OPES A FRAME FOR ACTION by Joseph Doetsch

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

As stated in its statutes, the OPERA OF EL SALVADOR ASSOCIATION is a nonprofit organization, of an educational, artistic, cultural and charitable nature, which mission is the development and promotion of national talent in the field of music in general, and singing in particular, both of the classical and popular genre. As a byproduct and supplement of its training programs, OPES produces a variety of artistic and cultural events that help enrich the national cultural life and positively projects and promotes the country's image, nationally, regionally and internationally.

OPES PROGRAMS OPES currently provides a three level tier of vocal studies: The scholarship based advanced classes for opera singers (OPERASTUDIO), and a vocal-choral training-program for talented low income youngsters from communities considered at "social risk". It also offers a tuition fee based open singing school (VOCALARTS). In addition, OPES offers courses in Early Musical Training, for children, and Choral Conducting Seminars for music educators, as well as lectures and talks on opera and music in general. OPES's Choir is a 30 plus members ensemble, that meets regularly. In 2012 OPES gave five recitals at the MARTE museum and presented Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in March, sung entirely in German with dialogues in Spanish, in a contemporary staged production inspired on Salvadoran societal and cultural symbols.

OPERA STUDIO: The Training of opera singers. Provides specialized instruction in vocal technique and art songs, opera, operetta, and musical theater repertoire. Presently it has twelve advanced, six intermediate and eight elementary singers on scholarship. Annual auditions are held for young singers of promise.

VOCALARTS, tuition based open voice school: To meet the demand of individuals who want to study voice or music privately OPES has a tuition based open school, VOCALARTS, which offers the best choice of vocal instruction in the local market at an affordable and competitive cost. Students have ample opportunity to perform in regular recitals and concerts which showcase the many levels of talent and progress of VOCALARTS student body.

Vocal-Coral-Musical Training Program: For underprivileged youths, from communities considered at "social risk". Launched initially in July 2009, with twenty students, VCMTP is a program of continuous and progressive vocal studies that has grown to an enrollment of over fifty students in three years. The program is offered between July and December of each year. OPES seeks to strengthen and expand this program to a full ten months a year period. On the basis of the students' common experience and knowledge of contemporary popular music, the

ASOCIACIĂ&#x201C;N Ă&#x201C;PERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

program provides extended instruction on other popular forms and genres such as bolero, tango, ranchera music, and introduces them to selected Latin American salon songs repertoire, as well as art songs in several languages. Besides weekly voice lessons, classes in sight singing and choral practice are given. Students are also part of the OPES Choir and participate in recitals, concerts and staged productions. Some of them have already been admitted into the opera singers training course and have sung secondary roles in The Magic Flute (2012), or will be included in the cast for the 2013 Bizet's Carmen production.

"Creative Productivity" Project: Aware of the need to generate productive occupational opportunities for talented youngsters, OPES plans to implement, to the extent that possibilities and resources might allow, a complementary program on the use of computer software and applied audio-visual techniques for radio, television and live stage productions. Besides serving as a training program, the project envisions offering professional audio-video studio services that will provide income for student operators and become a source of sustainability for itself and other OPES projects.

"From the Barrio to La Scala" Project. Our experience confirms that it is possible to offer a talented youngster, from any community country wise, particularly from those communities burdened by violence and poverty, the means to attain the musical and performing level skills required to pursue a successful career in popular and classical singing. For this purpose, in addition to procuring the services of highly experienced and trained voice teachers, on a temporary or permanent basis, and providing adequate facilities for teaching, rehearsing and performing, OPES needs to develop a network of international support and resources that could offer the most gifted further opportunities for continued study, self-improvement and professional development abroad.

OPES Choir For two hours, every week, the 30 plus members of OPES's Choir meet to prepare the music that the choir will be performing during the year, at recitals,concerts or in major stage works in preparation. The choir also takes part in extended staging rehearsals.

OPES Orchestra Opera and musical theater productions need an ad-hoc orchestra according to the specific requirements of the work to be presented. Our orchestra, hired for the occasion, consists of a staff of professional musicians complemented by advanced instrumental students. This gives the orchestra members the opportunity to learn and perform a literature that is not part of their regular performing experience. The fees payed for their services also represent a modest, but welcome and expected, additional income. OPES maintains the intention to eventually create a permanent core ensemble, that will offer an alternative to the need for continued professional training and employment, particularly for young instrumentalists.

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

ACTIVITIES RECITALS As part of its annual season of events, and as an important complement to its training programs, OPES presents a series of recitals focused on the art song literature in various languages, as well as selections from opera, operetta and musical theater. This allows our singers to gain knowledge and performing experience in the repertoire, while introducing it to a local audience little familiarized with the literature. This year OPES offered five separate recitals, in Italian, English, French, German and Russian as part of the "Cantabile" series, sponsored by the Art Museum of El Salvador (MARTE).

CONCERTS Concerts and galas are also presented with a varied musical content, classical or popular or a combination of both. These events can be either produced by OPES or sponsored by private organizations and enterprises. The artistic level is of good professional quality, competitive with other similar productions on the local scene.

SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL CLASSES: The quality of musical education and the continuing training of music educators has been one of OPES's main objectives. With the sponsorship of the Foundation for the Dissemination of German Culture Abroad (Verein für Deutsche Kulturbeziehungen im Ausland, VDA) and with the assistance of the German Embassy in El Salvador, two Choral Conducting Seminars have been held under the direction of the reknown choral conductor, and educator, Prof. Hans Peter Schurz. These seminars have benefited more than a hundred music teachers and professional musicians, from El Salvador and neighboring countries. Due to the success of these seminars, and the high number of participants, a unique occurence in VDA's experience in other Latin American countries, the VDA has approved a third seminar that will be held in February 2013.

Early Musical Initiation is also part of the vision of OPES, as an element for promoting high quality music education for children and a means for the early stimulation of potentialities and talent, the cultivation of individual and collective values and the development of musical knowledge, skills and sensitivities. Classes in Acting Technique strengthen our singers physically while preparing them for psychologically researching, gaining insight, shaping, integrating and projecting the roles they are assigned to perform..

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

OPERA AND MUSICAL THEATER The note by note learning of a major operatic role, by our soloists and choir, in the original language (German, in the case of The Magic Flute), and its musical and stage integration, is a process that takes more than a year of serious preparation. It demands a considerable investment of time, energy and resources, and an adequate budget for the design and manufacture of costumes and sets, the payment of artists, directors, orchestra, technical support staff fees, and other services. This effort, besides being a significant artistic and logistic challenge, is certainly an important achievement and an invaluable training experience for all involved. Unlike other regional operatic projects, which import foreign soloists and assign minor roles to local singers, OPES makes it its priority, and pride, to present these major works with an all Salvadoran cast, thus providing our singers the best possible practical professional training . INCLUSION On September 27, 2012, OPES cosigned a tripartite agreement with the Secretariat for Social Inclusion and the Embassy of Spain, assuming management and program coordination functions on behalf of the Senior Adult Choir project, sponsored by the SSI. We are pleased to contribute to the development of this ensemble, which is already positioning itself successfully in the national artistic and cultural scene. We expect that the initiative will be emulated by groups of senior citizens in other communities around the country. This important program offers its members a socially and musically stimulating, as well as a rewarding, and vitally interactive environment.

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OPES aspires to become one of the best voice and opera training institutions in Central America. On the long run, OPES envisions being recognized among the leading educational and performing institutions in its field, in Latin America, offering quality professional training to Salvadoran and foreign students as well.

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

The expansion and strengthening of the Vocal -Coral-Musical Training Program for talented youngsters from communities at risk. Monthly cost (Module of 5 students): $ 250. Annual (10 months): $ 2,500 Each module receives three classes per week in Vocal Technique and Repertoire, Music Theory and Choral Practice. Total monthly classes per module: 12 Actual modules: 10 OPES seeks to expand this program from its present 6 months duration to a full 10 months academic year, increasing the number of scholarshiped students and adding, if possible, a new course in Production Techniques.

Early Musical Initiation Program, for children ages 8-13 Monthly cost (module of 5-6 children): $ 150. Annual (10 months) $ 1,500 Each module receives one weekly class session (4 classes per month). Actual modules: 2 This program provides specialized music education classes, based on universally applied methods such as the Orff, Kodally, Dalcroze, Martenot and similar methods. Includes rhythmic and melodic practices, collective singing, recorder technique, and the introduction to music theory and music appreciation.

Opera Training Program Annual Duration: 11 months. Monthly cost for Advanced and Intermediate Students: $ 80. Annual: $ 880. Monthly cost for entering students: $ 65. Annual: $715 The program offers weekly individual and group lessons in voice technique and repertoire for advanced, intermediate and entering level students. In addition, classes in music theory, sight singing and acting technique are offered.

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

2013 Opera Production: CARMEN by Georges Bizet

Fully staged production, in its original language, of this four acts masterpiece of the French, and universal operatic literature. Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of OPES. Estimated Cost of the production: $ 30,000 3-4 performances, Teatro Presidente, San Salvador, July 24-28.

OPERA SPONSORSHIP CATEGORIES (CARMEN) SEE TABLE OF BENEFITS BELOW

Coproducer

Platinum

$10,000

Gold

$5,000

Silver

$2,500

Costumes Sponsor

Materials and cash donations

Scenery and Props Sponsor

Materials and cash donations

Score and Parts Sponsor Publicity Sponsor

Orchestration, additional instrumental parts

$800

Press advertisements, handbills, television / radio spots, announcements, giant outdoors screens, cinema spots, moopies, posters, various printing needs, photocopies Professional Member (17)

$ 500 ( per member, all performances)

Advanced Student Players (18)

$ 350 (per member, all performances)

Principal Soloist (4)

$600 (Per soloist, per performance)

Secondary Soloist (6)

$400 (Per soloist, per performance)

Choir Patron

Choir Member (35)

$200 (per member, all performances)

Other Sponsorships

Miscellaneous services

Arrangements, transportation, refreshments, wine and food, and other

Orchestra Patron

Soloists Patron

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

ANNUITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS In addition to the above described programs, whose funding basically covers for the cost of teachers and artistic services, OPES requires a steady flow of funds to meet its daily operational needs, the payment of staff's salaries, rental, maintenance and expansion of facilities, acquisition of instruments, equipment, materials and other urgent institutional needs. To this end, we have established annual sponsorship levels, or memberships, to help us meet these needs.

CATEGORIES

LEVELS

DONATION CERTIFICATE

PUBLIC RECOGNITION

VCMP

Yes

1) 2) 4) half-page, free FC

7) 6 VIP, 4 Preferencial; 8) 2 General Admission passes (subject to availability) 9) 10) 11)

EMIP

Yes

1) 2) 4) 50% off any size

7) 4 VIP, 2 PREF; 8) 2 GA (subject to availability) 9) 10) 11)

OTP

Yes

3) 4) 25% off any size

7) 4 PREF; 8) 2 GA (subject to availability) 9) 10) 11)

Yes

1) ("Co-Sponsored by"poster header area, Prime Level) 2) 4) 2 Full pages FC, 5) 6) 2 display stands

7) 100 VIP, 100 PREF (distributed in 3-4 performances) 8) 50, 9) 10) 11) 12)

Yes

1) ("Co-Sponsored by"poster header area, Second Level) 2) 4) Full Page FC, 5) 6) 1 DS

7) 50 VIP, 50 PREF; (distributed in 3-4 performances) 8) 25 9) 10) 11) 12)

Yes

1) (“Sponsored by"poster footer area, First Level) 2) 4) Half Page FC; 5a)

7) 25 VIP, 25 PREF; (dsitributed in 3-4 performances) 8) 10, 9) 10) 11)

Training Programs

Platinum

Gold CARMEN

Silver Other sponsorships (Differentiated benefits according to the actual value of the sponsorship)

Individual Affiliates

7) 2VIP, 2 PREF; (Benefit applies differentiated over $ 1,250); 9) 10)

Yes

3) 4) 25% off any size

Yes

(Benefit applies differential above $1,250

7) 30 VIP, 30 PREF; (in 3-4 functions) 8) 15 9) 10) 11)

Patron

Yes

1)(“Sponsored by"poster header area, Second Level)1, 2) 4) Full Page FC; 5a)

7) 15 VIP, 15 PREF; (dsitributed in 3-4 performances) 8) 8 9) 10) 11)

Sponsor

Yes

1) (“Sponsored by"poster footer area Second Level), 2) 4) Half Page FC; 5a)

7) 4 VIP; 6 PREF; 8) 2 EG (subject to availability) 9) 10) 11)

Friend

Yes

1) 2) 4) 50% off any size

Collaborator

Yes

Member

Yes

Volunteer

Yes

3a)

Benefactor Corporative Associates

OTHER BENEFITS

7) 2 PREF; 9) 10) 7) 2 GA 9) 10) 7) 1 GA 10) 7) 1 GA 10) 7) 20% off 10)

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

DESCRIPTION

COST

Short performance, 30-45 minutes, one soloist, prerecorded accompaniment

$300 (add $200 for live piano or keyboard accompanist)

Same, two soloists.

$500 (add $200 for live piano or keyboard accompanist)

Recital, 60-90 minutes 3-4 soloists, combination of recorded and live accompaniment

$1,500

Lyric Gala, Concert: Soloists, choir, combination of recorded and live accompaniment

$3,500

Same, with orchestra

$15,000

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

The financial assistance received from the Secretariat of Culture is essential for the strengthening and continuity of OPES's training programs. Concurrently, the Secretariat allows OPES the use of facilities, such as the National and Presidente Theaters,and the National Center for the Arts, CENAR, for rehearsals and presentations

OPES appreciates the distinction confered upon us by the First Lady of the Republic, Dr. Wanda Pignato and the Secretariat for Social Inclusion, by entrusting OPES with the administration of the National Senior Choir Program . We hope that this important relationship of mutual cooperation will be afirmed and expanded in the near future. OPES recognizes and appreciates, in a very special way, the friendship and continued support received, through the years, from the SIGMA FOUNDATION of El Salvador, its Board of Directors and, in particular, from its President, Mr. David Yarhi .

In 2011, OPES was awarded a significant grant by the Inter-American Development Bank, BID, in support of our Vocal-Choral-Musical Training Project for underprivileged youths, from communities considered at social risk, which allowed us to increase the number of scholarships from 20 in 2010 to 40 in 2011 .

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

Also, in 2011, and again in 2012, we received an important contribution from the HSBC Bank, in support of 10 additional sholarships for the VCM Program, and 12 Early Musical Initiation program scholarships for children, ages 9-13.

Institutionally, OPES has received the distinguished and continued cooperation and assistance of the Don Bosco University, through its Magnificent Rector, Federico Miguel Huguet Rivera, and particularly from Fr. Victor Bermudez, its Academic Vice-Rector.

Similarly, the Central American University "Fr. José Simeon Cañas "has extended to us its support allowing OPES the use of the " Ignacio Ellacuría” Auditorium for important events, such as the premiere of " The Lamentations of Rufina Amaya “ by salvadoran-american composer Carlos Colón, and the closing concert of the 2012 II Choral Conducting Seminar , sponsored by the Verein für Deutsche Kulturbeziehungen im Ausland, VDA.

We appreciate the special support extended to us by Father Flavian Mucci and the Agape Association of El Salvador, by Mrs. Elizabeth Trabanino and Classical Radio, the TCS Foundation through channels 2,4 and 6, Channel 8 , Channel 10, El Diario de Hoy, and other media such as Radio YSUCA, YSKL, Radio Corporation, the Samix group, Channel 21 and Channel 12.

ASOCIACIÓN ÓPERA DE EL SALVADOR www.operaelsalvador.com Tel. 2556 – 1598 E-Mail: opes@integra.com

Complete Page Full Color $400 Grayscale $350

Half Page POST YOUR PUBLICITY IN

Full Color $200

THE HAND PROGRAM FOR THE OPERA

Grayscale $175

Quarter Page

Eighth page

Full Color $100 Escala de grises $85

Full Color $50 Escala de grises $35 12