Mission Statement

The mission of the San José Opera Guild, an independent Guild, is to promote the operatic arts and to provide both volunteer and financial support to opera.

Who are we?

Established in 1947, the San José Opera Guild was formed to promote the appreciation and enjoyment of the operatic arts and to provide both volunteer and financial support to opera. The Guild incorporated in September 1958 as a non-profit corporation under the laws of California. The original purpose of the Guild has not changed over the years.

Members of the San José Opera Guild express their enthusiam for opera in a variety of ways. Financial support of promising young artists in the community is a high Guild priority. We help sponsor singers each year in the Merola Opera Program, for a listing of the Merolini the Guild has sponsored since 1985 click here. With Opera San José we sponsor returning OSJ alumni as guest artists, we also assist other Bay Area opera companies, such as West Bay Opera.

The Guild contributes to the support of San Francisco's Opera Together program which brings opera to the classrooms of Bay Area schools. Opera San Josè’s school outreach provides entrance to dress rehearsals to hundreds of children each year. In addition, the Guild contributes to Starting Arts, which promotes quality arts education to all students in Bay Area schools.

During the opera season, the Guild co-sponsors, with the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center (APJCC) and the San Francisco Opera Guild (SFOG), lectures and previews at the APJCC to coincide with the San Francisco Opera's yearly offerings. The Fall Lecture Series also presents previews from Opera San José and West Bay Opera.

In addition, the Guild publishes a quarterly newsletter containing information on opera-related events throughout the Bay Area.

A Volunteer Organization

The success of the San José Opera Guild is the result of the hard work of many volunteers, led by SJOG's Current and Past Presidents.

Fall Lecture Series

The Guild provides a series of lectures for most of the San Francisco Opera productions. Previews by Opera San José and West Bay Opera, featuring singers, are presented as part of this lecture series. Given at the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center in Los Gatos, the series is free to Guild and APJCC members, with a $10 charge to non-members.

Summer Lecture Series

A continuation of the Fall Lecture Series, these lectures also take place at the APJCC, in advance of the operas being performed at the San Francisco Opera company’s summer season.

Other Activities

Outreach

The Guild supports San Francisco Opera's Opera à la Carte program, which provides an opera preview for school children in the community. Please contact the Guild if you know of a school that would like to participate. The Guild also supports Opera San José's outreach program which provides free student matinees to their operas, drawing an annual average of 25,000 students throughout Santa Clara County.