Stay up to date with our latest news!

July 1st, 2024​

• We have successfully completed our Summer Premiere, La Traviata, with our largest audience​ ever! We “sold out” on our free reservations for the Sunday matinee performance. These​ operas take a lot of hard work, so our board of directors is going on break through July. We’ll​ be meeting again in August for the hotwash of the 2024 Summer Premiere, final planning of our​ 2024 Fall and Winter Premieres, vote on our programming for 2025, and do an annual bylaws​ review. ​
  

May 17th, 2024​

• The Gem City Breakfast Kiwanis generously awarded Muddy River Opera $1000 in support of​ our Children’s Opera! The Gem City Breakfast Kiwanis held their annual Grant Day Ceremon​y at the Kiwanis Shelter in Lincoln Park. Pat Bauer, Grant Day Committee Chair, presented​ awards to 34 recipients from Quincy and the nearby area. The grants totaled $24,724.90. This is​ their largest grant day total to date. All grants were to assist programs or events that support​ children or young adults in our area. Their contribution helps keep our Children’s Opera free!​
  

May 13th, 2024​

• We’ve gone Platinum! Muddy River Opera has earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency through​ Candid’s GuideStar. This means that we’ve shown a commitment to transparency by providing​ key information about our mission, programs, finances, and governance practices.​
  

April 19th, 2024​

• We just completed our 2024 Spring Premiere, our children’s opera! This year was Davies​’ Pinocchio. Quincy Public Elementary Schools and Canton R-V Elementary School were part of​ the grand tour and Luther Memorial Church was a gracious host for our public performance.​ We had over 60 people in attendance for the public performance. Our total reach, including​ the schools, was roughly 1500 kids!!! View media here. Be sure to view the Facebook comments​ for children’s drawings of Pinocchio and the Lady in Blue!​
  

March 30th, 2024 ​

• In preparation for our 2024 Summer Premiere: La Traviata, we have hired Penelope Shumat​e (soprano) as Violetta, Ganson Salmon (tenor) as Alfredo, Steven Soebbing (baritone) as Giorgio,​ and Lisa Blake (mezzo soprano) as Flora and as Annina. Amy Stollberg will be our marvelous​ Chorus Master and Hedy Rothfuss will be our talented pianist! Additional comprimarios are​ being recruited, along with additional stage staff. ​
  

December 17th, 2023​

• Our Winter Premiere was Handel’s Messiah. This oratorio was performed at the beautiful Luther​ Memorial Church at 12th and Jersey in Quincy. Following the sing-along, a free soup supper​ was held in the church basement. We had over 80 singers in attendance and raised $477 in​ donations for the opera!​
  

December 14th, 2023​

• Muddy River Opera is proud to accept HK Giltner and Julie Regner onto our board of​ directors! ​
  

August 14th, 2023​

• Muddy River Opera is proud to accept Dr. David Galant, DMA onto our board of directors! Dr.​ David Michael Galant is currently the Director of Orchestra at the Eastern Kentucky University​ School of Music. His duties include conducting the Eastern Kentucky University Symphony​ Orchestra, Musical Theatre Pit Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, and teaching both undergraduate​ and graduate conducting.​
• The Quincy Breakfast Kiwanis awarded a grant for $1000 to help us fund our 2024 Children’s​ Opera: Pinocchio! ​
• The Community Foundation awarded a grant for $4000 to help us fund our 2024 Children’s​ Opera: Pinocchio!​

May 2nd, 2023​

• We’ve completed our 2023 Children’s Opera: Little Red Has a Most Unusual Day! It was​ fantastic to see so many faces at our public performance, as well as touring at Baldwin, Isles,​ and Lincoln-Douglas schools!​
  

February 23rd, 2023​

• Muddy River Opera is proud to accept Rachel Hansen, JD onto our board of directors! Hansen​ is an attorney and teaches business and criminal law courses to undergraduate and graduate​-level students at Quincy University, John Wood Community College, University of Louisville and​ Oklahoma State University. She volunteers in the Quincy Public Schools and is trustee of the​ Quincy Public Schools Foundation.​