Opera America Announces NATIONAL OPERA WEEK: October 28 – November 6, 2011

Dozens of opera companies, schools and organizations in 29 states across the nation will celebrate the third NATIONAL OPERA WEEK from October 28 - November 6, 2011 by offering free, accessible events to their communities. National Opera Week is coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

National Opera Week celebrates the vibrancy of opera in America today and brings the inventiveness and excitement of opera to a national audience. The strength and diversity of established opera companies, community opera ensembles and opera training programs across the United States will be on display through free, dynamic activities designed to engage novices, opera lovers and everyone in between. National Opera Week activities include flash opera events, open houses, online activities, lecture/demonstrations and community performances.

Launching National Opera Week will be the NEA Opera Honors award ceremony on Thursday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C. For the first time, this event will be available worldwide through a live webcast that also will be archived after the event and can be accessed at neaoperahonors.org. The NEA Opera Honors is the nation's highest award in opera and recognizes outstanding artists for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the excellence and perpetuation of opera in America. This year's honorees are stage designer John Conklin, general director Speight Jenkins, mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens and composer Robert Ward. The October 27 award ceremony and live webcast will feature video tributes, guest performances from artists such as tenor Lawrence Brownlee and mezzo-soprano Heather Johnson and an onstage conversation with the honorees. For additional information, visit neaoperahonors.org.

"From behind-the-scenes tours to enlightening performance talks to Twitter contests and more, there is something for everyone during National Opera Week," states Marc A. Scorca, president & CEO of OPERA America. "National Opera Week draws attention to the creativity and dynamism that propels our field today. We are proud to highlight this depth of opera activity across the United States."

Noteworthy National Opera Week events include a hands-on opera workshop for senior citizens by the University of Alabama, an opera scavenger hunt by Chicago Opera Theater and tours of the Utah Opera production studios.

For a full listing of National Opera Week activities, please visit www.operaamerica.org/operaweek. On Twitter, join @OperaAmerica in the National Opera Week conversation with #OperaWeek. On Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/nationaloperaweek.

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