Cedar Rapids Opera
Cedar Rapids Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional opera company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, presenting mainstage productions, artist training, and community outreach including the Children's Opera Tour and Lift Every Voice programs serving Iowa audiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersCedar Rapids, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cedar Rapids Opera does
Cedar Rapids Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional opera company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is one of only two professional opera companies in the state. The organization presents a multi-program portfolio anchored by full-scale mainstage productions at the Paramount Theatre, including Die Fledermaus, Cinderella, Tosca, Sweeney Todd, and Rusalka, performed with full orchestral accompaniment from Orchestra Iowa. It runs the Smith Young Artist Program (endowed and operating since 2003) to train emerging singers, and two community-facing education and outreach programs: the Children's Opera Tour (since 2006, reaching over 4,000 Iowa elementary school students annually) and Lift Every Voice (founded in 2022, placing teaching artists in high schools and retirement communities). Supporting offerings include the Salon Series of patron-hosted home concerts ($40-70 per ticket), the Cedar Rapids Opera Chorus, the Holiday Concert, the Aria Showcase, the Collegiate Cabaret, and the Cupid Cabaret, with a current season branded as Season 29.
The organization is led by Artistic Director and founder Dr. Daniel Kleinknecht and General Director Thaddeus Ennen, with a 1-10 employee headcount and a headquarters at 425 2nd St. SE, Suite 960, Cedar Rapids. Its technology stack is operational rather than product-oriented: a Wix-hosted website relaunched in July 2025 with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility features, Mailchimp for email marketing, eTapestry for donations and ticketing processing, and Google Analytics for web analytics. There are no proprietary software products, apps, APIs, patents, or AI/ML components disclosed. Marketing is multi-channel, combining organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, SoundCloud), email newsletters, local media partnerships (KCRG, KCCK), and regional press (The Gazette, Press-Citizen), supported by Season 29 sponsors including CRST, Iowa Arts Council, UFG, and the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.
Cedar Rapids Opera generates revenue across three streams: ticket sales for mainstage productions, salon series, and special events; tax-deductible charitable donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (the primary funding mechanism); and program advertising reaching live audiences of over 2,000 plus digital broadcast audiences. Approximately 80% of patrons are concentrated in the Cedar Rapids Corridor, making the organization geographically anchored. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the only explicitly recorded funding event is a $5,000 grant from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation in May 2025. The organization is a Professional Company member of Opera America and is governed under the laws of Iowa, with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no institutional equity ownership.
Cedar Rapids Opera firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cedar Rapids Opera
- Legal name
- Cedar Rapids Opera
- Website
- https://cropera.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cedar Rapids Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional opera company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, presenting mainstage productions, artist training, and community outreach including the Children's Opera Tour and Lift Every Voice programs serving Iowa audiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cedar Rapids Opera industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Opera / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)
Keywords
Where Cedar Rapids Opera is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cedar Rapids
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cedar Rapids Opera business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for mainstage productions, salon series, and special events at various venues.
- Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, accepting contributions via website and third-party platform.
- Program Advertising: Ad placements in printed programs distributed at live performances, reaching over 2,000 attendees plus digital broadcast audiences.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon Series individual concert tickets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Cedar Rapids Opera product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cedar Rapids Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional opera company that produces fully staged mainstage opera productions, vocal-arts training through its Smith Young Artist Program, and youth-education outreach such as the Children's Opera Tour and Papagayo. Its programming also includes community concerts (Lift Every Voice, Holiday Concert, Cupid Cabaret, Aria Showcase), a Salon Series, the Cedar Rapids Opera Chorus, and collaborative productions such as Sweeney Todd.
Product overview
Cedar Rapids Opera is one of two professional opera companies in Iowa, presenting a portfolio of performing arts offerings centered around professional opera productions and artist development. The core offerings include mainstage productions at major venues (Paramount Theatre) featuring full orchestras and professional casts; the Smith Young Artist Program (since 2003) providing professional development for emerging singers with financial stipends; and the Children's Opera Tour (since 2006) bringing free performances to over 4,000 elementary students annually. Supporting programs include the Lift Every Voice community outreach initiative (since 2022), the Cedar Rapids Opera Chorus for community members, and intimate performance series such as the Salon Series, Aria Showcase, and various cabaret events. Productions span classical repertoire (Die Fledermaus, Cinderella, Sweeney Todd, Rusalka) with collaborative orchestral accompaniment from Orchestra Iowa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mainstage Productions
- Smith Young Artist Program
- Children's Opera Tour
- Papagayo
- Lift Every Voice
- Salon Series
- Cedar Rapids Opera Chorus
- Cupid Cabaret Seasonal cabaret-style vocal concert event offered to Cedar Rapids audiences.
- Holiday Concert
- Aria Showcase
- Collegiate Cabaret
- Sweeney Todd (production)
Companies that use Cedar Rapids Opera
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cedar Rapids Opera technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Cedar Rapids Opera partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Opera AmericacoreCedar Rapids Opera is a proud Professional Company member of Opera America, indicating professional standing and alignment with national opera industry standards.
- Iowa SchoolscorePartnership with Iowa elementary schools to bring free opera performances to over 4,000 students annually through the Children's Opera Tour program.
- Orchestra IowacoreFull orchestral accompaniment for mainstage productions including Tosca and Cinderella performances.
- Czech & Slovak National Museum and LibraryminorCollaboration on Rusalka production as part of the museum's 50th anniversary celebrations and Czech and Slovak Echoes in the U.S. cultural event series.
- SagittariominorPrague-based organization representing young performers in Czech Republic and Slovakia, collaborated on the unusual Rusalka production without props and sets.
- Season 29 Sponsors (CRST, JaredCarollHillsFoundation, Iowa Arts Council, Johnson, UFG, Grandon Charitable Foundation, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation)coreCorporate and foundation sponsors supporting Season 29 productions and operations.
- Brock Family MusicminorSponsor of the Cupid Cabaret event showcasing collegiate talent from Iowa.
- Coe CollegeminorVenue partner for concerts including the Jerry Owen 80th birthday celebration at Daehler-Kitchin Auditorium.
- Paramount TheatrecoreMain venue for major productions including Die Fledermaus, Cinderella, and Tosca.
- Artisan StudiominorPartner for community discussions on opera relevance featuring General Director and Artistic Director.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cedar Rapids Opera competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Des Moines Metro Opera: The other professional opera company in Iowa, presenting a summer festival season plus educational and outreach programs. Directly comparable as a regional professional opera company serving a Midwestern market with similar nonprofit structure and educational outreach.
- Florentine Opera Company: Regional professional opera company based in Milwaukee, presenting mainstage productions and education/outreach programs in the Midwest. Highly comparable nonprofit model and community-focused programming.
- Lyric Opera of Kansas City: Regional professional opera company serving the Kansas City area with mainstage productions and education programs. Comparable Midwestern regional opera nonprofit with similar artist development and outreach initiatives.
- Fort Worth Opera: Regional professional opera company presenting mainstage productions, young artist programs, and education initiatives. Comparable nonprofit regional opera model with similar portfolio of community-facing programs.
- Sarasota Opera: Regional professional opera company with mainstage season, apprentice/young artist programs, and education outreach. Directly comparable nonprofit regional opera structure and program mix.
Broad incumbents
- Minnesota Opera: Larger professional opera company in the Upper Midwest presenting mainstage productions, new works, and education programs. Comparable in mission and offerings, but operates at significantly greater scale and budget in a major metro market.
- Michigan Opera Theatre: Established Midwestern opera company with mainstage productions, community programming, and youth education. Comparable in regional opera mission but operates in a larger metro and at greater scale.
- Opera Theatre of Saint Louis: Highly regarded regional opera company with renowned young artist training programs. Comparable in nonprofit structure and emphasis on emerging artist development, but at significantly larger scale and national reputation.
- Lyric Opera of Chicago: Major American opera company with mainstage productions, education programs (Lyric Unlimited), and young artist initiatives. Operates in an adjacent geography (Illinois) but at substantially greater scale and budget.
Emerging players
- Heartbeat Opera: Smaller, newer opera company focused on accessible and innovative productions with strong community engagement orientation. Comparable as a small-scale, education- and community-focused opera nonprofit with an experimental bent.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cedar Rapids Opera social profiles
Digital presenceCedar Rapids Opera financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cedar Rapids Opera leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cedar Rapids Opera funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cedar Rapids Opera M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cedar Rapids Opera
What does Cedar Rapids Opera do?
Cedar Rapids Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional opera company that produces fully staged mainstage opera productions, vocal-arts training through its Smith Young Artist Program, and youth-education outreach such as the Children's Opera Tour and Papagayo. Its programming also includes community concerts (Lift Every Voice, Holiday Concert, Cupid Cabaret, Aria Showcase), a Salon Series, the Cedar Rapids Opera Chorus, and collaborative productions such as Sweeney Todd.
Is Cedar Rapids Opera a public or private company?
Cedar Rapids Opera is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cedar Rapids Opera founded?
Cedar Rapids Opera was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cedar Rapids Opera based?
Cedar Rapids Opera is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cedar Rapids Opera make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions and program Advertising.
Who are Cedar Rapids Opera's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Des Moines Metro Opera, Florentine Opera Company, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Fort Worth Opera and Sarasota Opera. Broad incumbents are Minnesota Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Heartbeat Opera is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cedar Rapids Opera have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cedar Rapids Opera.
What industry is Cedar Rapids Opera in?
Cedar Rapids Opera's product category is Opera / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAB, Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAG, Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater). Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7900.