$5 million campaign will shape future of opera and musical theater, expand audiences, and support tourism and culture in the region
$4.1 million has already been raised
COOPERSTOWN, NY—The Glimmerglass Festival, an internationally renowned opera nonprofit that has helped redefine the landscape of American opera and musical theater for today’s audiences, has launched a fundraising campaign to support the future of the Festival as an international destination and training ground for the next generation of performers and production professionals.
“Destined to Glimmerglass: The 50th Anniversary Campaign” has already raised $4.1 million toward an ambitious $5 million goal.
“We are both moved and awestruck by the generosity that donors from across the country have committed to help usher in our visionary future,” said Robert Ainsley, Artistic and General Director. “There is nothing and nowhere quite like Glimmerglass. It is a destination in every sense of the word.”
“The Festival is an invaluable asset to our region, the United States, and the world of opera. This campaign ensures that our company can continue to lead, teach, and innovate for years to come,” he added.
The fundraising effort will empower the Festival to expand the range of works being staged. Glimmerglass is a place where lesser-known and new productions are staged alongside canonical works of opera. Through the Youth Opera and Project Pipeline, Glimmerglass provides a stage for performances that might otherwise go unseen.
In 2025, the Festival will produce the world premiere of “The House on Mango Street,” a musical adaptation of Sandra Cisneros’ beloved novel. “Glimmerglass is synonymous with collaboration and innovation,” said Ainsley. “Every year, we’re creating new opportunities and models for this industry. By incubating new works, mentoring young artists and technicians, and creating pathways for youth performers, we’re making the stage and the genre more accessible for professionals and audiences alike.”
The campaign will support the continued development of new work as well as the Festival’s renowned training and Apprenticeship programs that offer practical instruction and mentorship to early-career professionals. At Glimmerglass, artists and technicians enjoy the space, time, mentorship, and freedom to develop their craft at the highest level. Audiences get a front-row seat to never-before-seen productions staged by the most exciting new talent in the industry.
No one knows better the impact these programs have on opera performers and lovers than Cooperstown resident Allison Hill-Edgar, Board of Trustees member and campaign co-chair, and her family. Her son began participating in the youth opera at 13 and now performs on the Festival’s mainstage. “I’ve gotten to see firsthand how Glimmerglass creates a nurturing space for young performers,” said Hill-Edgar. “The commitment to youth and community is a huge part of why the Festival has grown both in size and influence. Our young artists have gone on to do amazing things on and behind the stages of world opera.”
“The creatives that get their start at Glimmerglass go on to influence their community, both here in Cooperstown and around the country,” she added.
After 50 years, the Glimmerglass Festival is firmly enmeshed in the community and culture of the Cooperstown region. This campaign will also anchor the Festival’s reputation as an international destination where everyone sees their story reflected on the stage. “We are so lucky to have Glimmerglass in Cooperstown,” said Michael Young, Board Chair and campaign co-chair. “I feel a responsibility to support and champion this Festival that has given so much to the town, the economy, and to opera lovers everywhere.”
Young said that while Glimmerglass has grown significantly since he first attended the Festival, its magic has never wavered. “There is a feeling here that I haven’t seen replicated anywhere else,” said Young. “I’m behind this campaign because we want to share the Glimmerglass experience with as many people as possible, both today and for the next 50 years.”
“Opera tells human stories in a profound, grand, emotional way,” Ainsley added. “The Glimmerglass Festival brings audiences from around the world into the heart of those stories. For 50 years, Glimmerglass has been a stage for emerging creatives. This campaign will create new opportunities to celebrate the voices and perspectives that make us human.”
“Glimmerglass is part of the soul of Cooperstown,” said Hill-Edgar. “It’s hard to imagine this community without the creativity, innovation, and simple joy this Festival brings. When you’re here, you feel it everywhere—in the audience, behind the stage, out to dinner in town. No matter where you are, it’s infectious.”
Tickets to the 50th anniversary season, which begins in July and includes productions of “Sunday in the Park with George,” “The Rake’s Progress,” “Tosca,” and “Odyssey,” are now on sale. To discover even more about the future of Glimmerglass, visit www.glimmerglass.org/campaign.
EDITOR’S NOTE: To arrange interviews with Rob Ainsley, Allison Hill-Edgar and Michael Young, contact Kira DeLanoy, Director of Communications, at (607) 547-0700 x206 or kdelanoy@glimmerglass.org.
Just the facts:
- Campaign goal: $5 million
- Campaign funds raised to date: $4.1 million
- Top priorities
- Center Glimmerglass as a cultural leader defining the future of American opera and musical theater for today’s audiences.
- Ensure the Festival remains the nation’s finest training ground for the next generation of theatrical makers.
- Maintain Glimmerglass’ position as an international destination where everyone sees their story reflected on our stages and in our community.
- 2025 Season
- The 2025 season runs from July 11 through August 17, 2025.
- Performances include “Tosca,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “The Rake’s Progress,” “Odyssey,” and the world premiere of “The House on Mango Street.”
- Tickets are available now at www.glimmerglass.org