Join the Guild

• Contact Managing Vice President of Membership, Dana Kane, 937/433-0392
• Or contact the Guild at 937/228-0662 ext. 3090
• Click here to print a copy of our Membership Application.

DID YOU KNOW…

A snapshot of how the membership of Opera Guild of Dayton fulfilled the Guild’s mission statement of encouraging and promoting opera in the Greater Dayton area and supporting Dayton Opera through fundraising, marketing and educational activities in 2010-11 is highlighted below.

Financial contributions of $136,850 to Dayton Opera:

• Series sponsorship of $30,000 for the production of Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment
• Annual operating support of $35,000
• Final payment of $70,000 toward total pledge of $250,000 for the Gold Standard Campaign
• Mead Theatre Student Dress Rehearsal $1,850

In-kind donations to Dayton Opera:

• Provided 415 nights of home hospitality valued at $84 per night to cast members, for a savings of $35,000
• Assisted in mailing Star Gala invitations, saving $250
• Additional support was provided by the Guild in the form of volunteer ushers for two student dress rehearsals, star transportation and hundreds of sandwiches, cookies and beverages to cast members at dress rehearsals. The value of food and volunteer hours…priceless!

Educational programs:

• Annual Vocal Competitions The Guild awarded a total of $6,350 to outstanding vocalists:  $1,350 to three high school students and $5,000 to six college students.  The high school awards were underwritten this year by the Norma J. Ross Youth Foundation, honoring the late Norma Ross’ dedication to opera and the youth of our region.
• Children’s Traveling Opera CTO presented 19 performances of the Guild’s shortened version of Carmen to more than 2,000 students in grades three through six across the Miami Valley. Thirty seven dedicated volunteers, three soloists and two pianists kept this national award-winning program running.
• Opera Marionettes Our endearing puppets introduced opera to more than 1,500 students in preschool through second grade in 30 performances. Sixteen dedicated volunteers donated many hours to this national award-winning troupe. The Marionettes also showed up at a variety of social functions around town.
• Student Dress Rehearsal The Guild hosted nearly 1,000 students, junior high through college, for the dress rehearsal of Porgy and Bess at the Schuster Center.

Fundraising and Special Events:

• Opera Ball 2011 Come Fly with Me! was chaired by Kelly Haluschak with Honorary Chairs Amanda Wright Lane and her brother, Stephen Wright. The Commander Aero Hangar at Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport was transformed for 203 guests who enjoyed dancing to swing music, flying the Wright B Flyer simulator and bidding on outstanding live and silent auction items.  The net proceeds were $68,423.
• BRAVO! 2010 The event, chaired by Anita Delaney, brought 280 guests to a Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show by ELAN at Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center netting approximately $15.462.
• Gourmet on the GO! Chair Dolores Anderson revived this series of gourmet events graciously hosted by Don Schweller; Marsha Enterline, Nancy Farkas and Linda Menz; Mike Houser and Steve Wargo; Roger and Lois Sutherland; and Dale and Karen Medford. The series earned $4,535.
• Membership Luncheon Rita Boord and LuAnn Smith chaired the luncheon. The 81 Guild members and friends were entertained by Dayton Opera’s Artists in Residence at Moraine Country Club.
• New Member Reception This event was held at the home of Penny Wolff on June 2.
• Stars of Tomorrow This annual luncheon at Moraine Country Club preceded the Tri-State College Vocal Competition.
• Garden Party 2011 This lovely summer Garden Party was chaired by Kimberly Robinson and held in the gardens of Drs. Charles and Mary Bane in Oakwood.
• Boutique Co-chairs Nancy Farkas and Liz Hoffman were supported by a dedicated crew of volunteer sales staff.  The Boutique was in the lobby of the Schuster Center before and during intermissions of every opera performance. Items were also available for sale at the Membership Luncheon and BRAVO! The net proceeds were $1,884.
• Annual Meeting Following a delicious brunch at the Dayton Country Club on June 8, the attendees enjoyed a performance by Nathan Price, one of our past High School Vocal Competition winners. The business meeting at noon commenced with a presentation of the Guild’s Friend of the Year Award to the Lutheran Church of our Savior and accepted by the Rev. Gary Eichorn. This year’s BRAVO! Award recipient was Rosalie Jennings. President Laura Fike highlighted a year of many successes with a PowerPoint presentation.

Marketing and Communications:

• Opera Notes Four full color issues were published of the Guild’s newsletter and distributed to Guild members, Dayton Opera season subscribers, schools and libraries.
• e-Notes Guild members were kept informed on up to the minute advisories on events.  To date there are 180 subscribers.
• Operaguildofdayton.org Our web page averages 1,000+ views per month with Opera Ball and Vocal Competitions as the primary draws. Additional pages were added with more on-line payment options.
• Advertising There were ads in every Dayton Opera playbill, some featuring “We are a members of the Opera Guild because…” plus special events and educational programs. Ads also appeared in Living Arts, published by Culture Works and Dayton History’s Concours d’Elegance.
• Promotional Events The Guild marketed membership and events at an ice cream social in August, 2010. Dinner with the Arts at the Women’s Club in September and the Crossroads of Opportunity at Town and Country Shopping Center in May, 2011, rounded out our calendar.

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