Tulsa Opera
Tulsa Opera is a 77-year-old nonprofit professional opera company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, producing mainstage and chamber opera performances alongside education and community programs that reach over 50,000 Tulsans annually, including youth training, school outreach, and memory-care music therapy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersTulsa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tulsa Opera does
Tulsa Opera, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional opera company incorporated in Oklahoma and headquartered at the Laven Sowell Opera Center, 1610 S. Boulder Ave., Tulsa. Founded in 1948 as the Tulsa Opera Club, it is the 12th oldest opera company in North America, the first professional performing arts organization in Oklahoma, and is currently operating its 77th season. The company produces full-scale mainstage opera with the Tulsa Opera Orchestra and Chorus at venues including the Liddy Doenues Theatre and Williams Theatre at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, complemented by the Voices After Dark chamber series, the Filstrup Resident Artist Company, and the Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale developed in partnership with Signature Symphony at TCC.
The business model blends earned and contributed revenue across nine streams: ticket sales (single tickets, season packages, Circle Cinema screenings), individual donations, President's Council memberships tiered from $1,500 to $7,500, corporate and foundation sponsorships (e.g., Hardesty Family Foundation, Albert and Hete Barthelmes Foundation), Songs by Heart memory care sessions at $125 each, venue rental of Baden Hall and Filstrup Hall, private-event bookings of resident artists, planned giving, and federal/state arts funding (National Endowment for the Arts, Oklahoma Arts Council). Distribution is hybrid direct-to-consumer via proprietary secure.tulsaopera.com, Ticketmaster, phone, and box office, with community programs distributed free through schools, parks, and senior facilities.
Beyond core opera, the company operates a broad community engagement portfolio — Songs by Heart (memory care, partnership with the Songs by Heart Foundation), Raise Your Voice Tour (Kennedy Center Any Given Child initiative reaching nearly 3,000 second graders across 51 Tulsa schools), Tulsa Youth Opera (tuition-free grades 3–12), Spotlight on Opera (summer intensive ages 15+), Aria Yoga, Opera Story Time at Tulsa Botanic Garden, Arias & Ales at local breweries, and the new Opera Echoes civic-conversation series — collectively reaching over 50,000 Tulsans annually across 12+ programs and supported by ~11 full-time staff.
Tulsa Opera firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tulsa Opera
- Legal name
- Tulsa Opera, Inc.
- Website
- https://tulsaopera.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tulsa Opera is a 77-year-old nonprofit professional opera company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, producing mainstage and chamber opera performances alongside education and community programs that reach over 50,000 Tulsans annually, including youth training, school outreach, and memory-care music therapy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tulsa Opera industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts / Opera
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)
Keywords
Where Tulsa Opera is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tulsa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Tulsa Opera business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to mainstage productions, chamber series, Spotlight on Opera performances, and other events. Includes single tickets, series packages, and season subscriptions.
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual supporters supporting artistic programming, education initiatives, and community programs.
- President's Council Memberships: Premium membership program offering intimate dinner concerts with featured performers, special seating, and exclusive events. Tiers include Impresario ($7,500), Dual/Single ($5,000/$2,500), and High Note Club for members under 40 ($3,000/$1,500).
- Corporate Sponsorships: Season sponsorships and event sponsorships from local businesses and foundations (e.g., Hardesty Family Foundation, Mrs. Annette Dunitz, Mr. & Mrs. Scott H. & Margee M. Filstrup, The Albert and Hete Barthelmes Foundation).
- Songs by Heart Program Fees: Memory care program offered at $125/session to senior living communities, with grants covering costs for many facilities.
- Venue Rentals: Rental income from Baden Hall (black-box theater seating up to 75) and Filstrup Hall (seating up to 25) at The Laven Sowell Opera Center for recitals, gatherings, meetings, and events.
- Book Tulsa Opera Performance Fees: Fees for booking professional singers and presenters for private events including corporate events, galas, fundraisers, birthdays, anniversaries, National Anthem performances, and master classes.
- Planned Giving: Legacy giving through estate planning, allowing donors to include Tulsa Opera in their will or trust.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Book Club Series individual sessions and full series |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Songs by Heart memory care program sessions |
| Subscription | Annual | President's Council Impresario Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | President's Council Dual or Single Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | President's Council High Note Club (under 40) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Circle Cinema opera film screenings with concert |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Spotlight on Opera summer training program |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels7 records
Tulsa Opera product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tulsa Opera produces and presents full-scale mainstage opera productions performed with the Tulsa Opera Orchestra, a chamber series (Voices After Dark), and an extensive portfolio of community and education programs including Tulsa Youth Opera (tuition-free training grades 3-12), Spotlight on Opera (summer intensive for ages 15+), Raise Your Voice Tour (school outreach), Songs by Heart (memory care programming), Aria Yoga, Opera Story Time, Arias & Ales, and Opera Echoes. The organization also generates revenue through venue rentals, Book Tulsa Opera private event bookings, and the Book Club Series companion programming.
Product overview
Tulsa Opera is a performing arts organization offering a diverse portfolio of opera productions and community programs. Its core offerings include mainstage opera productions performed with the Tulsa Opera Orchestra at venues like the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, alongside the chamber series Voices After Dark. The company provides extensive educational programming including Tulsa Youth Opera (tuition-free training for grades 3-12), Spotlight on Opera (summer intensive for aspiring artists aged 15+), and the Raise Your Voice Tour (school outreach serving thousands of students). Community engagement programs include Songs by Heart (therapeutic music for memory care), Aria Yoga (free outdoor yoga with opera music), Opera Story Time (children's literacy program), Arias & Ales (brewery performances), and Opera Echoes (community conversations). Supporting entities include the Filstrup Resident Artist Company, Tulsa Opera Chorus, Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale, and Tulsa Opera Orchestra. Additional services include Book Tulsa Opera (private event performers), Rent Our Space (venue rental), and the Book Club Series companion programming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mainstage Productions Full-scale opera productions performed with the Tulsa Opera Orchestra at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, featuring both classic and contemporary operas (e.g., Così fan tutte, Little Women) with chorus, soloists, and orchestra for adult opera audiences.
- Voices After Dark Chamber music series featuring the Filstrup Resident Artist Company in intimate settings, presenting curated opera selections and themed performances such as Love On Hold, Opera in the Key of Jazz, and The Impresario.
- Spotlight on Opera Five-week intensive summer training program for aspiring artists aged 15 and up, offering voice lessons, coachings, career consultations, and performance opportunities under the direction of Artistic Director Aaron Beck.
- Tulsa Youth Opera Tuition-free vocal training program for students in grades 3-12, providing weekly instruction in vocal technique, foreign language, acting, movement, and performance skills.
- Raise Your Voice Tour School outreach program bringing interactive opera performances to thousands of Oklahoma students, supporting educators with lesson plans and teaching materials; reaches nearly 3,000 second graders across 51 Tulsa schools.
- Songs by Heart Therapeutic music program for memory care communities featuring interactive sing-alongs led by professional singers using therapeutic techniques for Alzheimer's and dementia patients; $125 per 45-minute session.
- Aria Yoga Free community yoga classes held outdoors set to opera music at River Parks near 17th and Riverside Drive, held weekly from April through mid-October.
- Opera Story Time Children's program featuring opera artists sharing picture books and opera music at Tulsa Botanic Garden and other local venues to develop early literacy and music appreciation; held monthly.
- Arias & Ales Casual events at local craft breweries featuring performances by Filstrup Resident Artists, combining opera and musical theatre in an informal atmosphere.
- Opera Echoes Community conversation series partnering with local organizations such as ACTION Tulsa, YWCA, and the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art to explore intersections of opera and contemporary social issues.
- Filstrup Resident Artist Company Troupe of professional singers and pianists who serve as the face of Tulsa Opera in the community, engaging in performances, community events, and professional development.
- Tulsa Opera Orchestra Professional orchestra that partners with soloists, conductors, and the Tulsa Opera Chorus for mainstage productions and concerts.
- Tulsa Opera Chorus Integral chorus component working with international soloists, conductors, and directors, directed by Lyndon Meyer; includes professional, amateur, and student singers paid an honorarium for each production.
- Book Tulsa Opera Service providing professional singers and presenters for private events including corporate events, galas, fundraisers, parties, National Anthem performances, and master classes.
- Rent Our Space Venue rental service offering Baden Hall (black-box theater seating up to 75) and Filstrup Hall (seating up to 25) at the Laven Sowell Opera Center for recitals, gatherings, meetings, and celebrations.
- Book Club Series Literary companion series to season productions featuring moderated book discussions, refreshments, live musical performances, and included book copies; $54.26 per session or $130.23 for the full series.
- President's Council Memberships Premium membership program offering intimate dinner concerts with featured performers, special seating, and exclusive events. Tiers include Impresario ($7,500), Dual/Single ($5,000/$2,500), and High Note Club for members under 40 ($3,000/$1,500).
- Season Sponsorships Season and event sponsorships from local businesses and foundations including Hardesty Family Foundation, Mrs. Annette Dunitz, Mr. & Mrs. Scott H. & Margee M. Filstrup, and The Albert and Hete Barthelmes Foundation.
- Planned Giving Legacy giving program allowing donors to include Tulsa Opera in their will or trust.
- Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale Community chorus developed as a partnership with Signature Symphony at TCC, welcoming singers of all skill levels under the direction of Artistic Director Aaron Beck.
- Student Performances Free performance program for public, private, and homeschool groups with minimum 10 students, providing opera education opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Engagement and education programs reach over 50,000 Tulsans annually
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Tulsa Opera
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Tulsa Opera technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tulsa Opera partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- ACTION TulsacorePartner in Opera Echoes community conversation series for 2025-26 season. Collaborated on 'The Sound of Music: Who is My Neighbor?' discussion inspired by refugee themes from The Sound of Music.
- YWCAcorePartner in Opera Echoes community conversation series for 2025-26 season addressing contemporary social issues through opera.
- Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish ArtcoreHost venue and partner for Opera Echoes community conversations including 'The Sound of Music: Who is My Neighbor?' event addressing themes of refugees and community belonging.
- Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS)corePartnered for Opera Echoes program addressing domestic violence themes in The Tragedy of Carmen production, providing resources for interveners and survivors.
- Family Safety CentersupportingCollaborated with Tulsa Opera on community event addressing domestic violence awareness through The Tragedy of Carmen production.
- Songs by Heart FoundationcoreTulsa Opera partners with the Songs by Heart Foundation to bring therapeutic music programming to people living with Alzheimer's and dementia. This partnership, established in 2022, allows Tulsa Opera to deliver interactive sing-along sessions using professional singers trained in therapeutic techniques. The national foundation has expanded to over 50 memory care communities across the country.
- Signature Symphony at TCCcorePartnership between Tulsa Opera and Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College for the Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale. The chorale is developed as a joint initiative under the direction of Tulsa Opera Artistic Director Aaron Beck and performs at Signature Symphony events including Christmas in Tulsa and Carmina Burana.
- Tulsa Artist FellowshipsupportingPartnership for Art at the Opera program showcasing local visual artists and writers who attend performances and create original works inspired by their experiences.
- Kennedy Center's Any Given Child InitiativecoreTulsa Opera's Raise Your Voice Tour participates in this Kennedy Center initiative, bringing opera performances to second graders in Tulsa Public Schools, serving nearly 3,000 students annually across 51 schools.
- Tulsa Botanic GardensupportingVenue partner for Opera Story Time program, hosting monthly sessions for children and families featuring opera artists sharing picture books and music.
- River ParkssupportingLocation partner for Aria Yoga free community yoga classes held Tuesdays at River Parks near 17th and Riverside Drive, April through mid-October.
- Guild of Tulsa OperacoreLong-standing support organization for Tulsa Opera formed in 1955 to support through education and fundraising. Currently serving as 2025-26 Presenting Sponsor of the Filstrup Resident Artist Company.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tulsa Opera competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Houston Grand Opera: Top-tier US opera company with significantly larger budget, year-round programming, and a renowned education/outreach arm (HGOco). Sets the upper benchmark for what regional opera companies can scale into and competes for premium donor attention in the broader region.
- Dallas Opera: Larger Texas-based regional opera company with bigger budget, broader reach, and more international-touring focus. Operates in the same southern-central US market and competes for similar donor and corporate-sponsor pools.
Direct peers
- Arizona Opera: Regional opera company operating across multiple cities with comparable mainstage, education, and community programming. Similar scope of community-outreach and education initiatives.
- Minnesota Opera: Regional opera company with extensive education programs, community engagement initiatives, and new-work commissions. Larger than Tulsa Opera but operates a similar portfolio of mainstage, education, and community programs.
- Fort Worth Opera: Regional Texas-based opera company with similar mainstage programming, young-artist program (Fort Worth Opera Frontiers), and community engagement focus, serving a comparable regional market.
- Nashville Opera: Regional opera company with comparable scale, mainstage productions, education programs, and community outreach, operating in a mid-sized metro market with similar funding dynamics.
- Opera Theatre of Saint Louis: Mid-sized regional opera company with strong education and young-artist programs, festival-format programming, and comparable community-engagement mission. Operates on a similar scale and budget tier to Tulsa Opera.
- Lyric Opera of Oklahoma: Oklahoma's other professional opera company, based in Oklahoma City. Most directly comparable peer given similar state-level regional opera market, comparable programming scale, and overlapping community-education mission.
- Pittsburgh Opera: Mid-tier American regional opera company comparable in programming scope, including resident artist programs, education initiatives, and community partnerships, serving a similar-sized metro market.
Others
- Signature Symphony at TCC: Tulsa-based orchestral partner that jointly operates the Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale with Tulsa Opera. Directly comparable performing-arts nonprofit in the same local market and a current collaboration partner rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tulsa Opera social profiles
Digital presenceTulsa Opera financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tulsa Opera leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Tulsa Opera funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tulsa 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 Tulsa Opera
What does Tulsa Opera do?
Tulsa Opera produces and presents full-scale mainstage opera productions performed with the Tulsa Opera Orchestra, a chamber series (Voices After Dark), and an extensive portfolio of community and education programs including Tulsa Youth Opera (tuition-free training grades 3-12), Spotlight on Opera (summer intensive for ages 15+), Raise Your Voice Tour (school outreach), Songs by Heart (memory care programming), Aria Yoga, Opera Story Time, Arias & Ales, and Opera Echoes. The organization also generates revenue through venue rentals, Book Tulsa Opera private event bookings, and the Book Club Series companion programming.
Is Tulsa Opera a public or private company?
Tulsa Opera is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Tulsa Opera founded?
Tulsa Opera was founded in 1948. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tulsa Opera based?
Tulsa Opera is headquartered in Tulsa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tulsa Opera make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, president's Council Memberships, corporate Sponsorships, songs by Heart Program Fees, venue Rentals, book Tulsa Opera Performance Fees and planned Giving.
Who are Tulsa Opera's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Houston Grand Opera and Dallas Opera. Direct peers are Arizona Opera, Minnesota Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Lyric Opera of Oklahoma and Pittsburgh Opera. Signature Symphony at TCC is listed as an others.
Does Tulsa Opera have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tulsa Opera.
What industry is Tulsa Opera in?
Tulsa Opera's product category is Performing Arts / Opera. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAFAB, Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts, with a secondary code of EDAMAAAG, Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater). Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7900.