Butler Opera Center

A woman on the couch is serenaded by a man down on knee

Butler Opera Center

Welcome!

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.

an abstract graphic reads "The 2024-25 Season Is Here"

2024-2025 Season

A doll-like blonde woman wearing a red dress stands in a spotlight on a dimly lit street.

Butler Opera Center

Event Status
Scheduled
-

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

A singer in a pink gown and a pianist perform in front of a backdrop of daisies.

 The Shards of Love

Event Status
Scheduled
-

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...

Three women made of colorful geometric shapes hold scores and practice for their upcoming audition.

Butler Opera Center

Event Status
Scheduled
-

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 
 

Blue images of ghosts in front of a yellow castle.

Butler Opera Center

Event Status
Scheduled
to

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

A black and white image of a glamorous woman with a red dress and hairpiece holds a fan.

Butler Opera Center

Event Status
Scheduled
to

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.

A singer in formal dress performs in front of a live orchestra

Baritone Seunghee Lee at Butler Opera International

a performer sits, smiling into a mirror lit with globe lights while a hairdresser curls her hair before a show

Mezzo-soprano Jill Morgan in the dressing room before a performance

conductor James Conlon works with a student during a master class

Soprano Aarianna Longino during a masterclass with Maestro James Conlon

two students sing while their professor accompanies them at the piano in a teaching studio.

Soprano Chantal Freeman and Tenor Taiwon Kim in a coaching with Dr. Sanikidze

A singer performs on the Bates Recital Hall Stage.

Soprano Yuxin Zhou in recital

a student operates stage rigging back stage in a black box theater.

Directing student Matthew Schulz behind the scenes during a performance