COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

We engage the public whenever and wherever we find an opportunity.

In the summer of 2010 we made our first appearance at the annual Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts with a production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Telephone” starring local singing stars Catherine Viscardi Savery and BJ Otey. Bozeman’s newest classical singing sensation, soprano Margaret Kohler, gave a humorous introduction to the brief one-act.

We also participated in both the 2009 and 2010 Sweet Pea parades as a way to increase awareness of our efforts.

During the summers of 2009 and 2010 we had a regular table at the Country Bookshelf during the monthly Art Walks so that we could introduce Bozeman’s opera scene to people interested in the arts. 

We are available to make illustrated presentations at Rotary and other service club meetings. 

For most of our productions (although not the fall concert this year) a Bozeman musician who sang opera professionally in Europe and Israel presents a free class or two on the upcoming opera. Folks who attend her classes are then invited to attend the dress rehearsal with her. Our rehearsals are otherwise closed to the public.

We collaborate with the Wonderlust life-long learning program to present introductions to our upcoming production to their members and other interested members of the public. 

We are working on a series of informal concerts to be called “Bozeman’s Got Opera” in collaboration with the Cultural Corner series at Pilgrim Congregational Church. 

As dates become firm for any current presentations, we will post them here.

UNDERWRITERS OF 2010-2011 SEASON OF OPERA - $10,000
Tim & Mary Barnard
Bruce and Carol Jodar
Lee and Glynna Freeman 
Klein & Karen Gilhousen
Mrs. Robert W. Martin, Jr.

Sponsorships - $5,000 – are still available for our two fall performances. We will also be offering opportunities to underwrite one of the arias or ensembles in the fall concert production. Contact the opera office (406-587-2889) for more information.

Scholarships

The Intermountain Opera Association in collaboration with the Montana State University music department offers scholarships to worthy vocal students. The scholarship recipient then works with the Intermountain Opera with productions and helps with outreach visits to schools.

Public Opera Events

Prior to Intermountain Opera productions, Suzanne Gorder, a former opera star, gives lecture demonstrations on the upcoming opera.

Montana State University's extended studies program Wonderlust, offers an opera class prior to each production. Wonderlust opens this class to the general public.