Ten years ago, we had a vision for a truly unique cultural experience. We pictured thousands of music lovers from up and down the East Coast coming to the Triangle to hear opera’s greatest performers and most talented living composers. We saw breathtaking productions of works written for the operatic stage in English, sophisticated and authentic but performed in a casual and accessible atmosphere. And we imagined a creative spirit that would advance both our community and the state of American opera.

In short, we had a vision for what would become the Long Leaf Opera Festival.

Last year, our dream became a reality. Our very first Long Leaf Opera Festival was an incredible success, with more than 4,000 attendees! We couldn’t have done it without the generosity of opera lovers like you. Thank you!

However, the dream isn’t over. We want this year’s Long Leaf Opera Festival to be even better, and we need your help to reach our goal of $150,000 to make it happen.

Opera is by far the most expensive of all the performing arts. Vocalists, costumes, sets, technical crews, directors and an orchestra combine for a high cost. We’ve done our best to keep our cost-per-attendee at $55.00---significantly lower than other opera companies!

We use penny wisely, but ticket revenues just aren’t enough. In fact, tickets sales only cover about one-tenth of the cost. For Long Leaf to raise the %150,000 we require for this year’s festival we need the help and generous donors like you, who can make the difference between a successful festival--or not having one at all.

Donating to Long Leaf Opera is easy. If you are able to send $100 or more now, please do so. Don’t forget to ask your employer about matching contributions for non-profits---that might double your gift! However you choose to do it, please donate today. Every dollar puts us that much closer to a successful 2008 Long Leaf Opera Festival! Scroll down now for on-line donating.

Thank you in advance for your help. We know that you support Long Leaf in part because we’re the only opera company in the country that does what we do. And we know you believe, as we do, that Long Leaf is making a huge contribution not just to the arts, but also to our way of life in the Triangle and beyond. We hope you’ll join us on opening night for the first of many exciting performances.

Long Leaf needs to raise $150,000 in the coming months to put on this year’s festival. Your gift of just $100 or more will help us:

•    Bring in some of the best leading singers to ever appear in North Carolina. Elizabeth Futral, Christine Weidinger, Barbara DeMaio Caprilli and Malcolm Smith are just a few of the performers we’ve already booked.

•    Showcase the work of composers whose work you just can’t hear anywhere else nearby, like Ricky Ian Gordon and William Bolcom.

•    Stage innovative operas such as “Regina,” “Medusa,” “The Medium” and “Orpheus and Euridice.”

•    Show the world that sophisticated opera need not be stuffy, celebrate and promote American opera, and bring this important experience to a new generation of music lovers.

Other than the unique performances themselves, why support Long Leaf?

•    Long Leaf is part of the community. Keeping our costs in check allows us to keep ticket process affordable so that everyone can enjoy opera. We also invite disadvantaged groups to dress rehearsals free of charge.

•    Long Leaf supports education.
We bring opera to the schools with programs that let students write and produce their own opera, which is then performed at the festival. We give any money collected at the performance back to the school.

•    Long Leaf promotes diversity.
The recognition and celebration of cultural diversity has been part of our mission from the beginning. We are proud of our legacy of color-blind casting.

•    Long Leaf is a champion for American opera, an art form that deserves a larger place on the national stage.

•    Long Leaf is fiscally responsible.
Your tax-deductible donation to us will not be wasted. We work hard to make sure our expenses are among the lowest of any professional opera company---almost 50 percent lower than the national average.

Enjoy the fantastic benefits of joining our Director's Circle:

SEASON SPONSOR ($5,000 and up)

This package will be tailored to your unique wishes. Depending upon your level of sponsorship, we will add your company logo to our program, offer a full-page advertisement, provide a Long Leaf vocalist and accompanist to your private event such as a dinner party or holiday celebration and more. At a minimum, your sponsorship includes:

• Program acknowledgment
  

• Donor's only newsletter
  

• Limited edition T-shirt

• Six invitations to the Festival Opening Night Gala Reception on June 13

• Six invitations to a dress rehearsal