Amarillo Opera
Amarillo Opera is a nonprofit opera company founded in 1988 that produces professional mainstage opera performances and educational outreach programs, including the Fairytale Operas school program and the Amarillo Opera Institute, serving audiences, students, and regional singers throughout the Texas Panhandle.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersAmarillo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Amarillo Opera does
Amarillo Opera is a nonprofit performing arts organization founded in April 1988 by Mila Gibson, Opera Workshop and Vocal Professor at Amarillo College. Headquartered in Amarillo, Texas, the organization produces professional operatic performances and educational outreach programs for the Texas Panhandle region. Its current portfolio includes four mainstage productions in the 2026-2027 season (The Pirates of Penzance, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Sips Savors and Songs Concert, and Il Tabarro), supplemented by the Fairytale Operas school program, the Amarillo Opera Institute summer intensive, and the Amarillo Opera Ensemble chorus.
The organization's product model blends national-level professional singers, conductors, and directors with a local professional orchestra, chorus, and production staff. Educational outreach is delivered through partnerships with WOWW (Windows on a Wider World), Amarillo Independent School District, Texas Tech University, and Amarillo College, reaching over 5,000 elementary students cumulatively since 2022 and 600+ K-5 students across 8 schools in Spring 2026. The Amarillo Opera Institute, launched in 2024, extends the talent pipeline to high school students.
Revenue is generated through a mix of ticket sales for mainstage productions, donations and contributions from individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundations (Brumley, Payne Foundation, Amarillo Area Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts), gala fundraisers (Under the Big Top Gala), and merchandise sales through an online store. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by a small staff of 1-10, including General and Artistic Director Mary Jane Johnson (appointed 2018), Director of Finance and Grants Katrina Perales, and Director of Education and Community Engagement Macie Lippke. Distribution occurs through online ticketing, venue box offices at locations like the Globe News Center, and community outreach programs.
Amarillo Opera firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Amarillo Opera
- Legal name
- Amarillo Opera
- Website
- https://amarilloopera.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Amarillo Opera is a nonprofit opera company founded in 1988 that produces professional mainstage opera performances and educational outreach programs, including the Fairytale Operas school program and the Amarillo Opera Institute, serving audiences, students, and regional singers throughout the Texas Panhandle.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Amarillo Opera industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts (Opera)
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)
Keywords
Where Amarillo Opera is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amarillo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Amarillo Opera business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from sales of tickets to mainstage opera productions including Pagliacci, The Pirates of Penzance, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Il Tabarro, and other performances.
- Donations and Contributions: Charitable donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundation support including Brumley, Payne Foundation, Amarillo Area Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts.
- Gala Fundraisers: Special fundraising events such as the Under the Big Top Gala held in conjunction with performances to generate additional contributed revenue.
- Merchandise Sales: Online store sales of opera-related merchandise through the organization's e-commerce platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | General admission and student tickets available |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Amarillo Opera product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Amarillo Opera produces professional operatic performances for live audiences in the Texas Panhandle, featuring a season of mainstage productions, a season subscription series, gala fundraisers, and accompanying community outreach programs including Fairytale Operas for elementary students, the Amarillo Opera Institute summer program for high school students, and the Amarillo Opera Ensemble chorus. Operations are funded through ticket sales, donations, sponsorships, gala events, and merchandise.
Product overview
Amarillo Opera is a nonprofit performing arts organization offering a unified portfolio of live opera productions and educational outreach programs. The core offering consists of mainstage professional opera productions featuring local and nationally-hired talent, complemented by educational initiatives including the Fairytale Operas school program, Amarillo Opera Institute summer program, Amarillo College Opera Workshop partnership, and Amarillo Opera Ensemble. The organization serves the Texas Panhandle through seasonal subscription series, special events, and community engagement activities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fairytale Operas: Elementary school opera performances introducing classical opera music to K-5 students across the Texas Panhandle, partnered with WOWW and Amarillo Independent School District
- Amarillo Opera Institute
- Amarillo Opera Ensemble
- Amarillo College Opera Workshop
Products and services
- Mainstage Productions Full-scale professional opera performances featuring professional singers, conductors, and directors alongside a local professional orchestra, chorus, and production staff, performed at venues such as Globe News Center and Polk St. Methodist Church for adult audiences and opera enthusiasts in the Texas Panhandle.
- 2026-2027 Season Subscription Series Season subscription package offering access to multiple opera productions and a gala fundraiser for the 2026-2027 season, available to individual subscribers in the Texas Panhandle.
- Fairytale Operas Educational opera performances presented to elementary schools across the Texas Panhandle in partnership with WOWW and Amarillo ISD, introducing classical opera music to K-5 students through accessible fairytale-themed productions.
- Amarillo Opera Institute Intensive summer program for high school students featuring daily voice lessons, coachings, movement classes, community performances, formal showcases, and masterclasses with Teaching Artists.
- Amarillo Opera Ensemble Premier opera chorus for the Texas Panhandle, open to regional singers of all levels, providing opportunities for outreach activities, comprimario roles, and small roles in mainstage productions.
- Under the Big Top Gala Annual gala fundraiser featuring aria performances and community celebration, held in connection with mainstage productions to generate contributed revenue.
- Opera Merchandise Opera-related merchandise sold through the organization's online e-commerce store at amarilloopera.org/store.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 5,000 elementary school students introduced to classical opera music
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Amarillo Opera
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Amarillo Opera technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Amarillo Opera partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- WOWW (Windows on a Wider World)corePartnership initiated in January 2022 to present Fairytale Opera performances to elementary schools throughout the Texas Panhandle. WOWW serves as the organizational partner for this educational outreach initiative reaching thousands of students.
- Amarillo Independent School DistrictcoreCollaboration with Amarillo ISD to present Fairytale Opera performances to elementary school students across the district. Part of the educational outreach program serving K-5 students.
- Texas Tech UniversitycoreMulti-faceted partnership including Fairytale Opera collaboration where TTU students spend a week in Amarillo bringing opera to elementary students, and TTU's Opera Certificate program where students cover roles and gain outreach experience with Amarillo Opera.
- Amarillo CollegecoreUnique partnership providing Amarillo College students opportunities to participate in mainstage productions and educational outreach programs, along with masterclasses from visiting artists performing in mainstage productions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Amarillo Opera competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Metropolitan Opera: The largest U.S. opera company and global industry benchmark. Indirectly comparable through shared repertoire and as the source of broadcast/streaming content that shapes amateur opera demand.
- Houston Grand Opera: Major U.S. opera company and one of the largest in Texas. Provides industry benchmarks for production scale, fundraising, and educational programming that Amarillo Opera aspires to at a regional level.
- Dallas Opera: Larger Texas opera company with extensive mainstage seasons and broader regional draw. Functions as an aspirational incumbent and occasional talent pipeline for Amarillo Opera.
Direct peers
- Opera San Antonio: Regional Texas opera company presenting mainstage productions and community programs. Directly comparable as a non-metropolitan Texas opera organization serving a similar civic function.
- Fort Worth Opera: Regional Texas opera company producing mainstage performances and educational outreach. Comparable scale and mission to Amarillo Opera, though operating in the larger DFW market.
- Tulsa Opera: Mid-size regional opera company in a non-major U.S. metro with educational outreach and a mixed professional/local production model analogous to Amarillo Opera.
- Charlottesville Opera: Small regional U.S. opera company with comparable staff scale, educational outreach focus, and reliance on donations and ticket sales in a smaller metro area.
- Wichita Grand Opera: Small regional opera company in the central U.S. with a comparable staff size, limited mainstage schedule, and similar reliance on community donations and educational outreach.
- Amarillo Symphony: Same-city performing arts nonprofit serving the Texas Panhandle. Comparable nonprofit structure, donor base, educational outreach, and venue partnerships (Globe News Center).
- Nashville Opera: Regional opera company producing mainstage works and community/education programs in a non-traditional opera market, with a similar nonprofit, multi-revenue structure.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Amarillo Opera social profiles
Digital presenceAmarillo Opera financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Amarillo Opera leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Amarillo Opera funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Amarillo 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 Amarillo Opera
What does Amarillo Opera do?
Amarillo Opera produces professional operatic performances for live audiences in the Texas Panhandle, featuring a season of mainstage productions, a season subscription series, gala fundraisers, and accompanying community outreach programs including Fairytale Operas for elementary students, the Amarillo Opera Institute summer program for high school students, and the Amarillo Opera Ensemble chorus. Operations are funded through ticket sales, donations, sponsorships, gala events, and merchandise.
Is Amarillo Opera a public or private company?
Amarillo Opera is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Amarillo Opera founded?
Amarillo Opera was founded in 1988. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Amarillo Opera based?
Amarillo Opera is headquartered in Amarillo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Amarillo Opera make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions, gala Fundraisers and merchandise Sales.
Who are Amarillo Opera's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Dallas Opera. Direct peers are Opera San Antonio, Fort Worth Opera, Tulsa Opera, Charlottesville Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Amarillo Symphony and Nashville Opera.
Does Amarillo Opera have an API?
No public API is recorded for Amarillo Opera.
What industry is Amarillo Opera in?
Amarillo Opera's product category is Performing Arts (Opera). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAF, Opera & Operetta, with a secondary code of MPAGABAC, Touring Theatre Productions. Its NAICS code is 71113 and its SIC code is 7900.