Butler Opera Center
Butler Opera Center
The Butler Opera Center ranks among the top opera programs in the United States. Under the direction of Tamar Sanikidze, the program prepares emerging vocalists, vocal coaches and opera stage directors for careers in music. Each year, while pursuing academic classes, graduate students participate in at least three fully-produced mainstage operas accompanied by a full orchestra. With a curriculum based in both the traditional operatic repertory and progressive contemporary works, the program attracts students and faculty from a diverse background. Enrollment for each degree is limited to ensure personalized, intensive performance and training opportunities for each student.
2024-2025 Season
Butler Opera Center
Music by
Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by
Francesco Maria Piave
Director
Aimée Minjeong Kim
Conductor
Douglas Kinney Frost
Director, Butler Opera Center
Tamar Sanikidze
Set & Light Design
Austin Shirley
Costume Design
Aaron Kubacak
Stage Manager
Lisa Goering
Choreographer
Eboni Adams
Intimacy Director
Andy Grapko
The Shards of Love
Music Director & Producer
Tamar Sanikidze
Stage Director
Aimée Minjeong Kim
Soprano
Kara Covey
Yuxin Liu
Baritone
Connor Behrmann
Tenor
Taiwon Kim
Joseph Oparamanuikef
Works by Beethoven, Mussorgsky, Larsen, Poulenc & more...
Butler Opera Center
Audition Fever
Music by
Tzu-Chin Hsu
Libretto by
Camden Boyle
Conductor
Tzu Kuang Tan
Director
Yingmeige Xiong
L’enfant et les sortilèges
Music by
Maurice Ravel
Libretto by
Colette
Conductor
Douglas Kinney Frost
Directors
Beatrice Huang
Garnett Bruce
Butler Opera Center
Music by
John Corigliano
Libretto by
William M. Hoffman
Director
Madison Jackson
Conductor
Douglas Kinney Frost
Director, Butler Opera Center
Tamar Sanikidze
Orchestra
New Music Ensemble
Scenic Design
Zach Young
Light Design
Gavin Strawnato
Costume Design
Aaron Kubacak
Integrated Media Design
Nitsan Scharf
Intimacy Director
Andy Grapko
Butler Opera Center
Music by
W.A. Mozart
Libretto by
Lorenzo Da Ponte
after Beaumarchais
Director
Garnett Bruce
Conductor
Douglas Kinney Frost
Director, Butler Opera Center
Tamar Sanikdize
Scenic Design
Daniel Ruiz Bustos
Light Design
KP Pierce
Costume Design
Aaron Kubacak
Intimacy Director
Andy Grapko
BOC In Action
Watch
Follow Helen Sohyun Park, a second year DMA student in opera directing, as she directs Georges Bizet's "Carmen." Under the guidance of Butler Opera Center's outstanding faculty, students at the doctoral level have the opportunity to direct their own major productions, providing them with invaluable first-hand experience.
Watch
We go behind the scenes to see how the Butler Opera Center's resident designer, Aaron Kubacak, creates costumes for shows. He designed all costumes for a recent production of "Elixir of Love," and will do the same for all of BOC's productions this season. Working closely with the show's director, Kubacak begins with research and drawings, then brings them to life.
Baritone Seunghee Lee at Butler Opera International
Mezzo-soprano Jill Morgan in the dressing room before a performance
Soprano Aarianna Longino during a masterclass with Maestro James Conlon
Soprano Chantal Freeman and Tenor Taiwon Kim in a coaching with Dr. Sanikidze
Soprano Yuxin Zhou in recital
Directing student Matthew Schulz behind the scenes during a performance