History of the Youngstown Opera Guild

The Youngstown Opera Guild has been in existence since 1981. The guild's original mission was to support opera productions. However, in 1992, the Opera Guild decided to expand its purpose to include not only the support of opera in the Mahoning Valley, but to award scholarships to vocal performance students at the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. Many students have been helped with their education theough this program.

In order to encourage are school children to learn and appreciate opera, the Guild initiated Opera Improv. This program is carried out by Opera Western Reserve
with the Guild's financial support. The Youngstown Opera Guild has been instrumental in the creation of workshops and master classes for area vocal performance students which have been conducted by Giorgio Tozzi, Lorenzo Malfatti, Tito Capobianco and Robert Nagy.