2024/25 Annual Report

15 Districts

15,839

"OPERA in Schools"

55 Shows

35 Title1 schools

39 Elementary schools

"OPERA in Schools" Schools Visited

Teacher Testimonials

How did students experiencing opera for the first time react?

“Students were really excited with the content! I even had one ask if she could go to school to be an opera singer.”

NATASHA THURMON, BOLDT ELEMENTARY

“I received a lot of comments from teachers about how the kiddos enjoyed the program and continued to talk about it after.”

JENNIFER DEWITT, WANKE ELEMENTARY

How has our program made a positive impact on your students?

“The program provides memorable experiences and connections for future productions they see. It also gives our students opportunities to see what they could do in the fine arts for the future.”

ANDREA GARCIA PADILLA, EDGEWOOD FINE ARTS ACADEMY

“Seeing the performers up close and in person was huge in our current screen-based era.”

BLAIR RAKER, KNOWLTON ELEMENTARY

“Just today we had 2 classrooms & the playground playing opera music, this is a first. Exposing children to new things/experiences is critical to developing brains and creating thinkers & creative young people.”

SAMANTHA

HINELINE, ST. MARK’S EARLY LEARNING CENTER

“They are still talking about the music and seeing more and more things through new eyes. The more students can get introduced to the more they will be okay with seeing new cultures or new music or anything in life that is different that they are accustomed to seeing. This definitely opened their eyes.”

KIM BADER, LARKSPUR ELEMENTARY

School Time Performance

44 SCHOOLS

2,966 ATTENDEES

7 PERFORMANCES

Testimonials

“No cap. I’d go check out an opera now.”

TEEN FROM SOAR! PROGRAM

"The matinee at The Carver was loud in the best way and it was something different I've never experienced before and I really liked it."

MIA CORTEZ

“...I was blown away by your educational performance for us yesterday at the Carver. To say “impressed” sounds like a smug understatement, because WOW, the charisma and dynamo was captivating. Your audience was with you every step of the way…”

ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON - ARTS EDUCATION COORDINATOR AT THE CARVER

"Learning about the opera was a cool experience and it showed me something I never thought I'd see."

JALICE NATAVIDED

“keep shining… the light that you and your company of singers are bringing to the stage is moving the youth of this city.”

ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON - ARTS EDUCATION COORDINATOR AT THE CARVER

"Behind the Scenes”

Final Dress & Performances

3,146 Sponsored

Seats

59 Schools

C r u z a r l a C a r a d e l a L u n aO c t o b e r 3 & 5 , 2 0 2 4

Cruzar la Cara de la Luna

Student & Teacher Testimonials

“At first i thought it was silly “mariachi opera?” but as soon as i heard the starting vocals my heart melted and i instantly fell in love”

BELLA C, HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

“My choir students were blown away! They loved the opera and continued to talk about it several days later, sharing who their favorite character was and telling the other students that did not attend how much fun they had missed!”

MELISSA

MASSIE, CONNALLY & JORDAN MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER

“After the performance, I was very amazed with the story and wonderful music, saddened by the thought of leaving the theater.”

GABRIEL L, SOMERSET JUNIOR HIGH STUDENT

“The students were very emotional which means that the performance engaged them in such a way that they connected with the cast and the message. It was a beautiful sight to see. I can't wait for the next one!“

NATALIE BENKE, CHAMPION HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

“I had an amazing time I loved how it felt so real and looked beautiful and over all sounded like the most beautiful music I have heard.

JOSLYN P, RAWLINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT

teran Testimonials

“THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS EXPERIENCE I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO AN OPERA AND OPENED AN INTEREST I NEVER KNEW I HAD FOR IT ALSO TO SEE SOMETHING THAT INCORPORATES MY HERITAGE WAS AN AMAZING THING TO WATCH. THANK YOU”

NORA, U S MARINE CORPS (VETERAN 1999 - 2013)

“WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PERFORMANCE AND FEEL THAT WE NEED MORE LIKE IT TO FOSTER OUR RICH HISPANIC HERITAGE. THANK YOU OPERA SAN ANTONIO FOR SHARING THIS EXPERIENCE WITH US VETERANS, IT IS TRULY APPRECIATED.”

DANIEL, U S NAVY (VETERAN 1984 - 2008)

“WE TRULY ENJOYED THE EVENING, AS IT WAS OUR FIRST EVER OPERA!! THE SINGERS WERE AMAZING, AND THE MUSICIANS WERE SUPERB THANK YOU OSA FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO ATTEND THE EVENT ”

DANNY L , U S NAVY (VET

“MY WIFE AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS INVITATION TO ATTEND CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA AMAZING PERFORMANCE! THANKS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR SUPPORTING MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE ARMED SERVICES. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS SPECIAL GIFT.”

RICARDO, U S MARINE CORPS (VETERAN 1968 - 1970)

“THANK YOU OPERA SAN ANTONIO! THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT EVENT AND MORALE BOOSTER. YOUR SUPPORT TO THE MILITARY COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED.”

ROBERTO, U S AIR FORCE (CURRENTLY SERVING)

“THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO EXPERIENCE THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENT IT WAS OUR FIRST OPERA AND VERY MEANINGFUL FOR OUR FAMILY.”

MIRIAM, U S AIR FORCE (CURRENTLY SERVING)

M a d a m a B u t t e r f l yA p r i l 1 4 & 1 5 , 2 0 2 5

Madama Butterfly Student & Teacher Testimonials

Would you attend another opera in the future? Why or why not?

“I would love to go to another one, seeing a story play was so wonderful and such a passionate way of telling a story to the audience I would love to see another one day.”

LOREN G, JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

“YES. IT WAS AMAZING 10/10 WILL WATCH AGAIN

LEILANI K, BOERNE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

“ABSOLUTELY! This sealed the deal for my love for the fine arts coming together!”

JAIDEN B, JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL

Any additional comments about your opera experience?

“I overheard one of my students, a teen boy, say to his friends as we were leaving, "guys, I seriously got teared up like three times during the show..."

JACQUELYN FAGAN, GREAT HEARTS TEACHER

“Thank you for tonight, it was a blessing!!”

EMI J, TAFT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

Benefit Concert to help restore the historic bells of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower church. V o i c e s o f B e a u t yN o v e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 2 4