Advocate. Educate. Celebrate... the Power of Volunteers
Partners in Excellence Award
2027 Award Applications open October 1, 2026!
Since 1994-95, Opera Volunteers International has honored over 100 individuals and support groups who have made outstanding contributions to their opera companies and their communities. Partners in Excellence recognition may also be extended to support groups to recognize an important milestone or achievement.
Recipients of a Partners in Excellence Award are recognized for their achievements at a meeting of the membership at an OVI Conference and in OVI’s various publications.
Each Partner in Excellence has been recommended, in writing, by the president of an OVI member Support Group. At least one letter of recommendation is required from senior, appropriate, involved persons who are familiar with the person or organization being nominated. Examples might include volunteer group president, opera company senior management or company board leadership, or persons in educational or community leadership positions. The letter(s) will be returned with the award as a keepsake with the PIE Award.
Applicants can use our Online Form featuring auto-save, so you can complete your form at your own pace. Your application is automatically forwarded to OVI, with a copy sent to you for your records.
Click the buttons below for application information. Scroll down to see last year's recipients, or Visit our Archive to view past winners.
Have a question for our Partners in Excellence Award Chair, Deanna Stevenson? Contact via email: oviquestions@gmail.com
Boutique VP at Houston Grand Opera Guild
Celebrating their 50th Anniversary
Celebrating their 70th Anniversary
Boutique VP at Houston Grand Opera Guild
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2026 Winners
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Judy McDill
Houston Grand Opera Guild
Judy McDill is currently Vice President of the HGO Guild's Boutique and is responsible for all operations in the gift shop. Her impressive strength is her professionalism, strong problem-solving and negotiation skills when dealing with immediate challenges. Her significant contributions to the Boutique include her years of retail experience in merchandising, buying, pricing, advertising in the opera’s magazine, and on-site promotions. She has increased sales by 40% over the prior year, and she has introduced a number of merchandise items, including a new line of scarf designs by Allan Virgo, which are exclusive to the Houston Grand Opera.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Guild
50th Anniversary
Since the company’s founding in 1976, the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Guild has provided support to every department within the company. With 24 active committees, the Guild generates approximately 14,000 hours of volunteer service each year. They have established a myriad of initiatives and services for the company, including the OTSL Boutique, a Docent Program for patrons and the community, and their newsletter, Overture. The 2025 Fall Appreciation Concert was titled "Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of OTSL," highlighting the efforts of volunteers, community partners, and more with a post-show reception celebrating their volunteers and Guild.
In honor of the Guild’s great contributions, the company established new initiative of community outings called Guild Field Trips. It has become so popular, it will remain an annual series.
Young Patronesses of the Opera
70th Anniversary
Young Patronesses of the Opera (YPO), Inc. is celebrating 70 years of advancing its mission to foster understanding, appreciation, and love of opera through education—particularly for youth—while supporting Florida Grand Opera’s (FGO) educational programs.
Founded in 1956 at the encouragement of Arturo DiFilippi, founder of the Greater Miami Opera (now FGO), YPO was created by a group of dedicated opera supporters to promote and sustain the art form. Under the leadership of our second president, Roberta Rymer Balfe, YPO established a lasting focus on education for both its members and the broader community. Her vision—to cultivate the opera audiences and advocates of tomorrow—continues to guide the organization today.
YPO’s premier initiative, the In-School Opera Program, brings fully staged, professional children’s opera performances to approximately 30 elementary schools in South Florida each year at no cost to the schools. Serving more than 20,000 elementary students annually, we estimate that, since its beginning in 1975, it reached 500,000 children—many of whom would not otherwise experience live opera.