OVI celebrated National Opera Week with its first ever gallery of photos of opera volunteers doing what they do, having fun, supporting their opera companies, sharing the joy.

Opera volunteering makes for great friendships, and events like the 57th Annual Twin Cities Opera Guild Candlelight Dinner make for treasured memories while people get engaged in good causes. Margaret Hottinger (left) was invited 8 years ago by Jan Schueppert (middle) and since has chaired numerous opera education projects. Both sit on the Education Committee that gave $100,000 in 2018 to 21 projects that engaged 29,000 students. The Italian-themed night featured a busy Wine Wall, Silent Auction, Live Pledging and after-dinner scenes featuring University of Minnesota Young Artists. Jan is credited with raising $20,000 in advance pledges before the evening even began…all volunteer!
Seattle Opera Guild members had fun at our scary previews of Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw—just in time for Halloween!
Houston Grand Opera Guild members volunteer in the Opera Boutique prior to each performance and during the first intermission!  Fun and fundraising!
This group of travelers from the Kansas City Lyric Opera Guild visited the spectacular opera house in Valencia, Italy last spring as part of an opera trip that also included Madrid and Barcelona.  The Kansas City Lyric Opera Guild trips raised over $30,000 for the Guild during the 2017-18 season.
Rick Greenman of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Chapters Executive Board works the phones at the final Operathon Radio Fundraiser.
Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association volunteer Mary Earl being made up for the production of A HAND OF BRIDGE.
The Guild of Glimmerglass Festival prepares meals and serves about 2,000 people each July and August at our five meals for the members of the Company on days when there are 2 performances. Here is our President Dennis Banks and Glimmerglass Intern Louie guarding the dessert table!
Opera Marionettes in Schuster Performing Arts Center making friends for opera at Art in the City (Dayton Opera), August 2018
Attendees celebrate at the Albuquerque Opera Guild’s annual fundraiser “Italian Night in Venice”, following a sumptuous dinner and a performance by The Young Voices of The Santa Fe Opera.  The Albuquerque Opera Guild is a member guild of The Guilds of The Santa Fe Opera, Inc.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago Young Professionals hosted their fourth annual Halloween Masquerade. This lavish affair, held at the Lyric Opera House, welcomed over 400 exquisitely costumed guests to raise significant funds for The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. The event featured Chicago Bulls’ DJ Metro, tasty bites from local restaurants, signature sips at the open bar and a paraded costume contest at the end of the evening. The VIP experience included CH Distillery mixologist, exclusive tastings, and spiritual readings.
Over two dozen members of Opera League of Los Angeles traveled to opera festivals in Munich and Salzburg this summer to enjoy operas, backstage tours, visits to Wagner patron Ludwig II palaces. Pictured here are President Gayle Kirschbaum, Education Chair Larry Verdugo, past president & OVI member Rebecca Bowne and cast dinner and OVI member Ernie Prokopovych taking a carriage ride complete with beer and snacks to the American Consulate in Munich. The trip planned by Brita Millard was a huge fund raiser to support the Opera League and LA Opera. This was the third opera trip to Salzburg with another planned for 2020.
Members and friends of the Young Patronesses of the Opera at their annual Fundraising Gala, “Wonderland Ball,” entered through the looking glass and embarked on a fun and magical journey. The night included an amazing silent & live auction, outstanding performers singing opera music, techno style, and dancing the night away. Shown here are our president and Gala chairs with the Red Queen as they enter the story book!
Austin Opera Guild hosts fun times to learn, grow, be inspired and get to know each other and the opera cast at enrichment events and membership parties!
Leatrice, Julie and Lise-Marie have fun as Tina, Marilyn and Liza at the Young Patronesses of the Opera’s Las Vegas Themed fundraiser
Volunteer organizers Elizabeth Nelson and Pam Propper strike a pose during the annual Twin Cities Opera Guild’s spring Party in Pink fundraiser for opera education grants.