The Final Bow on an Extraordinary Season

Published Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Dear Friends of Toledo Opera,

As we conclude Toledo Opera’s remarkable 67th Season, I want to take a moment to reflect with gratitude and pride on all that we accomplished together. Thanks to the extraordinary dedication of our artists, staff, volunteers, trustees, donors, and loyal audiences, this season was filled with artistic success, meaningful community engagement, and joyful celebration.

Our mainstage productions of Georges Bizet’s Carmen and Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love were enthusiastically received by audiences and critics alike. Just as importantly, ticket sales met our goals, reaffirming our community’s strong connection to live opera and the importance of the work we do together.

This season’s companion programming was stronger than ever, offering a dynamic mix of education, entertainment, and community collaboration. Our partnership with the Toledo Museum of Art on the Local Eyes tour proved to be a tremendous success, connecting visual art and opera in exciting new ways. Triviata Night continues to be a joyous and fun night to gather and raise funds for Toledo Opera. Meanwhile, the Guild’s Elixir Mixer and our spirited Elixir Top Shelf Cocktail Contest introduced Toledo Opera to many new friends and supporters throughout the region.

The Toledo Opera Guild underwent a remarkable transformation in the last year, embracing change with resilience, creativity, and renewed purpose. Through thoughtful leadership, a spirit of collaboration,  and the dedication of its members and volunteers, the Guild has evolved into an even stronger and more vibrant organization. Today, it stands as an essential partner in advancing the mission of Toledo Opera, expanding community engagement, strengthening educational initiatives, and creating meaningful opportunities for fellowship and philanthropy. The Guild’s renewed energy and commitment have not only preserved its proud legacy but positioned it for an exciting and impactful future.

Education and outreach remain at the heart of our mission. An Opera Is A Story once again introduced our youngest audiences, Pre-K students, to the rhythms, music, and storytelling of opera. Our signature education program, Opera On Wheels, brought the delightful original opera The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish to nearly 60 schools and more than 20,000 students in grades K–6. Through music and storytelling, students explored themes of teamwork and environmental awareness while experiencing the magic of live performance firsthand.

Even with this spring’s soggy and cold weather, Opera ’Round Town continued to delight audiences throughout our outstanding metropark system with free concerts that brought beautiful music directly into our community. Our newest offering, Opera Cabaret, thrills the performers (resident artists and chorus members) and audience members alike.

This season also gave us the opportunity to honor the spirit of America 250 with a meaningful week-long celebration. We began with a day of service at Forest Cemetery, where 55 dedicated volunteers marked and cleaned veterans’ graves. The celebration continued with a free concert honoring veterans at the Conn Weisenberger VFW Post and concluded with our Opera Gala Route 250. Held at the extraordinary Millbury Classic Car and Truck Museum, surrounded by more than 100 beautifully preserved vehicles, the gala was a joyful and memorable finale to our season, and it even ended with a bang!

None of this would have been possible without the incredible teamwork of the Toledo Opera family and the unwavering generosity of our audience members, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners. Your belief in the power of opera allows us not only to produce outstanding performances but also to educate, inspire, and serve our community in meaningful ways.

Thank you for making our 67th Season such a success. We look forward to welcoming you back for another exciting year of music, storytelling, and shared experiences. You won’t want to miss Aida in October and H.M.S. Pinafore in February!

Now is the perfect time to reserve your seats for these unforgettable productions, become a member of the Toledo Opera Guild, or join us at one of our many special events throughout the season. Your continued support and participation help keep opera thriving in our community, and we can’t wait to share another extraordinary year with you.

With gratitude,

James M. Norman
General Director
Toledo Opera

P.S. New tax laws for 2026 make charitable giving even more affordable for those who itemize. To learn more, please visit toledoopera.org.