This event is FREE and open to the public.

Join local professional artists and voice students from Illinois State University & Illinois Central College as they explore the performance of Art Songs and Spirituals by Black Composers with Master Artist Teacher and distinguished Illinois Wesleyan University Professor Emeritus Dr. Carren Moham.
Dr. Carren Moham's appearance is supported by the Healing Arts Grant through MIOpera.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Join local professional artists and voice students from Illinois State University & Illinois Central College as they explore the performance of Art Songs and Spirituals by Black Composers with Master Artist Teacher and distinguished Illinois Wesleyan University Professor Emeritus Dr. Carren Moham.
Dr. Carren Moham's appearance is supported by the Healing Arts Grant through MIOpera.

Join us for a stunning evening of vocal storytelling through Art Song and Spirituals with the voice students of Illinois Central College. Students will be showcasing their work from the masterclass the evening before with Dr. Carren Moham, Master Teacher and Illinois Wesleyan University Professor Emeritus.

We invite you to this public workshop of Art Songs and Spirituals by Black Composers.

WONDER. BELIEVE. FAITH.

AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS IS A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL ABOUT A POOR, CRIPPLED SHEPHERD BOY NAMED AMAHL WHO LIVES WITH HIS WIDOWED MOTHER. THEIR LIVES CHANGE WHEN THE THREE KINGS STOP AT THEIR HOME TO REST ON THEIR JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM. AMAHL'S MOTHER TRIES TO STEAL GOLD FROM THEIR TREASURE BUT IS CAUGHT AND FORGIVEN BY KING MELCHIOR. IN A MOMENT OF SELFLESS LOVE, AMAHL OFFERS HIS CRUTCH AS A GIFT TO THE CHRIST CHILD, AND HIS LEG IS MIRACULOUSLY HEALED. HE THEN JOINS THE KINGS ON THEIR JOURNEY TO OFFER HIS CRUTCH IN PERSON.
FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.

WONDER. BELIEVE. FAITH.

AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS IS A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL ABOUT A POOR, CRIPPLED SHEPHERD BOY NAMED AMAHL WHO LIVES WITH HIS WIDOWED MOTHER. THEIR LIVES CHANGE WHEN THE THREE KINGS STOP AT THEIR HOME TO REST ON THEIR JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM. AMAHL'S MOTHER TRIES TO STEAL GOLD FROM THEIR TREASURE BUT IS CAUGHT AND FORGIVEN BY KING MELCHIOR. IN A MOMENT OF SELFLESS LOVE, AMAHL OFFERS HIS CRUTCH AS A GIFT TO THE CHRIST CHILD, AND HIS LEG IS MIRACULOUSLY HEALED. HE THEN JOINS THE KINGS ON THEIR JOURNEY TO OFFER HIS CRUTCH IN PERSON.
FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.

WONDER. BELIEVE. FAITH.

AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS IS A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL ABOUT A POOR, CRIPPLED SHEPHERD BOY NAMED AMAHL WHO LIVES WITH HIS WIDOWED MOTHER. THEIR LIVES CHANGE WHEN THE THREE KINGS STOP AT THEIR HOME TO REST ON THEIR JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM. AMAHL'S MOTHER TRIES TO STEAL GOLD FROM THEIR TREASURE BUT IS CAUGHT AND FORGIVEN BY KING MELCHIOR. IN A MOMENT OF SELFLESS LOVE, AMAHL OFFERS HIS CRUTCH AS A GIFT TO THE CHRIST CHILD, AND HIS LEG IS MIRACULOUSLY HEALED. HE THEN JOINS THE KINGS ON THEIR JOURNEY TO OFFER HIS CRUTCH IN PERSON.
FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.

Saturday October 11 @ 7pm Performance

$20.00 per person (All General Admission)*

*All ticket purchases are nonrefundable.

Tickets bought online will be available at Will Call.

Tickets can also be purchased at the door the day of the performance.

Location

First United Methodist Church of Normal

211 N. School Street

Normal, Illinois 61761

Experience an unforgettable musical journey with Opera Goes to Church, a powerful fusion of spirituals, hymns and classical music celebrating the church! This uplifting concert features professional opera singers and exceptional local musicians, creating a truly inspiring community celebration. Hosted by MIOpera, this extraordinary event promises to encourage and unite through the transformative power of music.

Tracy Koch, Stage Director & Producer

Dennis Gotkowski, Music Director & Pianist

Saturday October 11 @ 7pm Performance

$20.00 per person (All General Admission)*

*All ticket purchases are nonrefundable.

Tickets bought online will be available at Will Call.

Tickets can also be purchased at the door the day of the performance.

Location

First United Methodist Church of Normal

211 N. School Street

Normal, Illinois 61761

Experience an unforgettable musical journey with Opera Goes to Church, a powerful fusion of spirituals, hymns and classical music celebrating the church! This uplifting concert features professional opera singers and exceptional local musicians, creating a truly inspiring community celebration. Hosted by MIOpera, this extraordinary event promises to encourage and unite through the transformative power of music.

Tracy Koch, Stage Director & Producer

Dennis Gotkowski, Music Director & Pianist

Free Concert!

MIOPERA ARTISTS PRESENT AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT OF ZARZUELA AND OPERATIC MUSIC!

“Nunsense” follows the crazy antics of 11 nuns from the Normal First Convent. When their cook accidentally serves up some tainted soup, 52 of the sisters are poisoned and die, leaving only 11 living nuns who were not at home the day of the toxic meal. When the convent’s first in charge, Reverend Mother Regina, splurges on new iPhones and iPads for the sisters they find themselves strapped for cash, as they still have four dead nuns to bury (whose bodies are being stored in the kitchen freezer!) The nuns decide to put on a benefit performance in order to raise the rest of the money before the Normal Health Department discovers their secret!

“NUNSENSE” FOLLOWS THE CRAZY ANTICS OF 11 NUNS FROM THE NORMAL FIRST CONVENT. WHEN THEIR COOK ACCIDENTALLY SERVES UP SOME TAINTED SOUP, 52 OF THE SISTERS ARE POISONED AND DIE, LEAVING ONLY 11 LIVING NUNS WHO WERE NOT AT HOME THE DAY OF THE TOXIC MEAL. WHEN THE CONVENT’S FIRST IN CHARGE, REVEREND MOTHER REGINA, SPLURGES ON NEW IPHONES AND IPADS FOR THE SISTERS THEY FIND THEMSELVES STRAPPED FOR CASH, AS THEY STILL HAVE FOUR DEAD NUNS TO BURY (WHOSE BODIES ARE BEING STORED IN THE KITCHEN FREEZER!) THE NUNS DECIDE TO PUT ON A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE IN ORDER TO RAISE THE REST OF THE MONEY BEFORE THE NORMAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT DISCOVERS THEIR SECRET!

“NUNSENSE” FOLLOWS THE CRAZY ANTICS OF 11 NUNS FROM THE NORMAL FIRST CONVENT. WHEN THEIR COOK ACCIDENTALLY SERVES UP SOME TAINTED SOUP, 52 OF THE SISTERS ARE POISONED AND DIE, LEAVING ONLY 11 LIVING NUNS WHO WERE NOT AT HOME THE DAY OF THE TOXIC MEAL. WHEN THE CONVENT’S FIRST IN CHARGE, REVEREND MOTHER REGINA, SPLURGES ON NEW IPHONES AND IPADS FOR THE SISTERS THEY FIND THEMSELVES STRAPPED FOR CASH, AS THEY STILL HAVE FOUR DEAD NUNS TO BURY (WHOSE BODIES ARE BEING STORED IN THE KITCHEN FREEZER!) THE NUNS DECIDE TO PUT ON A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE IN ORDER TO RAISE THE REST OF THE MONEY BEFORE THE NORMAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT DISCOVERS THEIR SECRET!

$20.00 PER PERSON

Location

First United Methodist Church of Normal

211 N. School Street

Normal, Illinois 61761

Join us for an afternoon of celebration and opera selections as we host our 2025 MIOpera International Vocal Competition Emerging Artist Winners!

A small reception will be held after the concert!

Artists

2nd Place Winner, Emerging Artist Division: Laura Sanders, soprano

3rd Place Winner, Emerging Artist Division: Marissa Howard, soprano

Dr. Dennis Gotkowski, pianist

John & Tracy Koch, hosts

Your presence is request at Queen Dido’s court in Carthage as she celebrates the arrival of Lord Aeneas from Troy. Join us for this theatrical and musical journey of love, betrayal and destiny! *This is a collaboration with the Central Illinois Ballet Company.

Tracy Marie Koch, stage director

Dr. Dennis Gotkowski, conductor

Jesse Williams, Choreography

Central Illinois Ballet Dance Company

MIOpera Chamber Orchestra

Running Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Appropriate for all ages!

JOIN QUEEN DIDO IN CARTHAGE AS SHE HOSTS A FEAST FOR LORD AENEAS FROM TROY. THE NIGHT WILL BE FILLED WITH FOOD, DRINK AND MUSIC! WE WILL START THE EVENT AT A BANQUET THEN MOVE INTO THE THRONE ROOM FOR A FULL PERFORMANCE OF PURCELL’S DIDO AND AENEAS! YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED AT THIS RESPLENDENT EVENT!

JOIN MIOPERA ARTISTS FOR A NIGHT OF BROADWAY AND OPERA FAVORITES ON THE ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY QUAD FOR A STUNNING EVENING OF MUSIC UNDER THE STARS!

The Greatest Story Ever Told…..

The story of the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, set to the music of Handel.

Get ready for one of the most exciting events in Central Illinois in 2023! MIOpera’s Opera Gala will take you on a fantastical journey of the hits of opera combined with a runaway fashion show that will blow you away! Local designers and the In-Stitches Sewing Studio partner with MIOpera to bring you the show of the fall that everyone will be talking about!

A Touch of Opera!

MIOpera will be performing at the Cultural Fest in Bloomington on August 12 @ 2:00pm!! Join us as the MIOpera Vocal Ensemble performs the greatest hits of opera!!

Artists: Adriana Martinez, Krisyn Szwajka, Casey Nabors, Sidney Megeff, Rachel Cremer, Olivia Schickel, Macauley Allen, Matthew Mancillas, Dr. Dennis Gotkowski

Set sail with MIOpera as it opens its 2023 Season in its new home venue at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) with the hilarious and witty comedy: The Pirates of Penzance!

Set sail with MIOpera as it opens its 2023 Season in its new home venue at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) with the hilarious and witty comedy: The Pirates of Penzance!

MIOpera is looking forward to being a part of this music festival again!! Come out and hear your favorite opera and musical theater gems sung by professional voices!!! Then later that evening see and hear them onstage at the BCPA in Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance!!

Ticket link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/57842

Set sail with MIOpera as it opens its 2023 Season in its new home venue at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) with the hilarious and witty comedy: The Pirates of Penzance!

Bobzbay Books is excited to host the cast & crew members that are part of vibrant MIOpera productions for a short performance from their upcoming June show of "Pirates of Penzance". A photo op will be available after the performance. Like nearly all of our events, this is a free event open to the public!

Join MIOpera, The McLean County Chamber of Commerce and the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) as we celebrate MIOpera's new home venue for its 2023 Season!

Ribbon cutting will take place in the lobby of the BCPA @4:30pm with a reception to follow from 5:00pm to 6:00pm! Reception includes live performances and light refreshments!

Join us!

Join us for an amazing evening of Opera and art song presented by our inaugural 2023 Mary Ellen Clancy Memorial Scholarship Winner! This scholarship is given in partnership through the MIOpera International Vocal Competition and the Opera Illinois League to honor Mary Ellen Clancy's legacy of helping emerging artists through the founding of the Opera Illinois League.

The Original Paint Nite: Unleash your inner artist while listening to opera's greatest hits!

$35.00 per person (all supplies, finger foods and non-alcoholic drinks included)

Bring your friends!

Come join original artist, Becky, at Normal First Methodist Church for a fun and creative Paint Nite event AND FUNDRAISER! Unleash your inner artist with step-by-step instructions as she helps you create your own masterpiece. Enjoy a night of creativity, laughter, and bonding with friends or family as you paint your own unique work of art. All supplies are provided, so come prepared to have a great time!

Join us for an evening of amazing tenor & baritone duets from Opera, Operetta and Broadway!

Brunch at Biaggi’s with MIOpera

An Afternoon Gala and Fundraiser

Date: Sunday March 26, 2023

Time: 12:00pm to 3:00pm

Location: Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano

Address: 3010 E Empire St, Bloomington, IL 61704

Tickets: $75.00 per person/ $150.00 per couple

Passion. Music. Food

Join MIOpera as we take you on a tour of Italian Opera!

Be surrounded by the stunning vocal artists of MIOpera as you savor the amazing menu hand picked by Biaggi’s for you to enjoy! It will be a feast for all your senses!

Activities: Silent Auction and Raffle for Prizes and full performance of Italian Opera’s Greatest Hits!

The performance will be sung in Italian with English supertitles!