July 17 2009 Rogue Opera Receives $85,000 for years two and three of a three year capacity building grant from Meyer Memorial Trust

Medford, Oregon, July 16, 2009 – Rogue Opera has been awarded an additional $85,000 for years two and three of a three-year capacity building grant from Meyer Memorial Trust. Rogue Opera received $80,761 for year one in October, 2008 for a total grant award of $165,761. The initial grant led to the hiring of Sarah Koca, in October 2008, who was internal communication and events manager at Harry & David. Executive Director Lorrie Hall explains, “This is a most exciting time for the Rogue Opera. This generous grant has given us the funds needed to increase community knowledge about Rogue Opera by funding a Development and PR/Marketing Director as well as allowed the Board of Directors and staff to receive valuable training in the Benevon Model (formerly Raising More Money model) and ongoing board and staff organizational development with the help of a regular consultant. Hiring a full time Development and PR/Marketing Director has been instrumental in Rogue Opera’s continued success and expansion this past season. We had our largest private donations and ticket sales in our history this past Season and that is was in large part due to the addition of a full time Development and PR/Marketing Director.”  A team of eight board members, volunteers and staff will attend formal two-day Benevon fundraising training in Seattle in August. “Though Rogue Opera has been self-implementing this model very successfully for five years, having a team of eight attend the training will take us to the next level. This model shapes everything that we do at Rogue Opera but most importantly helps us implement a mission-based system for raising sustainable funding from individual private and corporate donors, building passionate and committed lifelong donors," said Lorrie Hall.

Rogue Opera was founded in 1976 by a group of musicians affiliated with Southern Oregon University. Their mission is to present high quality opera to regional audiences, to train young performers, and to direct its resources into the education and enrichment of our youth and community.  It is currently one of only three opera companies in Oregon and the only opera company between Eugene and Sacramento.  Since 1976, Rogue Opera has presented over 1,000 school and main stage performances, and added three singer training programs for professional singers and college students. After a lengthy review process, Rogue Opera was granted Professional Company Member Status in OPERA America in June of 2005.

Rogue Opera’s season activities include an “Opera in the Schools Program” for grades K-12 that reaches 20,000 students in over 100 or more shows in southern Oregon and northern California, and two “Main Stage Productions” in January 2010 (Gianni Schicchi by Puccini and Trouble in Tahiti by Bernstein) and May 2010 (The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart). A “Tickets for Youth Program” provides up to 250 free main stage and concert tickets a year for disadvantaged children and their families through their schools and community organizations.  Rogue Opera and Southern Oregon University (SOU) collaborate on three singer training programs (SOU provides rehearsal and performance space): The “Complete Singer Training Series”, “Art Song as Theater” and  “Behind the Scenes Youth Mentoring Program”, Participating SOU students may apply for college credit for the latter two.

Willene Gunn has been Rogue Opera's Artistic Director and Stage Director for the last three years. Ms. Gunn was the Director of Opera programs at San Francisco Conservatory for 30 years prior to moving to the Rogue Valley. Dr. David MacKenzie is the Education Director and co-creator of the Opera in the Schools program.

Meyer Memorial Trust was created by the personal philanthropy of Fred G. Meyer and is no way connected with Fred Meyer, Inc. You can reach the Rogue Opera at 541 608-6400 or on the web at www.voiceofopera.com.