About SSOCC
In 2008 under the founding vision of Marvin Lynn, Chicago operatic artists, the South Shore Cultural Center and its Advisory Council combined to create the South Shore Opera Company of Chicago. Thanks to our anchor partnership with the Chicago Park District, anchor sponsorship by Northern Trust, collaboration with several artistic organizations, and the generosity of our donors, South Shore Opera has presented two or more free concerts yearly in the magnificent, historic South Shore Cultural Center to enthusiastic overflow audiences! In just a short time we have brought stunning productions of a highly desired but missing art form, by a corps of established and emerging artists to the South Side of Chicago, in a worthy, historic venue, South Shore Cultural Center.

Most of our productions have focused on scenes from classic operas but we have also brought scenes and songs from musical theater and from African American composers and traditions. Our second, autumn 2010 benefit brings a single opera to life, the 20th century icon Porgy and Bess, in its 75th year.

The company has three main goals:

• To make opera and musical theater more accessible to diverse Chicago audiences on the Southside and elsewhere;
• To enhance the lives of youth by offering music education and outreach programs; and
• To provide greater opportunities for diverse artists to perform in professional productions.

The company will bring the best and brightest operatic talent to the South Shore community while providing opportunities for local artists to perform. We are committed to serving Southside youth who have too few opportunities to nurture their talents and abilities.

South Shore Opera Company of Chicago is an independent 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation. We act as an arts partner with the South Shore Cultural Center of the Chicago Park District and the Advisory Council, South Shore Cultural Center.