Megan Quilliam's Co Gives Campaign

Central City Opera is a very special place for me.I fell in love with the organization 12 years ago when I had my first date with my husband there. After lunch in the Face Bar, we saw a fabulous production of The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten. Even if the opera itself was not the most romantic choice for a first date, the entire experience was magical. The beauty of the Opera Gardens, the history of the town, the superhuman voices which mesmerized me in that small opera house... I was hooked. Who knew we had this gem nestled away in the foothills just 35 miles from Denver? Several years later, in the midst of a January blizzard, we got engaged in the middle of the Opera Gardens, right next door to the Opera House. 

Not only has Central City Opera been the location of several of my major life events, it has contributed to my professional path as well! My love of opera, which eventually led me to a PhD in Musicology, was solidified within those walls of the historic opera house. And now I have my dream job - to serve the Development Department of this storied organization. 

If you're new to this organization, I've outlined some of the core parts of our mission below. I hope we see you up in Central City next summer!

If you've already experienced the magic of this wonderful place, please consider making a gift to our Co Gives Day campaign to support our cause! As you may know, only 15% of our annual budget is attributed to ticket sales alone! It's only through the support of people like you that we can make all this possible. 

Central City Opera is multi-faceted. The operas we produce as part of our 92-year-old summer festival are only one part of our mission. Our Education and Community Engagement department, for example, brings this incredible art form to communities throughout the state all year long. Through their impactful productions, this team not only educates audiences about opera, they also aim to make opera relevant to our modern lives. 

Over the past year, this team developed, piloted, and launched Chiaroscuro: Light in Darkness, a groundbreaking in-school program that addresses youth mental health while also reshaping the relevance of opera to modern, young audiences. 

Our Historic Properties team tackles another core part of our mission: to preserve and maintain the 28 Victorian-era properties owned by Central City Opera. Included in this list is the Teller House, which in the 1870s was considered the most luxurious hotel between Chicago and San Francisco. Located just next door to the Opera House, the Teller House today is where opera patrons can enjoy a meal before the show in the Face Bar - the location of the famous "face on the barroom floor"! Check out the short documentary on the Teller House on our YouTube channel: 

And finally - every year hundreds of young singers apply for our prestigious Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program. 30 young singers are selected to participate in this 10-week program, which includes daily classes in diction, makeup and costuming, individual vocal lessons, stage combat and movement, as well as career management training.We are so grateful for your support this Colorado Gives Day and always!