Program areas at Houston Grand Opera Association
Opera Productions: Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is one of the largest, most innovative, and most highly acclaimed opera companies in the United States. In fulfilling its mission to enrich our diverse community through the art of operas by creating, curating, exploring, and producing outstanding experiences centered around the human voice, HGO has led the field in commissioning new works (74 world premieres to date) and in training and nurturing promising young artists and administrators. The company builds its repertoire with the community in mind, striving to create profoundly enriching experiences for our diverse audiences, both in the Wortham Theater and in community venues.
See Schedule OThe Community & Learning program connects creative resources with our diverse and vibrant community through collaborative programming in the Houston area - in schools, parks, community landmarks, alternative performance spaces, as well as at the Wortham Theater Center, providing the opportunity to seek, engage, and learn through opera. The nationally recognized Song of Houston initiative commissions new chamber operas and song projects that resonate with contemporary life in Houston and develops community projects that foster collaborations with many Houston-area organizations. Our multi-faceted Education Program includes Opera to Go!, High School Night and student matinees of main-stage productions, the Bauer Family High School Voice Studio, professional development workshops for teachers, opera camps, and residency programs.
The Sarah & Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio is one of the most respected young artist programs in the country. For more than thirty years it has served young singers and pianist/coaches, providing a bridge between full-time training and full-fledged operatic careers. Each year after an exhaustive international search, a hand-selected group of talented individuals is brought here to Houston to work alongside the best in the business at Houston Grand Opera. In main-stage productions and at other less traditional venues, these artists hone their craft as singing actors. During a residency of up to three years, each performer receives customized training from an expert team while gaining invaluable performance experience at the highest level.