About the National Opera Association

NOA members are the foundation builders for the future of opera!

Our Mission

The National Opera Association champions excellence and innovation in the performance, scholarship, and pedagogy of opera.

Our Vision

The NOA and its membership commit to serve and positively impact school, college, university, and conservatory opera programs, as well as faculty who train the next generation of artists, by:

• Fostering innovation and access through the exchange of ideas and best practices among regional and national communities of colleagues.
• Offering numerous opportunities for presentations at conferences and peer-reviewed publication.
• Sponsoring competitions to recognize and celebrate those who are especially innovative and excellent.

Raves from NOA's Conferences

I found this year's NOA conference the most inspiring of any convention I have attended. Here I was amongst colleagues who are curious, open to new ideas, and genuinely committed to educating performers. I left feeling excited, motivated, and thrilled to explore new possibilities.
Ann Baltz, educator, director, and pianist

My only regret about attending this amazing conference was the fact I spent much of my time kicking myself in the head for not joining NOA 30 years ago. I missed so much, but; I’m so happy to be part of this wonderful group now. Never too late!!
Bob Breault, University of Utah

Who we are...

The National Opera Association was founded in 1955, under the auspices of the National Music Council. The National Opera Association seeks to promote a greater appreciation of opera and music theatre, to enhance pedagogy and performing activities, and to increase performance opportunities by supporting projects that improve the scope and quality of opera. Members in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia participate in a wide array of activities in support of this mission.

Who we serve...

Through its prosperous history, the NOA has primarily served education and performance activities in academic institutions and small regional opera companies. The organization especially welcomes participation of college and university opera workshop directors, students, composers, librettists, scholars, and anyone interested in opera and opera education.

What we do...

NOA holds an annual national conference, along with a growing series of regional events, featuring performances, panels, workshops, and other continuing-education opportunities for opera educators, performers, scholars, composers, students, and everyone interested in our craft. Major activities of NOA include the encouragement of young artists and composers through competitions and performance opportunities, sharing resources for collegiate and regional productions, and publication of scholarly articles. Special projects of NOA include The Argento Fellowships, The Legacy Project, Sacred in Opera, the Young People’s Opera Project, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Get Involved...

Membership is open to anyone interested in the mission.

Members who are interested in becoming involved in specific projects of NOA can consult the list of committees for ways to take part.

Connect with other NOA members on the NOA Exchange Facebook Group to share resources (e.g. set, costumes, scores, orchestrations, supertitles, textbooks, props), job openings in our field, or requests for information.

Contributions

Your tax-deductible contributions to NOA support its many efforts and activities.

Donate now...

Special Initiatives

Major activities of the NOA include the encouragement of young artists and composers through competitions and performance opportunities, sharing resources for collegiate and regional productions, and publication of scholarly articles. Special initiatives of the NOA include:

• The Argento Fellowships
  NOA is proud to help fulfill the vision of Dominick Argento in awarding fellowships to outstanding singers and composers to receive full tuition plus living expenses for an entire graduate degree.
• The Legacy Project
  NOA recognizes the importance of ethnic and racial diversity in professional opera. The Legacy Project of the National Opera Association is established to achieve that goal by recognizing the contributions of those who have led progress toward that goal, and to assist, through career development grants, those who demonstrate potential to advance the goal.
• Sacred in Opera
  As an ecumenical support project, The Sacred in Opera's mission is to gather those interested and involved in sacred music drama for exchange of ideas, study, performance and camaraderie. The Sacred in Opera seeks to promote the creation and performance of representations depicting the spiritual quest in opera form.
• Lifetime Achievement Award
  NOA recognizes the sustained and significant achievements of those who have dedicated their lives to opera by bestowing the NOA Lifetime Achievement Award.
  
  

Contact Us

Please address inquiries about the organization to:

National Opera Association
Kirk Severtson, Executive Director
1100 Baits Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2085

(phone) 734.615.3784

Or
Isai Jess Muñoz, President
president@noa.org