From TOLEDO OPERA
Toledo Opera will hold its fourth annual OPERAtunity Day on Thursday, Nov. 19. This is a community-wide day of giving in support of the company’s mission to enrich lives in the region through the power of opera. The celebration will culminate that evening with Triviata Night, which will take place at Toledo Spirits, 1301 N. Summit St., Toledo, and will feature general-knowledge trivia with an operatic twist.
Toledo Opera’s impact extends beyond the stage. Of every dollar the organization spends, $0.68 is invested in the people who make its work possible, while $0.65 goes back into the local economy. Through performances, arts education, and community partnerships, Toledo Opera creates opportunities for artists and creative professionals, supports local businesses, and contributes to a stronger, more vibrant Toledo. OPERAtunity Day celebrates this impact and invites the community to help sustain the people, programs, and partnerships that make the arts work for Toledo.
Leah Whitaker, Toledo Opera’s development officer, emphasized that the role that community support plays in sustaining the company’s programming throughout the year.
“OPERAtunity Day comes at a critical moment in Toledo Opera’s season. With our fall production, ‘Aida,’ behind us and February’s ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’ on the horizon, the generosity we receive now determines what we can accomplish next,” Whitaker said. “This is more than a day of giving. It’s the financial momentum that carries our entire season forward.”
Triviata Night will offer an evening of friendly competition, community spirit, and entertainment, hosted by Ben Ganger, a “Jeopardy!” champion and former Toledo Opera chorister. A Bowling Green State University alumnus with a master’s degree in Vocal Performance, Ganger is a regional opera performer based in Goshen, Indiana, and brings both professional performance experience and firsthand trivia credentials to the evening. An assortment of prizes will be awarded throughout the competition. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and trivia will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person or $100 for teams of four or more.
Toledo Opera Artistic Director Kevin Bylsma invites the community to join in the festivities and has emphasized that OPERAtunity Day is also an opportunity to celebrate the people who make Toledo Opera possible.
“Without you, your love for opera, and your generosity, Toledo Opera would not exist,” Bylsma said. “You, our community of impassioned opera lovers, inspire us and feed our desire to present the greatest operas ever written. And, if you think that opera lovers don’t know how to party, join us for a rip-roaring good time at our yearly Triviata Night at Toledo Spirits for fun, fellowship, and maybe even an opera aria or two.”
Donations can be made throughout the day at https://ci.ovationtix.com/37031/store/donations. Tickets for Triviata Night are available at toledoopera.org or by calling 419-255-7464. To learn more about OPERAtunity Day and/or Triviata Night, email Leah Whitaker at lwhitaker@toledoopera.org or visit toledoopera.org.
