Welcome to the
Merola Opera Program
Est. 1957
Welcome to the online home of the Merola Opera Program! I invite you to explore the sixty-plus years of Merola’s history defining the future of opera. We are unique among opera programs in that our primary focus is on training and developing the finest young opera singers, coaches, and stage directors from around the world. Our professional level opera productions and concerts are all a part of the world-class training process. Whether you are an artist seeking to apply to the program or an opera lover looking to go behind-the-scenes and join our vibrant community of supporters, you will find a wealth of resources here.
Hope to see you at Merola!
Jean Kellogg
Executive Director of the Merola Opera Program
Merola Artists Emergency Fund
Help recent Merola Artists continue to make music during the COVID-19 Crisis.
Sheri Greenawald to retire at close of 2020 concluding a distinguished 18-year tenure as Artistic Director of Merola Opera Program and Director of San Francisco Opera Center.
Latest News
If I Were You (World Premiere) Trailer
What would you sell your soul for? Merola Opera Program presents the world premiere of If I Were You by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer. Performances are August 1-6, at the Herbst Theatre. Catch two Merola casts for these world premiere performances.
Merola by the numbers
Each summer, approximately 23 singers, 5 apprentice coaches and 1 apprentice stage director are selected from nearly one thousand international applicants to participate in the Merola Opera Program. During their 12 weeks at Merola, these talented young artists receive life-changing instruction from a faculty of opera masters and hone their talents in professional quality productions – all entirely free of charge.
1,000
International Applicants
650
Auditions each Year
29
Artists each Summer
62
Years of Training
Support the Stars of Tomorrow
Join a vibrant community of opera lovers devoted to nurturing tomorrow's finest operatic talent.
