SOUTH SHORE OPERA COMPANY OF CHICAGO

Mission

Our mission is to make exceptional opera accessible throughout the Chicago community while providing greater opportunities for professional artists of color, especially local black artists, in thrilling performances of classic and contemporary operas.  We will present works by composers from the operatic canon as well as spotlight music by important black composers whose work merits greater attention.  We will inspire and enhance the lives of youth by offering free educational programs and performances of the highest caliber.  

Vision

To be a springboard for new works by composers of color with a strong emphasis on opportunities for black composers, conductors, librettists and directors. To be recognized globally for our artistic excellence and to enrich, inspire, and innovate our audiences and artists alike. To provide our audiences with beautiful, relevant art, which engages, connects, and provides a heartfelt experience. 

Impact

SSOCC has proudly fulfilled our mission through these ten years, creating a lasting impact to serve our community. We have:

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• Presented ​6 original opera productions​ of 20th & 21st century composers: ​Dream Lovers, Troubled Island, Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom, Seven Deadly Sins, The Telephone, and ​The Poet

• Provided ​17 Free Concerts ​for over 5​ ,000 people​ on the South Side of Chicago

• Inspired over ​3,000 students​ in free educational programs

• Provided ​opportunities for over 300 opera professionals​, including opera singers, instrumentalists, conductors, directors, dancers and designers

• Presented ​3 productions of new works-in-progress ​to support living composers and librettists

• And we will do much more!