and alerts Canio, but Silvio manages to slip away unrecognized. Canio violently threatens Nedda to reveal her lover’s name— she refuses. Beppe restrains Canio while Tonio promises that they’ll catch her lover at the evening’s performance. Canio puts on his costume and makeup for the evening show as he sobs in despair.
That evening, the town assembles to watch the performance, Silvio among them. Beppe plays Harlequin, who serenades Columbine, played by Nedda. They dismiss her silly servant Taddeo, played by Tonio, and over dinner the two sweethearts plot to poison Columbine’s husband Pagliaccio, played by Canio. When Pagliaccio unexpectedly appears, Harlequin slips away. Taddeo pointedly protests Columbine’s innocence, which only ignites Canio’s jealousy.
With the audience unaware Canio is no longer following the play’s script, he demands that Nedda tell him the name of her lover. She continues on with the performance. As Canio grows more violent, everyone begins to realize that something is wrong— but too late. Canio murders Nedda in front of a horrified, captive audience—and upon seeing Silvio rushing to aid her, murders her lover, too.
Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci is a remarkable masterpiece of the Verismo movement, weaving together the rich tapestry of commedia dell’arte with a poignant exploration of the human psyche.
When approaching any production, I always begin with the "Why": Why tell this story now? The answer for Pagliacci is layered in its extraordinary music, a tragically relevant depiction of familial abuse, and the blurred lines between art and reality. To bring this vision to life, I focused on some pivotal questions regarding the characters and their motivations, starting with the mystery of Nedda and why she refuses to flee with Silvio during their duet. Despite the beauty of the music, Nedda repeatedly says no. Is it simple fear of her husband, Canio, or is she merely leading Silvio on? The answer clicked while I was observing a friend’s devotion to her children. I realized Nedda is a young woman in a volatile marriage whose every decision is calculated to include her small son. By viewing her through the lens of motherhood, her reluctance to leave becomes a sacrifice for her child’s safety, grounding the "why" of her character in stark realism.
This realism contrasts sharply with the world of the clown. Historically, clowns have served as social commentators and truth-tellers disguised in humor. By utilizing commedia dell’arte archetypes like Harlequin, Leoncavallo forces the audience to confront the "masks" we all wear. This creates a haunting tension between the playful stage personas and the raw, backstage anguish of the performers. The most significant breakthrough for our production came from the famous final line, "La commedia è finita!" Though traditionally sung by Canio, it was originally written for Tonio,
the baritone who also delivers the Prologue. This revelation transformed our production into a frame story told through Tonio’s eyes. Our staging is set in the 1970s within a dusty warehouse—a graveyard for forgotten memories. Forty years after the tragedy, an aged Tonio returns to the troupe's abandoned crates. Driven by guilt, he uncovers the old props, and the story comes to life before him.
❝Why tell this story now? The answer for Pagliacci is layered in its extraordinary music, a tragically relevant depiction of familial abuse, and the blurred lines between art and reality."
In our production, we have also chosen to exchange the traditional knife for a gun during the climactic moment of violence. While a knife requires intimate, close-quarters contact, a gun introduces a chillingly modern dynamic to the tragedy. Gun violence can occur from a distance, allowing a split-second, impulsive decision to create permanent, irreversible destruction before a character even fully processes their actions. This shift emphasizes the volatility of Canio’s rage and the terrifying ease with which a life can be extinguished in the contemporary world. By grounding the "clown" in this harsh reality, we invite the audience to look past the makeup and see the profound truths—and the devastating consequences—concealed beneath the performance.
BRENNA CORNER STAGE DIRECTOR
Ruggero Leoncavallo
B. NAPLES, ITALY, APRIL 23, 1857; D. MONTECATINI, ITALY, AUGUST 9, 1919
Ruggero Leoncavallo was born to a household of comfortable means. Though the family originally was from Naples, his father’s career as a magistrate led them to other cities (including Montalto, which has some bearing on Pagliacci). Leoncavallo studied music at the Neapolitan Conservatory, then at Bologna University. It was there that he met Richard Wagner, who was in town for that city’s premiere of Rienzi, and the encounter had significant repercussions on the younger composer’s future works. He soon produced his first opera, Chatterton, set to text he had written himself.
After brief stints in Egypt and Paris (where he met several influential figures and lived la vie bohémienne), Leoncavallo settled down in Milan. He intended to create an epic work, an Italian “Ring Cycle,” titled Crespusculum. The first installment, I Medici, was submitted to the publishing house of Ricordi, which paid for the score but was in no hurry to produce the work; instead they asked Leoncavallo to work on Puccini’s libretto for Manon Lescaut He would be one of five to attempt to satisfy the troublesome young maestro.
Victor Maurel, an acquaintance from Paris (and Verdi’s first Iago and Falstaff), was instrumental in making the Ricordi contacts. In return Leoncavallo wrote Pagliacci for him to perform and provided an extended prologue for his character Tonio.
Somewhat indignant about I Medici, Leoncavallo offered Pagliacci to another publisher, Sonzogno, who snatched it up immediately and reaped the rewards. Sonzogno also purchased I Medici from Casa Ricordi and produced it the following year.
Leoncavallo’s next work was an adaptation of Murger’s Scènes de la vie de bohème for the operatic stage. This led to one of the more heated rivalries of the late 19th century, for Puccini announced he also was planning to produce an opera based on Henry Murger’s book, an intention he claimed to have had for several months. A contest soon ensued with the two composers airing their differences in the Italian newspapers. Of course, Puccini’s La bohème would later earn its place in posterity.
The composer is noted for a third work, Zazà, which was also well-received. The popularity of Leoncavallo’s operas in Germany led to a commission from the Kaiser. Der Roland von Berlin was the result, achieving nearly 40 performances. Following its premiere, Leoncavallo’s career seemed to wane. He tried his luck at operetta (La jeunesse de Figaro), followed by a return to verismo (Il piccolo Marat and Zingari ), then a string of additional operettas. Toward the end of his life he endeavored to treat subjects of a more serious nature, but Edipo re and Prometeo lay incomplete at the time of his death in 1919.
AMANDA
BATISTA NEDDA
MANCHESTER, NJ
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Pagliacci, 2026
Notable Engagement:
La bohème, Atlanta Opera
La Rondine, The Metropolitan Opera
Aida, The Metropolitan Opera
Carmen, Wolf Trap Opera
Idomeneo, Aspen Music Festival
El último sueño de Frida y Diego, Lyric Opera of Chicago
PRISCILLA BRUCE
WIG, HAIR, & MAKEUP DESIGNER
KENSINGTON, MD
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Il trovatore, 2008
Notable Engagements:
Il trovatore, Washington National Opera
Mortification of Fovea Munson, Kennedy Center Youth Audience
Don Giovanni, Minnesota Opera
La Cenerentola, Boston Lyric Opera Faust, Wolf Trap Opera
WON WHI CHOI CANIO
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Carmen, 2022
Notable Engagements:
Macbeth, Atlanta Opera
La Rondine, Victorian Opera
La bohème, Minnesota Opera
Rigoletto, Dallas Opera
La traviata, Korean Opera Festival
BRENNA CORNER
STAGE DIRECTOR
VICTORIA, CANADA
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Pagliacci, 2026
Notable Engagements: Tosca, Seattle Opera*
La bohème, Los Angeles Opera
The Handmaid's Tale, Detroit Opera
Macbetto, Washington National Opera
The Little Prince, Pacific Opera Victoria
ANNIE ENNEKING FIGHT AND INTIMACY DIRECTOR
SAINT PAUL, MN
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Così fan tutte, 2025
Notable Engagements:
A Doll's House, Guthrie Theater
Cabaret, Guthrie Theater
Ferryman, University of Minnesota BFA
No Sisters/Three Sisters, Theatre Pro Rata
Extremities, Dark & Stormy Productions
ERIC SEAN FOGEL ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHER
CHARLESTON, SC
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Carmen, 2022
Notable Engagements:
Oklahoma!, The Glimmerglass Festival*
Candide, Los Angeles Opera*
Show Boat, Houston Grand Opera*
The Magic Flute, The Metropolitan Opera
The Rake's Progress, The Glimmerglass Festival
CHRISTOPHER FRANKLIN PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR
PITTSBURGH, PA
Minnesota Opera Debut:
La Cenerentola, 2011
Notable Engagements:
Così fan tutte, Minnesota Opera
La Gioconda, Pittsburgh Festival Opera
Semiramide, Teatro Massimo di Palermo
Edgar, Minnesota Opera
Pagliacci, Minnesota Opera
La cambiale di matrimonio, Rossini Opera Festival
CELESTE MARIE JOHNSON
PRINCIPAL COACH AND CHORUS DIRECTOR
PINE ISLAND , MN
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Albert Herring, 2021
Notable Engagements:
Romeo and Juliet, Minnesota Opera
The Rake’s Progress, Lakes Area Music Festival
Don Giovanni, Minnesota Opera
Edward Tulane, Minnesota Opera
La fille du régiment, Opera Saratoga
DYLAN MORRONGIELLO
BEPPE
INDIALANTIC, FL
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Pagliacci, 2026
Notable Engagements:
Der Silbersee, Chicago Opera Theater
Cinderella, The Metropolitan Opera
The Magic Flute, The Metropolitan Opera
Giants in the Earth, South Dakota
Symphony Orchestra
Die Zauberflöte, Arizona Opera
JAMES ROTONDO
SCENIC DESIGNER
BOSTON, MA
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Pagliacci, 2026
Notable Engagements:
Così, Glimmerglass Festival*
Orpheus and Eurydice, Pacific Opera
Victoria
Rigoletto, Vancouver Opera
The Little Prince, Pacific Opera Victoria Songbird, Washington National Opera
REGINALD SMITH, JR.
TONIO
ATLANTA, GA
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Pagliacci, 2026
Notable Engagements:
Aida, Baltimore Symphony
Porgy and Bess, Washington National Opera
Tosca, New Orleans Opera
Aida, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Champion, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Tosca, Santa Fe Opera
ERIK TEAGUE
COSTUME DESIGNER
CARTERSVILLE, GA
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Pagliacci, 2026
Notable Engagements:
Pippin, Signature Theatre*
Der Silbersee, Chicago Opera Theater
Ragtime, Opera Montana
Antony and Cleopatra, Synetic Theater
The House on Mango Street, The Glimmerglass Festival
ROBERT WIERZEL
LIGHTING DESIGNER
BRANFORD, CT
Minnesota Opera Debut: The Snow Leopard, 1988
Notable Engagements: Turandot, Atlanta Opera
Twilight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung), Atlanta Opera
A Walk on the Moon, George Street Playhouse
Oedipus, Playmakers Repertory Company
Tosca, Detroit Opera
NORA WINSLER
ASSOCIATE STAGE DIRECTOR
CENTREVILLE, VA
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Pagliacci, 2026
Notable Engagements: Hansel & Gretel, Sarasota Opera*
Aida, Lyric Opera of Kansas City*
The Flying Dutchman, Des Moines Metro Opera
Orfeo ed Eurydice, The Dallas Opera
The Barber of Seville, Virginia Opera
DAVID WOLFE
SILVIO
SHAMOKIN, PA
Minnesota Opera Debut:
Romeo and Juliet, 2024
Notable Engagements: Così fan tutte, Minnesota Opera
Sunday in the Park with George Glimmerglass Festival
The Barber of Seville, Minnesota Opera
The Snowy Day, Minnesota Opera
Tosca, Palm Beach Opera
* Indicates Upcoming Performance
VIOLIN I
Allison Ostrander
Concertmaster
Hannah Kennedy
Assistant Concertmaster
Julia Persitz
Angela Waterman Hanson
Mary Alice Hutton
Brittany Quinn
Heidi Amundson
William (Liam) Gibb
VIOLIN II
Laurie Petruconis*
Elise Parker+
Elizabeth Parker
Sarah Whitnah
Ian Snyder
Maisie Block
VIOLA
Anne Ainomae*
Emily Hagen+
Susan Janda
Coca Bochonko
Justin Knoepfel
CELLO
Teresa Richardson*
Sally Gibson Dorer+
Rebecca Arons
Darin Anderson
BASS
John Michael Smith*
Cassidy A. Morgan+
Charles Block
FLUTE
Hannah Peterson*
Karen Baumgartner
PICCOLO
Elizabeth Kleiber
OBOE
Jeffrey Marshak*
Steven Maijala, double English horn
CLARINET
Karrin Meffert-Nelson*
Jennifer Gerth
BASS CLARINET
Nina Olsen
BASSOON
Jessica Findley Yang*
Laurie Hatcher Merz
Emma Plehal
HORN
Charles Hodgson*
Patrick Pridemore
Allison Akins
Jenna McBride-Harris
TRUMPET
John Koopmann*
Christopher Volpe
Martin Hodel
* Principal + Assistant Principal
TROMBONE
Phillip Ostrander*
John Tranter
David Stevens
TUBA
Jacob Grewe*
TIMPANI
Steve Kimball*
PERCUSSION
Matthew Barber*
Joel Alexander
HARP
Min J. Kim*
SOPRANOS
Corissa Bussian
Victoria Erickson
Kendall Reimer
Ana Romero
Quinn Shadko
Kristie Tigges
MEZZO-SOPRANOS
Emma Bachman
Jennifer Eckes
Sahar Hassan
Elsa Persson
Anne Todey
Eryn Tvete
Hannah Benditt, Justin Cooke, Gemma Isaacson (Dance Captain)
Alex Sauer, Brandon Sieck
TENORS
Robert Banks
Roland Hawkins II
Andrew Peterson
Graham Remple
Jacob Sorrells
Colyn Tvete
YOUTH CHORUS
BARITONE/BASSES
Karl Buttermann
Steve Dahlberg
Christopher Fast
Pablo Siqueiros
Phill Takemura Sears
Nathan Thelen
Ella Beske, Rosie Calabria, Tessla Castellano, Henry Cole, Linnea Cole
Ava Fox, Bella Glancy, Mary Carolyn Hulse, Ellieana Jensen, Neriyah King
Arabelle Pillai, Jenalia Valerio
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With a lineup of works never before seen on the Ordway stage, Minnesota Opera’s 2026–2027 season invites audiences to share in moments of revelation, desire, and transformation . Immersive drama, quiet introspection, and sparkling comedy—drawn from three centuries of music and storytelling—coalesce in a testament to the power of this art form to illuminate what it means to be human
Based upon the BOOM! Studios graphic novel
Music by Kamala Sankaram | Libretto by Minita Gandhi
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V. and Filipe Andrade.
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is ™ & © 2022 Ram V. Reincarnated.
MAR 13–21, 2027
Jealousy. Treachery. True love put to the test.
MAY 8–16, 2027 OCT 31–NOV 8, 2026
Everything in the world is a jest.
Music by George Frideric Handel Libretto by Antonio Salvi after Ludovico Ariosto
Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Arrigo Boito
WILLIAM WHITE
FEBRUARY 11, 1954 - MARCH 19, 2026
Members of the staff and Board of Directors mourn the passing of a beloved member of the Minnesota Opera family.
William White was an invaluable member of the Minnesota Opera Board of Directors and a passionate opera goer after first attending La bohème in 2002. He regularly attended multiple performances to bring a variety of friends and colleagues, many for their first opera experience. William, in particular, took great pride in introducing many people to the company and the art form and turning them into new fans. He delighted in getting to know the Resident Artists and visiting the costume and scene shops to witness the behind-the-scenes magic.
William’s passion for opera was recognized when he was selected as an inaugural recipient of the MN Opera’s Forte Award in 2024. His emotional connection to what he saw on stage often inspired him to initiate discussions about the performances, sharing his thoughts and how they related to his own lived experiences.
We will all miss his passion, warm presence and wonderful smile.
STAFF
EXECUTIVE
President and General Director | Ryan Taylor
Principal Conductor | Christopher Franklin
ADMINISTRATIVE
Vice President, Administration and Board Relations | Theresa Murray
Human Resources Director | Jen Thill
Luminary Arts Center Director | Julia Gallagher
Luminary Arts Center Assistant Director | Victoria Pollock
Luminary Front of House Supervisors | Jarod Lewchuck, Jenna Lory, Vern Svendsen
Luminary Front of House Associates | Claire Frederick, Annika Johansson, Seth Kaltwasser, Edie Karras, Jaye Mcgilvrey, Lexie Modica, Andrew Sun, Vern Svendsen
ADVANCEMENT
Vice President, Advancement | Lani Willis
DEVELOPMENT
Development Director | Emily Skoblik-Diallo
Strategic Growth Director | Erin Flannery
Stewardship and Engagement Director | Kristin Matejcek
Individual Giving Associate Director/ Gift Officer | Siena Forest
Institutional Grants Officer | Kenny Piatt
Development Manager | Kajsa Jones-Higgins
Development Associate | Jonathan Lundgren
Annual Giving and Communications Coordinator | Lexi Reed
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Marketing and Communications Director | Gretchen Halverson
Associate Director of Marketing and Communications | Isaac Mayhew
Senior Graphic Designer | Genie Hien Tran
Content and Engagement Coordinator | Dyane Ocampo-Avila
CRM Specialist | Kevin Beckey
PATRON SERVICES
Patron Services Manager | Alexis Alcala
Associate Patron Services Manager | Eva Gemlo
Patron Services Associate | Paige Swenson
Patron Services Representative | Carol Corich, Asa Gutow, Kat Ruiz, Jenna Lory, Erin Sutter
ARTISTIC
Vice President, Artistic | Joseph Li
Director of Resident Artist Program and Head of Music | Mario Antonio Marra
Company Manager | Roxanne Stouffer Cruz
Artistic Administrator | Salvatore S. Vasta III
Principal Coach and Chorus Director |
Celeste Marie Johnson
Music Librarian | Emily Hagen
Resident Artists | Fumiyasu Kawase, Kylie Kreucher, John Mburu, Kara Morgan, Ángel Vargas, David Wolfe
Resident Artist Guest Faculty | Lara Bolton, John Churchwell, Warren Jones
FINANCE
Vice President, Finance | Janelle Erickson
System Administrator | Tony Ngonekeo
Staff Accountant | Chris Olsen
IMPACT
Vice President, Impact | Darius Gillard
Creative Development Program Manager | Kari Heistad
Youth Music Programs Directors |
Sara Sawyer, Jared Mikach, Rick Hoops
Civic Engagement and Audience
Development Manager | Allison Lewis
PRODUCTION
Vice President, Production | Karen Quisenberry
PRODUCTION AND FACILITIES
Associate Production Director | Genoveva Castañeda
Technical Director | Jonathan “Bearclaw” Hart
Costume Director | Corinna Bakken
Assistant Technical and Facilities Director | Jerry K. Smith
Assistant Production Director |
Sarah Lockwood
Facilities Manager | Adam Zahller
Lighting Coordinator | Ray Steveson Jr.
STAGING STAFF
Production Stage Manager | Luci Burdick
Assistant Stage Managers | Abbey MurrayStark, Lorna Stephens
Assistant Stage Director | Olivia Gacka
Resilience Advisor | Marit Appeldoorn
Youth Supervisors | Theresa Cieminski, Ivy Lariviere
SCENERY, PROPERTIES, AND LIGHTING
Production Carpenter | Max Gilbert
Scene Shop Supervisor | Madi Scott Smith
Senior Carpenter | Eric Veldey Carpenter | Rose King
Properties Craftsperson | Rachel Krieger
Luminary House Technician | Evan Peterson
Charge Artist | Erica Zaffarano
Tech Lighting Assistant | Ellie Simonett
Armorer | Tom Ringberg
COSTUMES
Assistant Costume Director | Molly O’Gara
Tailor | Yancey Thrift
Drapers | Katrina Benedict, Chris Bur Costume Crafts and Dye Head |
Danielle Jordan
First Hands | Brigid Borka, Sara Huebschen, Rebecca Karstad, Audrey Pugh
Stitchers | Quincy D’Alessio, Ann Friese, Ally Guglielmi, Caroline Amaral Zaltron
Wig, Hair, and Makeup Supervisor | Alisa Williams
VOLUNTEERS
Deb Dittmann, Janelle Erickson, Eva Gemlo, Diana Gerlach, Ryan Gilmer, Sarah Grecula, Andrea Gregory, Ben Holzem, Julie Karlson, Ryan Maddux, Mary McDiarmid, Barbara
Moore, Chris Olsen, Candyce Osterkamp, Tracey Slayton, Wendi Sott, Lynn Sutherland, Norman Tiedemann, Jill Westlund, Rex
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Chair | James Powell
President and General Director | Ryan Taylor
Vice Chair | Rachelle McCord
Secretary | Roma Calatayud-Stocks
Treasurer | Benjamin J. Ollendick
DIRECTORS
Joelle Allen
Torrie Allen
Meg Blake
Ivonne Chand O'Neal
Ti Chang Taylor
Dan Fernelius
Gayle Fuguitt
Judith Garcia Galiana
Mark C. Gordon
Christopher Hermann
Amy Hoffman
Dorothy J. Horns, M.D.
Philip Isaacson
Deborah Jiang-Stein
Anna Kokayeff, M.D.
Christl Larson
Susan Leppke
Jodi Mooney
Cassie Nelson
Kay Ness
Christopher Ross
Breia Schleuss
Mary E. Schaffner
Mary H. Schrock
Emily Schwarzkopf
Kristina Tiedje
Emily Tremblay
Jonathan Vessey
HONORARY DIRECTORS
Philip Brunelle
Liz Kochiras
PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL
Karen O. Bachman
Patricia Beithon
Susan S. Boren
Jane M. Confer
Ellie Crosby
Sidney W. Emery
John Huss
Ruth Huss
James E. Johnson
Lucy Rosenberry Jones
John Junek
Gale Sharpe
Virginia Stringer
Margaret V.B. Wurtele
Minnesota Opera is a proud member of The Arts Partnership with the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Schubert Club
Minnesota Opera Patron Services
620 North First Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401 612-333-6669
Regular Hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm
Performances
Phones open at 2pm for evening performances and at 10:30am for matinee performances. Minnesota Opera staff will be available at the Ordway’s Ticket Office 90 minutes prior to curtain.
mnopera.org
Visit mnopera.org to watch behind-the-scenes videos, read synopses, browse digital programs, and more. Sign up for our newsletter to receive special offers and opera news.
Ticket Exchanges
Subscribers exchange for free. Non-subscriber and non-youth exchanges will incur a $5.00 exchange fee. If you exchange into a higher priced seating location or performance, you will be charged the difference at the time of the exchange. Additional restrictions may apply. Tickets must remain in their opera season. Cross season exchange requests will not be honored.
Parking
Prepaid parking is available at the Lawson Commons Ramp. Call 612-333-6669 or visit mnopera.org to purchase passes.
Accessibility
For patrons with disabilities, wheelchair accessible seats are available for select performances. Please call 612-333-6669 for details and indicate any special needs when ordering tickets. At the Ordway, accessible restrooms and other facilities are available, as well as braille or large-print programs and infrared listening systems. For more information, please visit mnopera.org/access.
Ordway Policies
Ordway is a smoke-free facility.
Latecomers will be seated at an appropriate break.
Please have all cell phones and pagers turned to silent mode.
Children under six are not permitted in the hall. Cameras and recording equipment are strictly prohibited in the theater. Please check items with an usher.
Food and beverage are available for purchase prior to the show and during intermission. Water and other beverages are allowed in the theater (hot beverages require lids), but food is strictly prohibited.
The phone number for emergencies is 651-224-4222. Please leave seat locations with the calling party.
Lost and Found is located at the Stage Door. Call 651-282-3070 for assistance.
Health and Safety Information
The health and safety of our staff, guests, and artists is our top priority. To learn about the steps the Arts Partners are taking to ensure we operate in the safest way possible, please visit Ordway.org/healthsafety. Masks are not required but will be welcomed and encouraged. We ask that guests stay home if they are sick and request a ticket exchange or refund.
Become a Sustaining Donor!
Every Minnesota Opera performance, every student welcomed into the theater, and every new story that is brought to life onstage is made possible by a community of people coming together toward something bigger than any one of us.
It’s a powerful reminder that we can achieve an extraordinary impact when we work together. That’s why we’re inviting you to become part of our circle of Sustaining Donors.
Giving monthly or quarterly means you’re providing reliable sustaining support MN Opera can count on, while making a lasting impact on the opera company you know and love. By making a recurring gift of as little as $5 a month, you can join a dedicated community committed to to the mission of MN Opera.
NEW WORKS INITIATIVE
CONTRIBUTORS
Thank you to the following major individual donors, whose designated support for New Works is having a profound impact on our vision to Sing Every Story.
Anonymous (2)
Mary Abbe
Nina Archabal
Karen O. Bachman
Patricia Beithon
Kim and Carol Bemis
Stephen* and Margaret Blake
Susan Boren and Steve King
Roma Calatayud-Stocks and Dr. Thomas Stocks
Susan Calmenson and Vince Leo
Jane Confer and Ron Wahlberg
Eleanor Crosby
Terrance* and Susan Dolan
Sara and Jock Donaldson
Vicki and Chip Emery
Christopher Hermann and Brian Pietsch
Linda Lovas Hoeschler and Peter A. Blyberg
Dorothy Horns and James Richardson
Ruth and John Huss
Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad
Diane and Paul Jacobson
Lucy Rosenberry Jones and James E. Johnson
John Junek
Robert L. Lee* and Mary E. Schaffner
Jeninne McGee
Jodi and Michael Mooney
Leni and David Moore
Gayle and Timothy Ober
Ben and Kari Ollendick
Jose A. Peris and Diana Gulden
James Powell and Mitchell Czeh
Barton and Kimberly Reed
Mary H. and Christian G. Schrock
Gale Sharpe
Missy Staples Thompson and Gar Hargens
Ryan Taylor
William White*
Margaret V.B. Wurtele
THANKYOU
MINNESOTA OPERA RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUAL DONORS WHO HAVE MADE GIFTS TO OUR ANNUAL FUND AND FUND-A-DREAM BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2025 - MARCH 1, 2026. THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR ART COME TO LIFE.
BEL CANTO CIRCLE
PLATINUM
$50,000+
Anonymous
Tracy Aanenson, PhD
C. Curtis Dunnavan Fund
Vicki and Chip Emery
Ruth and John Huss
Margaret V.B. Wurtele
GOLD
$25,000 – 49,999
Susan Boren and Steve King
Eleanor Crosby
Gayle Fuguitt and Tom Veitch
Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad
Lucy Rosenberry Jones and James E. Johnson
John Junek
Leni and David Moore
SILVER
$15,000 – 24,999
Karen O. Bachman
Patricia Beithon
Stephen* and Margaret Blake
Roma Calatayud-Stocks and Dr. Thomas Stocks
Patrick and Christina Comer
Vanessa Dayton, MD
Sara and Jock Donaldson
Ann Fankhanel
Mark Gordon and Anne Zweibel
Christopher Hermann and Brian Pietsch
CAMERATA CIRCLE
GOLD
$7,500 – 9,999
Kenneth and Peggy Bonneville
Dorothy Horns and James Richardson
Warren and Patty Kelly
Dr. Robert L. Kriel and Dr. Linda E. Krach
Thomas D. and Nancy J. Rohde
John and Jill Thompson
Sri and Aks Zaheer
SILVER
$5,000 – 7,499
Anonymous
Catherine Allan and Tim Grady
Martha and H. Brewster Atwater
PATRON CIRCLE
GOLD
$1,000 – $3,499
Anonymous (2)
Torrie Allen and Tiffany Cooper-Allen
Lois Anderson
Martha Goldberg Aronson and Dan Aronson
Jerry Artz
Patrick and Julie Atkinson
Ruth and Dale Bachman
Bergen and Justin Baker
Kathleen and Jaff Baradaran
Ti Chang Taylor
Terrance* and Susan Dolan
Bruce and Diane Fenster
Gail Fiskewold
Martha Gabbert
Dr. Richard Gregory
Michele Harris and Peter Tanghe
Barbara and Martin Hirsh
Amy Hoffman
Dr. Robert and Susan Josselson
David King
Anna Kokayeff, MD
Reid and Ann MacDonald
Laura McCarten
Jeninne McGee
Fayneese Miller, PhD
Gillian and Richard Morris
Susanne and Johan Bakken
Thomas and Jill Barland
William and Margaret Bracken
Cheryl Brown
Lawson Brown and Joyce Arendt
Christopher J. Burns
Barbara Burwell
Laurie Carlson and William Voedisch
Gary and Janet Christenson
Cinda Collins
Jane Confer and Ron Wahlberg
Benjamin and Laura Cooper
Diane and Paul Jacobson
Robert L. Lee* and Mary E. Schaffner
Margaret Meyers*
Jodi and Michael Mooney
William White*
Paul and Cara Wilson
BRONZE
$10,000 – 14,999
Thomas Barry
Alberto Castillo and Judith Garcia Galiana
Benjamin W. Hulse and Maureen C. Sheehan
Milla and Phil Isaacson
Blaine and Lyndel King
Constance and Daniel Kunin
Christl and Andrew Larson
Mary Ash and Barry Lazarus
Susan Calmenson and Vince Leo
Peggy and Ilo Leppik
Celita Levinson
David and Diane Lilly
McGough Construction Co. LLC and Brian and Cassie Nelson
Harvey Thomas McLain
Kay Ness and Chris Wolohan
Gayle and Timothy Ober
Ben and Kari Ollendick
James Powell and Mitchell Czeh
Paul* and Mary Reyelts
Christopher Ross
Ken Rothchild*
Benjamin and Breia Schleuss
Mary H. and Christian G. Schrock
Missy Staples Thompson and Gar Hargens
Stephanie C. Van D'Elden
Jonathan and Cynthia Vessey
Richard and Nancy Nicholson
Barton and Kimberly Reed
Constance and Lewis Remele
Mary Savina
Bill and Janet Schaeder
Ryan Taylor
Dr. Norrie Thomas
Emily Tremblay and Joe Roith
Tom Vangsness
Lani Willis and Joel Spoonheim
Warren D. Woessner and Iris C. Freeman
BRONZE
$3,500 – $4,999
Priscilla Brewster
Patricia R. Freeburg
Bill and Paula Glade
S. Asim Gul
Nancy L. Gustafson
Linda Lovas Hoeschler and Peter A. Blyberg
Arthur and Fran* Horowitz
Barbara Jenkins
Dr. Charles* and Sally* Jorgensen
Robert and Venetia Kudrle
Andrea and James Rubenstein
Sampson Family Foundation
Dr. Frank and Lynda Sharbrough
Jerry Swenson
Natalie Volin Lehr
Drs. Greg Weber and James Barnett
Jeffrey and Barbara Couture
Kathryn M. Cunningham*
Sundeep and Tara Dev
Duchesne Drew
Maureen and John Drewitz
Dr. Mary Anne Ebert and Paul Stembler
Laura and Tim Edman
Rondi Erickson and Sandy Lewis*
Sally and Michael Feder
George Ferguson
Daniel Fernelius
Anne and Thomas Forsythe
Salvatore Silvestri Franco
Joan and William Gacki
Mary and Jay Gallagher
Gunda Georg and Elaine Darst
Marjahn Golban
Bruce and Jean Grussing
Donald and Marion Hall
Mark and Lana Halldorson
Anne Hanley and George Skinner
Stefan and Lonnie Helgeson
Jean M. Holten*
Joshua Howland
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Hurwitz
Mary and Jeffrey Husband
Jeffrey Indrelie
J David Jackson
Janet N. Jones
Nancy and William Jones
The Kabat Family
Susan Kalmer
Erwin and Miriam Kelen
Jay Kennedy
Margaret V. Kinney
Anne Knipe
Mrs. James S. Kochiras
Martha and Brian Kreucher
Robert and Barbara Kueppers
James Kunz
Jose Lamela Jr
Daniel* and Dianne Latham
Kenyon S. Latham
Susan and Mark Leppke
Linda and Warren Mack
David MacMillan* and Judith Krow
Jenell Matthews
Rachelle McCord
Mary Bigelow McMillan*
Sandra Morris
Jill Mortensen and S. Kay Phillips
Colleen and Gregg Nelson
Richard and Nancy Nelson
Merritt C. Nequette and Nancy Hartung
Newell Wiese Family Fund
Bradley and Rebecca Nuss
Alice M. O'Brien Foundation
Robert Olafson
Ruth and Ahmad Orandi
Luis Pagan-Carlo and Joseph Sammartino
Scott J. Pakudaitis
Sally and Thomas Patterson
James A. Payne
Mary Lynne Perushek
Dwight Peterson
Bruce Pohlig
The Pollock Family
Christina and Dwight Porter
Peter and Rita Reed
Dr. Marian R. Rubenfeld and Dr. Frederick G. Langendorf
Christine Sagstetter
Emily Schwarzkopf
Alan E. Shapiro
Gale Sharpe
Sue Shepard
I-ming Shih and Arnold Chu
Marianne Settano Shumaker and Gordon Shumaker
Juliana and Bernie Simmons
Abigail and Max Simmons
Emily Skoblik-Diallo and Samballa Diallo
Susan Stabile and David Drueding
Mary K. and Gary Stern
Robin and David Sternberg
Julie Stewart
Stephen and Dana Strand
Shoshana Tancer
Tom Telander
Lester Temple and Isabel Karon
Andrew J. Thomas, MD
Jenny and Dave Thomas
Murray Thomas and Stephen Davis
Michael P. Tierney
Josephine Trubek
Gordon and Stephanie Vizecky
Nancy Waite-O'Brien
Lori Ward
Barbara White
Sherrill and Lawrence Wick
James and Barbara Willis
John W. Windhorst Jr.
Jean C. Wirsig*
SILVER
$500 – 999
Anonymous (2)
Arlene Alm
Dean Anderson
Rolf T. Anderson
David Bjork and Jeff Bengston
Mari Carlson
Stephen Christy
Ken and Linda Cutler
Steve Dahlberg
Daniel deJongh
Dan Dressen and Elisabeth Comeaux
Janelle Erickson and Gary Tassone
Mike Erickson
Caroline and Philip Fortmeyer
Greta and Paul Garmers
Leland and Beverly Gehrke
Richard Geise
Teddy Gesell
Myrtle Grette*
Jennifer Gross and Jerry LeFevre
Ellen Guerin
Nancy A. Harris
John Heer and Jody Copp
Gemma Isaacson and
Modi Hammarstedt
Charlie Johnson
Margaret Johnson
Sharon and Fredrik Johnson
Phyllis Kahn
Catherine C. Kangas
Ed and Martha Karels
Dan Kidney
Robert Kieft
David and Jane Kostik
Dr. Jenna Kubly
David and Darlene Lee
Jonathan and Lisa Lewis
Joseph Li and Kendall Reimer
Natalie Losik
Jeanne and Tom MacLeod
Dr. Joan E. Madden
Jessica Mallow Gulley
Jim Miner and John Easton*
Bradley H. Momsen
Shawn Monaghan
Andrea Mouw
David Munn
Diane Nixa
Elizabeth and Neal Nordling
Chris Olsen and Shannon Rhatigan
Luke and Laura Olson
Suzanne and William Payne
Corine and John Petraborg
Tim and Mary Pieh
Lawrence Pry
Brent and Sandy Reichert
Liane A. Rosel
Vicki Rupp
Richard and Carol Seaberg
William and Trinka Sharpe
Kathleen K. Simo
Claire Steyaert
Sharon and Thomas Stoffel
Craig and Janet Swan
Lisa Swan
Betsey Temple
Colyn Tvete
Kenneth and Kathryn Valentas
Victoria and Lindsay Vargas
John Vilandre
Daniel Vogel
Emily Wang
David L. Ward
Douglas Wilkowske
Leslie Will
John M. Williams
John Wilson Jones
Izumi and Ken Yoshitani
BRONZE $250 – 499
Anonymous (3)
Jerome and Lori Abrams
Anita M. Anderson
Gail Bakkom
Joel Bernard
David and Diane Blake
Mary and Gus* Blanchard
Feraidoon Bourbour
Barbara and William Brauer
Eric Britt
Roger and Ronnie Brooks
Holly Budlong
Natalia Callero
Renee Campion and David Walsh
Ruth Carp
Sara Church
Carroll C. Cisek
Paul Coons
Charme Sturkie Davidson
Cheryl DuBois
Jennifer Eckes
Justin Felicetta
Karen Folden
Sam Fouts
Carol and Mike Garbisch
James Glazier
Adam Goddard
Clark and Sima Griffith
Anne Grosse
Elaine Heisterkamp and John K. Renwick
Rosmarie and John Helling
Cliffton and Sharon Hill
Kathleen and Robert Humphrey
Jennifer R. Jones
Kathryn Keefer
Judith Allen Kim
John Klein
Marek Kokoszka
Derek Kuehl
Daniel W. Lindsey
George Logan
Jean Lown
Holly MacDonald and John Orbison
William V. Madison
Amy and Franck Marret
Christine Martin
Sean McAleer
Mr. and Mrs. Chris McHugh
Robert and Larae McPartlin
John L. Michel and H. Berit Midelfort
David Miller and Mary Dew
William and Imelda Muggli
Peter and Karla Myers
Allison Nahr
Fritz A. Nelson and Mina Fisher
Aaron and Kate Nyquist
Dennis R. Olson
Scott and Kelly Olson
Donna and Marvin Ortquist
Dede Ouren
Julia and Brian Palmer
Rick and Sandra Penning
Jane M. Persoon
Ethan Perushek
Michele Pierce
Fred and Barbara Pollman
Anne and John Polta
Philip Rickey
Marucha and Brent Routman
James Salutz and Margaret Brandl
Julia Sand
Emily and David Seifers
Clayton Smith
Darryl Smith
Donna and Kenneth Speake
Roxanne Stouffer
Andrew Sun and Jess Hoffert
Eric Swanson and Curt Nelson
Joyce Thielen
Irma Thies
Valerie Thompson
Diane and William Toscano
Catherine Vesley
Randall Volk
Emerson L. Williams
Perry Wilson and Elizabeth Cutter
Steve Zimmermann
* in remembrance
SCAN TO DONATE
LEGACY CIRCLE
The following lists donors who, through their foresight and generosity, have included Minnesota Opera in their wills or estate plans.
Anonymous (4)
Mary Abbe
Paul and Val Ackerman
Mary Adams
Thomas O. Allen
Arlene Alm
Dr. and Mrs. Rolf Andreassen*
Mary A. Andres
Marcia J. Aubineau
Karen O. Bachman
Thomas and Ann Bagnoli
Patricia Beithon
Carol J. Bergeson
Susan Boren and Steve King
Al Bradley
Arthur E. Brindley
Richard D. Brunning*
C.T. Bundy II*
Roma Calatayud-Stocks and Dr. Thomas Stocks
Margaret M. Carasik
George and Joan Carlson
Richard and Darlene Carroll
NAMED ENDOWMENT FUNDS
The following endowment funds, created by visionary and generous donors, continue the work of Minnesota Opera for future generations.
Art of Singing Endowment Fund
To support exceptional training for Resident Artists by providing learning opportunities with leading artists and experts.
Robert Clough
Dan and Julia Cross
Julia W. Dayton*
Margaret DiBlasio*
Anne P. Ducharme*
Dr. Mary Anne Ebert and Paul Stembler
Randall Egan
Rondi Erickson and Sandy Lewis*
Ester Fesler
Salvatore Silvestri Franco
Daniel E. Freeman
Charles J. Frisch
Dr. Paul Froeschl
Katy Gaynor
Myrtle Grette*
Michelle Hackett
Russell and Priscilla Hankins
Anne Hanley and George Skinner
Cliffton and Sharon Hill
Jean M. Holten*
John Humleker and Cordelia Anderson
Kathleen and Robert Humphrey
Diane and Paul Jacobson
Dr. Charles* and Sally* Jorgensen
Dr. Robert and Susan Josselson
John Junek
Dr. Markle Karlen
Warren and Patty Kelly
Blaine and Lyndel King
Sally and Bill Kling
Barbara White Bemis Fund for Artistic Enhancement
To enhance the quality of performances by providing funds to engage singers who have received awards through the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Daniel E. Freeman Endowment Fund
To support Minnesota Opera’s education programs.
Dolly Fiterman Fund for New Production Opera Design
To support the creation of new productions by providing funds to engage designers and create new sets.
COMMEMORATIVE GIFTS
The following lists donors who have made gifts in honor or in memory of a loved one between January 1, 2025 –March 1, 2026.
IN HONORARIUM
Arnold Burton
Shark Industries, LTD
Siena Forest
Katelin Richter Davis and David Davis
Erin Flannery and Ryan Weston
Colleen and Gregg Nelson
Emily Skoblik-Diallo and Samballa Diallo
Marjahn Golban
Nancy Eastham
Wanda Gowan
Anne Briggs
Celeste Marie Johnson
David and Suzanne Johnson
Donna and Marvin Ortquist
Leila Keita and Siena Forest
ML Hilfikrt
Orpha McDiarmid
Mary McDiarmid
Alyda Mini
Diane Mini
MNOP Development Team
Jonathan Lundgren
Barton Reed and Lexi Reed
Peter and Rita Reed
Lexi Reed
Natalia Callero
Rick and Deb Karulf
Emily Skoblik-Diallo
Theresa, Jim and Nicole Murray
IN MEMORIAM
Judson and Barbara Bemis
Sandra Roe
Stephen Blake
Laura Silver and Jeff Hertzberg
Gus Blanchard
Ruth and John Huss
Theresa, Jim and Nicole Murray
Angel Bradberry
Mikalia Bradberry
Judith Isabel Brindley
Anonymous
Connie Cameron
Lisa Butcher
John and Dorothy Christel
Jennifer L. Christel
Sarah J. Cox
Thomas Cox
Kathryn M. Cunningham
Mary H. and Christian G. Schrock
Larry Klueh
Gisela Knoblauch
Liz and Jim* Krezowski
Dr. Robert L. Kriel and Dr. Linda E. Krach
Robert and Venetia Kudrle
Christl and Andrew Larson
Dianne Plunkett Latham
Jim Lawser and Duane Bandel
Mary Ash and Barry Lazarus
Robert L. Lee* and Mary E. Schaffner
Gerald and Joyce Lillquist
Dawn M. Loven
David MacMillan* and Judith Krow
Tim Manych
Barbara McBurney
Mary McDiarmid
Mary Bigelow McMillan*
Robert* and Roberta* Megard
Margaret Meyers*
John L. Michel and H. Berit Midelfort
Karla Miller
Kay Ness and Chris Wolohan
Richard and Joan Newmark
Scott J. Pakudaitis
Derrill Pankow
Debra Joyce Paterson
Jose A. Peris and Diana Gulden
Sydney Phillips*
Tim and Mary Pieh
Phyllis Price
Brian and Patricia Prokosch
Liane A. Rosel
Founders Endowment Fund
To support new and innovative opera performances that honor the spirit, energy, and creativity of the founders in the beginning days of the Center Opera.
Mary Abbe
Nina Archabal
Joan Jacobs Rubenfeld Memorial Fund
To support the attendance of high school students at MN Opera performances.
Minnesota Opera Center Preservation Fund
To support Opera Center building improvements. The Preservation Fund recognizes the legacies of Judson Bemis and Kevin Smith, who through their leadership created the Opera Center.
Robert Christian Davidson
Charme Sturkie Davidson
Adele DiGiovanna
Cathleen Roth
Terrance Dolan
Joel Bernard
Barton and Kimberly Reed
Travis Frank
Nicole Frank
Beryl and Jerry Halldorson
Mark and Lana Halldorson
Kathryn Hennig
Jennifer Kelley
Lucille Jansen
Joe and Lisa Thiegs
Scott Krenz
Emerson L. Williams
Jeffrey Kogle
Hannah Tjoflat
Robert L. Lee
Ann Fankhanel
Christine Meuers
Kay Ness and Chris Wolohan
David MacMillan
Anonymous
Eileen Cardwell
Sheila Gearin
Richard Hoffman
Shelley and Richard Jensen
Judith Krow
Howard O'Connell, Jr.
Ken Rothchild*
Mary Savina
Jon L. Schasker* and Debbie Carlson
Josef Schermann
Mary H. and Christian G. Schrock
Duane and Pamela Schroeder
Thomas J. Schuster*
Dr. Frank and Lynda Sharbrough
Gale Sharpe
Robert Shearer and Joan Gustafson
Sue Shepard
Drew Stewart and Anna Hargreaves
Virginia and Edward Stringer
Gregory Swinehart and Mitra Walter
Ryan Taylor
Dr. Anthony Thein
John and Jill Thompson
Stephanie C. Van D’Elden
H. Bernt von Ohlen and W. Thomas Nichol
Elizabeth Watkins and Thomas Huberty
Lola Watson
Kathleen Welander
Jean C. Wirsig*
Harvey Zuckman and Philip Oxman
For more information on making estate plan arrangements, please contact Erin Flannery at eflannery@mnopera.org
* in remembrance
Valerie and Paul Ackerman Endowment Fund
To support the attendance of youth at Minnesota Opera performances.
Virginia L. Stringer Endowment of the Minnesota Resident Artist Program
To support the Resident Artist Program. The appearance of the Resident Artists in this production is made possible by this endowment fund.
William Randolph Hearst Endowment for Education and Outreach Programs
To support Minnesota Opera’s education and outreach programs.
Alvina O’Brien
Alvina Hart
Nancy Waite-O’Brien
Fanny Peterson
Lela Clark
Polly Peterson
William and Sydney Phillips
Thomas Barry
Ken Rothchild
Brian Horrigan and Amy Levine
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Nina Rothchild
Ken Rothchild*
Jan Schueppert
Patricia R. Freeburg
Kathryn Keefer
Merle Clark Thompson
Laura Hlavac
Glenda Thors
Elizabeth Murray
Herb Ward
Lori Ward
* in remembrance
MINNESOTA OPERA GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES ITS MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORTERS THAT HAVE MADE GIFTS BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2025 AND MARCH 1, 2026.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Anonymous
Alice M. Ditson Fund
Anna M. Heilmaier
Charitable Foundation
Best Buy Foundation
Boss Foundation
Caplin Foundation
Dellwood Foundation
Event Lab LLC
Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation
The FS Foundation
Hutter Family Foundation
Knox Foundation
Margaret Rivers Fund
Mayo Clinic Health SystemFranciscan Healthcare
McGough Construction
McGough Facilities
Management
McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC
McVay Foundation
NAMM Foundation
Onan Family Foundation
RBC Foundation - USA
Tennant Foundation
For information on making a corporate or foundation contribution to Minnesota Opera, please contact Kenny Piatt, Institutional Grants Officer, at kpiatt@mnopera.org.
MINNESOTA OPERA SEASON SPONSOR
