Opera Carolina

Opera Carolina is a professional opera company in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1948 by the Charlotte Music Club as the Charlotte Opera Association, the company was renamed Opera Carolina after its 1986 merger with North Carolina Opera which combined the main stage, educational, and touring operations of the two companies.^[1] Its past leadership has included Artistic Directors Richard Marshall and Charles Rosekrans, and General Director James Wright. From 2000 to 2023, Opera Carolina has been under the direction of General Director and Principal Conductor James Meena. July 1, 2024 Dr. Shantè Williams is appointed new General Director. In May 2025 Stefano Vignati is appointed Music Director & Principal Conductor. Claudio Ferri is the Artistic Director and Deputy General Director.

Opera Carolina

Opera Carolina logo
Predecessor	Charlotte Opera Association
Established	1948
Merger of	North Carolina Opera (1986)
Type	Non-profit
Location	Charlotte, North Carolina
Services	Professional opera company
Membership	Opera America, AFRP
General Director	Dr. Shantè Williams
Artistic Director & Deputy General Director	Claudio Ferri
Music Director & Principal Conductor	Stefano Vignati
Artistic & Programs planning manager	Gail Garvin
Budget	$2.9 million
Staff	8
Volunteers	The Opera Carolina Chorus, Opera Guild of Charlotte, Bravo! Young Professionals, Supernumeraries, and others
Website	Official website

Opera Carolina is a member of Opera America^[2] and is supported by the Arts & Science Council,^[3] the National Endowment for the Arts, and the North Carolina Arts Council.^[4] Opera Carolina presents three main stage productions, featuring the Opera Carolina Chorus and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, in the Belk Theater in the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Opera Carolina also presented an annual concert, Art • Poetry • Music, at the Knight Theater. Opera Carolina's season begins in October and runs until mid April.

Opera Carolina has remained solvent during the recession, which began in 2008, while other opera companies of similar size have closed their doors. The company has achieved this through discontinuing the Love Notes concert, reducing the season to three main productions, reduction in staff, and increased frugality in production costs. Also, Opera Carolina enjoys sustained corporate and private charitable support.^{[citation needed]}

Opera Carolina was among the earliest performing arts companies to give live on-stage performances after closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5]