ABOUT OPERA YORK

Opera York is a not-for-profit, registered charitable arts organization that is run by an annually elected Board of Directors.  Operations are managed by President and Founder Philip Trow and Co-founder Joan Sax. Donations will receive a tax receipt under registered charity No. 88563 4568 RR0001

Mission Statement
Opera York’s mission is to provide professional opera that is accessible financially, geographically and comprehensibly to the communities of York Region, to encourage the development of the art form through educational and outreach activities and provide a platform for experienced and new Canadian artists.  

In pursuit of this goal, Opera York has identified the following priorities:

  • Excellence in performance

  • Collegiality of effort through volunteerism

  • Community participation and involvement

  • Promotion of cultural heritage and diversity

  • Professional career opportunities for emerging and established Canadian artists
Background Information
Opera York is one of only three major professional performing arts organizations in York Region. Opera York’s programming encompasses performance, education and outreach for all segments of the community. 

As the first professional, music-based company in the region, Opera York is at the forefront of educating municipal governments about the value of supporting cultural organizations. Opera York believes that the multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural aspects inherent in opera make it an excellent fit for our most diverse cultural community.

Opera York has partnered with the York Region Public and Separate School Boards to introduce opera to a new generation through the Opera for Schools /L'opéra pour les écoles program. Adult education programs such as Through Opera Glasses are offered through Municipal Culture and Recreation Departments. Opera for Seniors provides entertainment and lifestyle enrichment for the growing seniors population through a series of affordable concerts offered during daytime hours. 

Opera York provides a platform from which creative artists may practice their craft. Our policy is exclusive use of Canadian singers, with emphasis on artists from Ontario and on the introduction of new artists from York Region.
As a young company, Opera York’s aim is to be a model organization for cultural service delivery. By building a musical organization dedicated to providing quality opera performance and furthering musical education by acting as a resource for our schools, Opera York serves the community in pursuit of comprehensible and connective cultural experience.
Past Productions
Since its inception in 1995, Opera York has successfully produced Il Tabarro by Puccini, La Cambiale di Matrimonio by Rossini, La Boheme by Leoncavallo, Don Pasquale by Donizetti, Adriana Lecouvreur by Cilea, Madama Butterfly by Puccini, The Merry Widow by Lehar, La Traviata by Verdi, and The Barber of Seville by Rossini, Carmen by Bizet and La Boheme by Puccini. The 2006/2005 Season included fully staged productions of The Magic Flute (Mozart), Hansel & Gretel (Humperdinck) and Two By Puccini - Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi.
Venues
Opera York’s new home as of Fall 2005 is the St. Elizabeth Performing Arts Centre located at 525 New Westminster Drive in Vaughan.  In addition, Opera York presents productions at Newmarket Theatre, Markham Theatre for Performing Arts, Leah Poslun's Theatre and Famée Furlane, as well as parks and outdoor festivals.
Board of Directors
Philip A. Trow, Co-founder and President, Joan A. Sax, Co-founder and Chair of Education Services, Sonia Banner-Shapiro, Geraldine Di Marco, Luigi Gambin, Heather Heagle, Anne Martin, Rick Quinney, Marsha Winton
Honourary Board Members
Susan Kadis, M. P. Thornhill;  Bill Fisch, Regional  Chair York Region; Michael Di Biase, Mayor, Vaughan; Frank Scarpitti , Deputy Mayor, Markham; Ian Proudfoot, Publisher, YRNG
Opera York is a registered charitable organization No. 88563 4568 RR0001