OperaCréole

Celebrate our 15th Anniversary with us!! 

The only Mother-Daughter Black-Owned Opera Company in the U.S!

PRESERVE NEW ORLEANS' BLACK CLASSICAL HISTORY

WE NEED YOU!

OperaCréole is an award-winning, research-based opera company dedicated to presenting lost, suppressed, or rarely performed opera and classical works by composers of African descent. We also specialize in 19th-century New Orleans free composers of color, Creole history, and language. 

See our most recent national coverage:

• The award-winning documentary around the New Orleans performance of our four-state world premiere of Dédé's Morgiane: "What We Can Know About Edmond and Basile" by Sascha Just. You'll see me in the short trailer on the page. 
• Our Cash App Communities feature (Even Odd Studios). The voice-over is me, too.  It was shown in movie theaters during trailers before Wicked. The YouTube page has gotten over 3.7 million views.
• WGBH Rooted, Boston (excerpt)
• Deutschlandfunk Radio Germany
• Black Catholic Messenger  Nation-wide.

Our research and recent World Premiere of Dédé's Morgiane, has been acknowledged by national publications, including NBC Nightly News, CNN, National Public Radio, The New York Times, Opera America, Black Enterprises, Country Roads, OperaWire, and more.

ALL donations are appreciated

Special Giving Levels with perks.

•  $15,000. Director's Angel**** Private lecture/concert, or non-singing role in our next production, Listing on our website and in our Anthology of Arias and Art Songs, 10 tickets to our La Féte Creole, VIP Backstage and Seating at events, Membership in the Friends of Dédé Circle

•  $1,500. x 2 ($3,000) Co-Founders Champion*** Listing on our website and in our Anthology of Arias and Art Songs, 4 tickets to our La Fête Creole, Membership in Friends of Dédé Circle, VIP Seating at events.   

• $1,500.  Aria Avenger** Listing in our Anthology of Arias and Art Songs, 2 free copies, or 2 Tickets to La Féte Creole, membership in Friends of Dédé Circle

• $500.-$1,000 Composers' Circle** Sponsorship of La Fête Creole. 2 free tickets., Program listing, membership in Friends of Dédé Circle

•  $300 Scholastic Patron* Listing in the program for the production of Lucien Lambert's opera Le Spahi, Member of The Friends of Dédé Circle, Listing in Anthology of Arias and Art Songs, 1 free copy

• $150.00 one-time Scholastic Sponsor* Listing in our Anthology of Arias and Art Songs, 1 free copy

Recent Awards:

-Arts Impact Award: Lyrica Baroque                                                                                                                                                                       -Jack and Jill of the Year Award: New Orleans Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated
-Leadership in the Arts Award from D.C-Based Opera Lafayette- Givonna Joseph
-New Orleans Tourism and Fund Honoree- Aria Mason
-Torchbearers Award: N.O. Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women
Gambit affiliated "Classical Arts Awards" in 2018, 2019, and 2023
-Opera Advocacy Award from the Coalition of African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA) 2020                                                  -Who's Who in America 2025- Givonna Joseph

OperaCreole has brought this music and history to school groups, universities, national conferences, and to the community, where people don't expect to see opera singers.
We have incorporated children in some of our productions and created our own opera celebrating the heroes of the Reconstruction period in New Orleans.

Our impact is in changing the narrative of the contributions of people of African descent to classical and opera!

Testimonials

"OperaCréole brilliantly reclaims the almost forgotten works of nineteenth-century composers of African descent, sharing their artistry with local, national, and international audiences. I thank them for bringing a hidden history to life in a way no other medium can touch. Their stories of Black resistance and achievement help us imagine and shape a more just future. Brava!"

- Mark Charles Roudané,
author of The New Orleans Tribune: An Introduction to America's First Black Daily Newspaper