Welcome to the Sacred in Opera!
The Sacred in Opera seeks to promote operatic representations of the religious quest through encouraging places of worship, colleges/universities, and communities to expore the dynamic interplay of opera and theology. This combination has long formed a powerful catalyst for spiritual thought. From the emergence of the Quem Quaeritis trope, which heralded the rebirth of theatre after the Dark Ages, the church's role in the development of dramatic and musical representation was pivotal in laying the foundations for modern opera.
Today, opera often provides a spiritual touchstone for audiences who, at times caught unaware, find themselves examining such issues as faith, free will, and humanity's place in the universe. Opera has historically drawn us to questions of faith and shaped our perceptions.
SIO Award
The Sacred in Opera Award recognizes significant contribution to operatic representations that explore and engage ideologies of world religions. Recipients are selected by the Sacred in Opera Committee of NOA, and awarded at a session of the national conference.
Recipients of the Sacred in Opera Award are:
| 2008 | Evelyn Swensson |
| 2010 | Carl Gerbrandt |
| 2018 | Susan Bingham |
| 2021 | Alice Parker |
Casey Robards
Chair of SIO
caseyrobards@gmail.com