Chautauqua Opera Guild

Embracing Legacy. Empowering Voices. Ensuring Futures.

In 2024, the Opera Guild launched a campaign to raise $3 million dollars toward the Opera Guild Endowment Fund which provides financial support in perpetuity for opera programming. To date, we have received more than $1 million in gifts and pledges, and we are counting on you to help us reach our goal.  With your targeted support, you will enable our Opera Company to continue engaging generations of Chautauquans through this beautiful art form. 

The Chautauqua Opera Guild serves as the advocacy and support group of the Chautauqua Opera Company.  Thanks to your tremendous efforts to-date, Chautauqua Opera Company has been able to present seasons that include stunning productions on the Amphitheater stage and exciting new works in collaboration with celebrated composers and librettists, but we know that there is still much work to be done. This campaign will raise funds to provide long-term sustainability for opera production at Chautauqua, which will have a transformative impact on our ability to fulfill our mission. 

This is a critical time in Chautauqua Opera’s over 95-year history, and we need your support. We believe that with your help, we can continue Chautauqua’s legacy of presenting high quality opera, inspiring our community and nurturing young artists who then carry the values of Chautauqua to all corners of the operatic world. 

“Chautauqua is a learning institution and there is no company that rivals what I learned in my three summers there…Chautauqua’s unique mission and dedication to humanity allowed us to enter into this space boldly and unafraid.” – Cree Carrico, Soprano

“The learning experience from both summers at Chautauqua was a springboard to the next stage of my career – singing at The Metropolitan Opera.  Since my debut in 2007, I have sung in almost 400 performances.  But I can 100% say I would have never been there without the Chautauqua experience….Every single place I have sung, without fail there has always been a path between at least one other artist back to Chautauqua.” – David Crawford, Bass-Baritone

“Opera is the pinnacle of art forms, combining all other art forms: music, theater, text, acting, dance, art…The arts have always been a healing space, a retreat and a balm and a mirror held up to life to discover what is happening to the world.  We need opera now more than ever.”
– Gary Thor Wedow, The Juilliard School

Donations can be made to the Chautauqua Foundation and designated to the Opera Guild Endowment Fund and are welcome in any amount, large or small.  Named endowed funds are also available to support the General and Artistic Director, guest artist and young artist positions and are a wonderful way to honor your, or a loved one’s, passion for Chautauqua Opera.  For these exclusive opportunities or for gifts of $25,000 or more, please contact Jenny Stitely, Associate Vice President of Advancement at 716-357-6409 or jstitely@chq.org.

Thank you for your consideration as you join us in this important endeavor.