Opera Guild of Charlotte

Mission and Purpose

The Opera Guild of Charlotte, Inc. is committed to furthering musical education and appreciation freely and without profit. Our goal is to promote greater interest in the art of the Opera, and to lend assistance and financial aid to Opera Carolina and other similar organizations.

The History of The Opera Guild

The Guild was founded in 1954 with its primary purpose to provide financial assistance for Opera productions, and to further musical appreciation and education in the area. Through more than half a century of its existence, the Guild has contributed over $1 million to Opera Carolina.

From the beginning, the Guild was interested in providing support for young music lovers. It worked to arrange free matinees for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school children, as well as support music education programs in the schools.

In 1969 the Guild formally established their own Vocal Competition for aspiring young singers in the Mecklenburg schools. Presently, the program is open to collegiate students and young professionals in both North and South Carolina. Since the scholarship program began, more than 155 students from North and South Carolina have been awarded monetary prizes to help them continue their musical education.