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.
2025-26 Season
Butler Opera Center
Music by
Jules Massenet
Libretto by
Henri Cain
Director
Garnett Bruce
Conductor
Douglas Kinney Frost
Director, Producer, Principal Coach
Tamar Sanikdize
Butler Opera Center
World Premiere
Music by
Michael Robert Smith
Libretto by
Demian Chavez Galvan
Director
Madison Jackson
Conductor
Douglas Kinney Frost
Director, Producer, Principal Coach
Tamar Sanikdize
Butler Opera Center
Music director & harpsichord
Tamar Sanikidze
Piano
Vakhtang Zaalishvili
Alcina – Xinshu Li
Morgana – Yuxin Liu
Oronte – Kayla Suter
Ruggiero – Wen Liu
Bradamante – Ziqi Wang
Melissa – Joohyun Kim
Butler Opera Center
Music by
Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by
Giuseppe Adami & Giovacchino Forzano
Stage Directors
Il Tabarro
Yingmeige Xiong
Suor Angelica
Madison Jackson
Gianni Schicchi
Beatrice Huang
Conductor
Douglas Kinney Frost
Director, Producer, Principal Coach
Tamar Sanikdize
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