What Opera Colorado does

Opera Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit opera company headquartered at the Opera Center in Englewood, Colorado, with its mainstage performances presented at the 2,200-seat Ellie Caulkins Opera House inside the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Founded in 1980 and launched with its inaugural season in 1983 (featuring Plácido Domingo), the company produces two major mainstage operas per season, runs the nationally recognized eight-month Artist in Residence Program that auditions more than 400 emerging artists annually, and operates an education and community portfolio (Opera on Tour, Student Dress Rehearsals, Backstage Pass, Arias & Ensembles, Custom Workshops, and downloadable Guidebooks) that reaches 45,000+ students and adults each year across Colorado. Core supporting technology is limited to digital ticketing infrastructure (dynamic QR-code wallet, ticket sharing, Apple/Google Wallet integration) and the seat-back Figaro Subtitle System delivering English and Spanish captions, with no disclosed AI/ML or proprietary platform components.

The company monetizes through a hybrid nonprofit model. Individual donations are the largest single revenue source, supplemented by tiered season subscriptions ($78.64-$430.64), single-ticket and group sales (20% discount for groups of 10+), Inside OC subscriptions for ages 21-45, corporate sponsorships ($15K orchestra through $100K title), education program fees ($10-$25 individual programs, $150/hour workshops, $900+ for Opera on Tour), gift certificates, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Colorado Creative Industries, SCFD, and the Genesee Mountain Foundation. Volunteer labor is a non-cash input contributing to operations. Customer concentration is dispersed across individual patrons, schools, and corporate sponsors, with no enterprise revenue dependencies. The company is governed by a Board of Directors (Chair: Richard Koseff) and led by newly appointed Ellie Caulkins Artistic Director & CEO Barbara Lynne Jamison (August 2025), succeeding Greg Carpenter, alongside Music Director Ari Pelto.

Name

Opera Colorado

Legal name

Opera Colorado

Website

https://operacolorado.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Opera Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit opera company founded in 1980 in Denver, producing two mainstage productions per season at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, running the nationally recognized Artist in Residence Program for emerging singers, and delivering statewide education programs reaching 45,000+ students and adults annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Opera

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Opera performances
• Performing arts
• Music education programs
• Season subscriptions
• Community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Englewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue through mainstage subscriptions (2026-27 packages with Macbeth and The School for Lovers), single tickets, Inside OC subscriptions for young professionals, and group sales. Includes discounts of 20% for subscribers, 15% for military, and 20% for groups of 10+.
2. Season Subscriptions: Annual subscription packages ranging from $106.80 to $430.64 depending on seating tier and performance date, including Premiere, Preferred, Select, Standard, and Access tiers.
3. Individual Giving/Donations: Largest single source of annual revenue as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Individual gifts support artistic excellence, audience development, and Artist in Residence Program training.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships including Title Sponsorships at $100,000, Production Sponsorships at $50,000, Artist Sponsorships at $25,000, and Orchestra Sponsorships at $15,000, plus Artist in Residence program sponsorships.
5. Education Programs: Fees for Opera on Tour bookings (starting at $900 with discounts available), Student Dress Rehearsals ($12-$25), Backstage Pass ($10-$15), Arias & Ensembles (starting at $600), and Custom Workshops ($150 per hour).
6. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates available in any dollar amount, redeemable for tickets or season subscriptions, sold online or by phone.
7. Volunteer Program: Volunteers provide operational support in exchange for benefits including free dress rehearsal tickets and subscription discounts after 30 hours volunteered.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Opera Colorado produces and presents full-scale opera productions at the 2,200-seat Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, typically staging two major mainstage productions per season featuring world-class singers, full orchestras, and professional production elements. The company also operates an eight-month Artist in Residence Program that trains emerging opera artists, a portfolio of touring and in-school education programs reaching 45,000+ students annually, and multiple ticketing products including season subscriptions, single tickets, group sales, and gift certificates.

Product overview

Opera Colorado is a nonprofit opera company offering a portfolio of mainstage productions and education programs. The main product is full-scale opera productions at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, complemented by the nationally recognized Artist in Residence Program that trains emerging artists. Education offerings include Opera on Tour (touring productions for schools), Student Dress Rehearsals, Backstage Pass (interactive career field trips), Arias & Ensembles (customizable performances), Custom Workshops, and free downloadable Guidebooks. Ticketing products include Season Subscriptions with subscriber benefits, Inside OC (young patron program ages 21-45), Group Sales packages, Gift Certificates, and a Digital Ticketing Wallet with QR-based entry. The 2026-27 Season features Verdi's Macbeth, The Snowy Day, and Mozart's The School for Lovers/Così fan tutte.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inside OC: Opera Colorado's group for ages 21-45, offering Friday night performances with exclusive benefits and community events for young arts enthusiasts.

Products and services

• Mainstage Opera Productions Full-scale opera productions performed at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, typically two major productions per season featuring world-class singers, orchestras, and production elements.
• Season Subscriptions Full-season ticket packages offering 20% savings off single-ticket prices, priority seating, fee-free exchanges, and access to subscriber-exclusive events and benefits across five tiers (Premiere, Preferred, Select, Standard, Access) ranging $106.80-$430.64.
• Inside OC

Quantifiable outcome

• 55,000+ patrons served annually across all performances and programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Central City OperacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Co-production partnership with Central City Opera for Earth to Kenzie touring production. The work is performed by Opera Colorado's Resident Artists in schools and community spaces across the region.
• Houston Grand OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal co-commissioner of Earth to Kenzie with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Seattle Opera. Work premiered at Houston Grand Opera in December 2021.
• Lyric Opera of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal co-commissioner of Earth to Kenzie with Houston Grand Opera and Seattle Opera. Commissioned for young audiences addressing themes of housing insecurity and resilience.
• Seattle OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal co-commissioner of Earth to Kenzie with Houston Grand Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
• Denver Arts & VenuescoreOthersOwner and operator of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and Denver Performing Arts Complex. Opera Colorado is one of four resident companies (along with Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony, and Denver Center for Performing Arts).
• Rocky Mountain Public MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for digital programming during COVID-19 pandemic, producing original operas for broadcast and streaming when theaters were closed.
• Nocturne Jazz & Supper ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Sip & Sing event - an intimate evening combining live performances by Opera Colorado Resident Artists with multi-course dining and wine pairing at Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club.
• OPERA AmericaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOpera Passport program provides Opera Colorado subscribers access to discounts at nearly 100 opera companies across the United States and Canada.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seattle Opera: Major U.S. opera company and original co-commissioner of Earth to Kenzie with Opera Colorado. Operates a similar resident-company venue model with mainstage seasons, education programming, and community outreach.
• Minnesota Opera: Mid-sized U.S. regional opera company producing a multi-production mainstage season with new works, community programming, and artist training. Operates a comparable nonprofit structure to Opera Colorado.
• Central City Opera: Colorado-based opera company and co-producer of Earth to Kenzie with Opera Colorado. Operates a summer festival model with touring productions for schools, sharing both the Colorado market and touring-education focus.
• Boston Lyric Opera: Regional U.S. opera company producing mainstage seasons in a mid-sized metropolitan market. Comparable in scale, nonprofit structure, and education/community outreach programming.
• Utah Opera: Regional U.S. opera company based in Salt Lake City producing mainstage seasons with resident artist training and education programs. Closely comparable in scale and operating model to Opera Colorado.
• Santa Fe Opera: Renowned regional U.S. opera company in New Mexico known for new works and American premieres. Comparable nonprofit opera model with mainstage festival productions, education programs, and an international artist roster.
• Houston Grand Opera: Major U.S. opera company and original co-commissioner of Earth to Kenzie alongside Opera Colorado. Operates a comparable nonprofit model with mainstage productions, education/outreach programs, and resident artist training.
• Lyric Opera of Chicago: Large U.S. opera company and original co-commissioner of Earth to Kenzie with Opera Colorado. Comparable in producing full-scale opera with orchestra, education programs, and world premieres recorded on labels like Naxos.

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Opera: The largest U.S. opera company, operating a year-round season with global simulcasts and an extensive education division. Operates the same core business of nonprofit opera production but at a fundamentally different scale and reach than Opera Colorado.
• San Francisco Opera: One of the largest U.S. opera companies, producing a longer season with broader repertoire and international co-productions. Comparable in nonprofit opera production model but at materially greater scale than Opera Colorado.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/operacolorado
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OperaColorado
• Facebookfacebook.com/operacolorado
• Instagraminstagram.com/operacolorado

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 Colorado