About Us
Merola's Mission
To define the future of opera. The Merola Opera Program is an internationally respected model for building strong careers in opera, with a proven balance of training, performance, and individualized support. Merola trains and develops the finest young opera singers, pianist/coaches, and stage directors and invites passionate supporters to be part of the journey.
Merola's Statement of Inclusion
The Merola Opera Program is committed to ensuring that the next generation of opera talent has equitable access to the training, career guidance, and financial support that are the core of our program—regardless of identity, race and ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status.
We actively work to ensure that diverse cultures, voices, experiences, and perspectives are reflected in the Program’s artistic leadership, including faculty and professional mentors, and organizational leadership, including our staff and board of directors.
Merola strives to create a welcoming environment for both long-time and new supporters and audiences, inviting members of the Bay Area community and beyond to experience our young artists in diverse programming, including standard repertoire as well as repertoire by underrepresented librettists and composers.
Conductor Gaetano Merola (right) with the cast of La bohème, including Ezio Pinza (left) and Licia Albanese (center), 1944
Merola in Brief
The epicenter of opera training
One of the oldest and most prestigious opera training programs in the world, Merola was founded in 1957, and named in honor of San Francisco Opera's first general director, Gaetano Merola. Merola operates in close artistic collaboration with San Francisco Opera, but is a financially independent nonprofit organization governed by its own Board of Directors. Merola is responsible for its own fundraising, primarily from loyal members and foundations.
The Merola Opera Program is widely regarded as the foremost opera training program for aspiring singers, coaches, accompanists, and stage directors. Merola nurtures the opera stars of tomorrow and offers outreach through educational programs for students and the general public.
Merola alumni include Leona Mitchell, Anna Netrebko, Ailyn Pérez, Patricia Racette, Nadine Sierra, Karen Slack, Elza van den Heever, Carol Vaness, Deborah Voigt, Zheng Cao, Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, Dolora Zajick, Brian Jagde, Stuart Skelton, Noah Stewart, Rolando Villazón, Thomas Hampson, Quinn Kelsey, Lucas Meachem, Patrick Summers. and numerous other opera luminaries.
Our Secret to 6 Decades of Success
International opera artists mentoring young professionals
Career building advanced training and performance opportunities
Merola offers a unique combination of training and performance opportunities during the twelve week all-expenses paid summer program. This training program includes fully staged operas with orchestra, a scenes concert, and the Merola Grand Finale Concert, which concludes the summer. These experiences in front of a live audience put into practice the depth and richness of the lessons learned over the program.
Merola participants receive matchless advanced training in musical style and interpretation, role preparation, movement and acting, accompaniment and conducting, languages and diction, breath work, and professional development.
Our Renowned Faculty
Our renowned faculty, many of whom return year after year to impart their invaluable wisdom to the next generation, has included Stephen Blier, Régine Crespin, Alan Darling, Jane Eaglen, Hans Hotter, Martin Katz, Warren Jones, Lotfi Mansouri, Malcolm Martineau, James Morris, Leontyne Price, Donald Runnicles, Graziella Sciutti, Elisabeth Söderström, Patrick Summers, Dame Joan Sutherland, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, and Carol Vaness.
Continuing support for career development
All artists are eligible for Career Grants (up to $6,000 in a given year and up to $12,000 total) for five years after their Merola summer. These grants, for everything from audition travel to headshots to vocal coaching, help the young artists transition to the professional opera world.
Some artists participate in the program for a second summer and a select few become Adler Fellows with San Francisco Opera. Merola artists graduate from the program with a clearer idea of what their next steps will be musically, artistically, and technically as they pursue their careers in opera.
