Opera on the James is an organization of music lovers in Central Virginia who seek to further the appreciation and enjoyment of opera through community education, promotion of the art form, and support of opera singers and musicians.

The organization was formed in January 2005, when a dozen or so people in Lynchburg began meeting monthly to discuss how opera could be more actively promoted and performed in Central Virginia. Volunteer board members and advisors do much of the work; the only ongoing paid staff members are the artistic director and administrator, both of whom are part-time.

OUR VISION
Our audience will understand and appreciate the powerful capacity of opera to engage our senses and emotions, and to transform our lives.

OUR MISSION
Opera on the James will bring our audiences the intensely emotional experience of world class live opera. Performance and education will deliver the full power of this rich, collaborative art form to inspire and connect us.

MAJOR OPERA COMPANY GOALS

1. To create an opera experience that commands national attention for its artistic quality
2. To provide quality arts education for the region’s schools and colleges
3. To collaborate creatively with regional businesses and arts organizations
4. To provide national recognition for Lynchburg as a cultural destination
5. To become a cultural institution which the citizens of the region will proudly support