DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Opera Reading Project is dedicated to creating equitable and inclusive opportunities in our company that reflect the diversity of Minnesota. We affirm applicants from all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Opera Reading Project stands strong in its commitment to equity for all applicants, regardless of race, gender, religion, age, marital or veteran’s status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.
IDEA Fellowship: 2021-2025
The initial campaign funding for the IDEA Fellowship has been fully utilized following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. As of the 2025-26 season, ORP is working on a full review of the IDEA Program and its activities over the course of its four-season duration, with the goal of assessing its overall impact and evaluating its component parts. The results of this review will be used to guide improvements to our future IDEA programming and support of MN-based underrepresented communities in opera.
Since 2018 Opera Reading Project has been committed to helping Minnesota's classical singers prepare, polish and perform opera roles. In 2020 we expanded our mission to foster change in the art form and bring more Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Artistry to opera. Thanks to the generosity of our campaign donors, ORP was able to fund the IDEA Singer Fellowship, a season-long program intended to strengthen opportunities for Minnesota-based singers of color underrepresented in the professional opera world including but not limited to Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian and/or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander communities. In 2023-24 IDEA was additionally expanded to applicants from these priority populations: Minnesota-based singers who identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or Minnesota-based singers with a disability.
The IDEA Fellowship served as a career development program intended to build upon and supplement a singer’s resume and training. Singer applicants were typically training and working towards an active performing career in opera. ORP’s IDEA Fellowship was designed as a safe environment that encourages the uniqueness of underrepresented voices and supports these artists in their pursuit to learn and create freely. The IDEA fellow was selected through a two-part process: in the first round, a panel of artists from underrepresented groups will select the finalists and in the second round, a culminating decision will be made in consultation between ORP administration and the panel. Components of the IDEA Fellowship included tuition coverage for role readings, a professionally produced audition video recording, free attendance for the fellow and one guest to all ORP fee-based events, a social media and/or marketing consultation, and two private coachings with ORP’s music director. For the 2024-25 season, in order to better support the multifaceted nature of a singing career and the specific interests and goals of our fellows, and to facilitate our fellows in taking on a leadership aspect to their career, the IDEA Fellowship additionally included $750 of reimbursement funds to be used by the fellow in support of a project or career activity of their choice over the course of the season.
PREVIOUS IDEA FELLOWS
FELIX AGUILAR TOMLINSON, 2024-25
MOMOKO TANNO, SOPRANO, 2023-24
MARK BILLY, BARITONE, 2022-23
CORISSA BUSSIAN, SOPRANO, 2021-22
Learn about ORP’s IDEA Fellowship. Video features performances by former IDEA Fellows Mark Billy and Corissa Bussian.
The IDEA Fellowship was made possible with the generous support of Sara and Jock Donaldson and the following campaign donors. Thank you!