What Opera San José does

Opera San José is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) resident opera company founded in 1984 by mezzo-soprano Irene Dalis and headquartered in San Jose, California. It is the only year-round resident opera company in the United States, maintaining a standing roster of Artists-in-Residence (currently including Maria Brea, Courtney Miller, David Morgans, Phillip Lopez, Micah Perry, Melissa Sondhi, and others) who perform across four mainstage productions per season at the historic, restored 1,100-seat California Theatre. Beyond the mainstage, the company operates The Singers' Academy (one-week teen summer program), an Education & Community Outreach arm (2,350+ K-12 performances and ~3,400 community performances over 36 years), and a production-rental business renting sets, costumes, and shop facilities to outside opera and theatre companies.

The core technical infrastructure centers on the Fred Heiman Digital Media Studio, an in-house digital capture and broadcast facility launched July 11, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, which enables digital distribution of fully produced operas and recitals to global audiences beyond the physical theatre. The company owns two 24,000 sq. ft. operations facilities (scene shop and costume shop) plus 14 units of free artist housing across two apartment buildings, all acquired without debt. Supporting technology includes a Cloud4Wi patron engagement platform (achieving 51% participation) and standard digital channels (website, email, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram).

Revenue is generated through a tiered subscription model (five zones from $147 to $747 for the four-show season, billed annually), individual ticket sales ($10 student tickets, 10% group discounts for 10+), contributed income (donations, stock gifts, IRA charitable rollovers, Irene Dalis Legacy Society planned gifts, Donor Advised Funds, corporate matching gifts), tuition from The Singers' Academy ($875/student), and licensing-style revenue from production rentals. Customer segments span individual opera patrons in the Bay Area and globally, corporate and individual donors/sponsors (including Applied Materials), K-12 schools, teen singers, and artists seeking career-launching mainstage role debuts. Leadership is currently General Director & CEO Shawna Lucey and Music Director Joseph Marcheso. The company has never incurred debt and has received nine consecutive 4-star Charity Navigator ratings for fiscal management.

Name

Opera San José

Legal name

Opera San José

Website

https://operasj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Opera San José is a nonprofit resident opera company in Silicon Valley that produces four annual mainstage productions at the historic California Theatre, runs an Artists-in-Residence incubator, broadcasts via its Heiman Digital Media Studio, and operates education and community outreach programs for Bay Area audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts - Opera

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Opera performances
• Mainstage opera productions
• Artist residency programs
• Digital opera broadcasts
• Opera education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Mainstage Ticket Sales (Subscription & Individual): Revenue from the sale of subscription packages and individual performance tickets for four annual mainstage productions at the California Theatre. Subscription packages are sold in five seating zones ranging from $147 (Zone 5) to $747 (Zone 1) for the four-show season. Individual tickets are sold with student tickets available for $10.
2. Individual Performance Tickets: Individual ticket sales for mainstage productions. Student tickets priced at $10 available 90 minutes before curtain. Group discounts of 10% for parties of 10 or more.
3. Donations & Charitable Contributions: The company relies heavily on contributed income including one-time donations, stock gifts, IRA charitable rollovers (for donors 70.5+), membership in the Irene Dalis Legacy Society (planned giving), and Donor Advised Fund contributions. Corporate matching gift programs are also promoted.
4. Production Rentals: Opera San José rents its productions (sets, costumes, and technical equipment) to outside companies. The company also offers its costume shop and scene shop facilities for rental.
5. Singers' Academy Tuition: The Singers' Academy, a one-week summer program for teen singers ages 13-18, charges $875 tuition per student. Scholarships are available for qualifying students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Opera San José produces four annual mainstage opera productions at San Jose's 1,100-seat California Theatre, featuring a year-round resident company of artists. The company also broadcasts fully staged operas through its Heiman Digital Media Studio, runs a tuition-based Singers' Academy for teen singers, operates an Artists-in-Residence incubator program, and provides K-12 educational performances and community outreach throughout the Bay Area.

Product overview

Opera San José operates as a unified performing arts organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on its resident opera company model. The core offerings include four annual Mainstage Productions at the California Theatre and the Heiman Digital Media Studio for digital broadcasting. Supporting programs include The Singers' Academy (youth education), the Artists in Residence Program (talent development), Production Shops (technical services), and Education & Community Outreach initiatives. These programs work together to fulfill the company's mission of producing world-class opera performances while developing emerging talent and serving the broader Silicon Valley community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Four professional opera productions annually performed at San Jose's historic 1,100-seat California Theatre, featuring resident company artists in fully staged operatic performances spanning the classical and contemporary repertoire (e.g., Don Giovanni, Carmen, Fiddler on the Roof, Doctor Atomic for the 2026-2027 season).
• Heiman Digital Media Studio A cutting-edge digital media studio that produces and broadcasts fully staged operas and recitals for remote viewing, enabling Opera San José to reach thousands of viewers globally beyond the physical theatre.
• The Singers' Academy A dynamic one-week summer program for teen singers ages 13-18 offering private voice lessons, vocal technique coaching, scene work, movement training, and audition skills, culminating in a final recital performance. Tuition is $875 per student with scholarships available for qualifying students.
• Artists in Residence Program A comprehensive artist development incubator providing emerging opera singers with mentorship, mainstage performance opportunities, role debuts, and community engagement experiences to build professional portfolios. Serves as the artistic core of the company's productions.
• Production Shops (Costume and Scene Shop Rentals) In-house costume and scene shops providing costume construction, set building, prop creation, and scenic painting services for Opera San José productions, with rental availability for outside opera and theatre companies needing sets, costumes, and technical equipment.
• Education & Community Outreach Extensive educational programming including K-12 school-day performances, community-wide concerts, and free outdoor events serving both public audiences and private organizations throughout the Bay Area. Over 2,350 K-12 educational performances and nearly 3,400 community programming performances delivered over 36 years.

Quantifiable outcome

• 51% patron engagement participation rate via Cloud4Wi digital engagement platform
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Applied MaterialsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerApplied Materials partnered with Opera San José and the San Jose Sports Authority to sponsor a free outdoor Rose Garden concert celebrating the World Cup. Music director Joseph Marcheso led the orchestra with featured performers. Applied Materials' sponsorship demonstrates corporate arts support in Silicon Valley.
• San Jose Sports AuthorityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe San Jose Sports Authority co-presented a free outdoor Rose Garden concert with Opera San José and Applied Materials, celebrating the World Cup. The partnership extends opera into the community sports and entertainment calendar.
• Music Theatre International (MTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpera San José presents Fiddler on the Roof through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI (www.mtishows.com). This licensing arrangement enables the company to produce this acclaimed musical as part of its mainstage season.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• LA Opera: Major West Coast opera company with a large mainstage season at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and a Domo young-artist program. Comparable in artist-development model and West Coast positioning to OSJ.
• Houston Grand Opera: Renowned US opera company with one of the largest repertories, an HGO Studio young-artist program, and extensive community/education programming. Comparable in mission and program structure to OSJ but at significantly greater scale.
• Lyric Opera of Chicago: One of the largest US opera companies with an extensive mainstage season, Ryan Opera Center young-artist program, and significant educational outreach. Comparable in mission and program structure to OSJ but at materially greater scale and budget.

Direct peers

• Minnesota Opera: Regional US opera company producing a mainstage season in Minneapolis with a young-artist training program and education initiatives. Comparable in scale and mission to OSJ.
• Seattle Opera: Mid-sized regional US opera company presenting a mainstage season in the Pacific Northwest, with a young-artist program and educational outreach. Comparable in size, regional orientation, and program mix to OSJ.
• San Francisco Opera: Major US opera company also serving the Bay Area with a full mainstage season at the War Memorial Opera House. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping regional audience, similar programming mix, and shared donor/corporate base with OSJ.
• Central City Opera: Historic summer-festival US opera company producing a short mainstage season in Colorado with young-artist programming. Comparable in scale and artist-development orientation to OSJ.
• Florentine Opera Company: Regional US opera company based in Milwaukee producing a mainstage season with educational outreach. Comparable in size, programming approach, and regional positioning to OSJ.
• Pittsburgh Opera: Mid-sized US regional opera company with a multi-production mainstage season, artist training, and education/community programming. Closely comparable in scale and program mix to OSJ.

Others

• Music Theatre International: Licensing organization that supplies authorized performance materials to opera and theatre companies; an existing licensing partner of OSJ for Fiddler on the Roof. Comparable as an ecosystem participant enabling OSJ's programming rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/operasanjose
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFgZzAspvjWfJv7rWDjMGbQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/operasanjose
• Instagraminstagram.com/operasanjose

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Opera San José