Friends of MIOpera: The Aria Circle

12/31/2025

Thank you for an amazing 2025! Enjoy highlights from our 2025 Opera Goes to Church Season!! Happy New Year!

12/02/2025

The Grand Finale: End of Year Giving
Donate: https://www.miopera.net/checkout/donate...
July 2025 Nunsense
Opera Goes to Church Season Opener!
With your generous donations we would not have been able to produce the July 2025 production of Nunsense! This talented cast wowed our audiences with their comedic timing, powerful voices and exciting choreography! Both professional and emerging vocal artists performed in this production and the production was accompanied by an amazing pit orchestra!
Help us end on a high note and donate today!

12/01/2025

A Message from our Tracy Koch, MIOpera Artistic Director
December 1, 2025
The Grand Finale! The December End of the Year Giving Campaign has begun! Everyday we will post about our amazing past year of musical triumphs and successes! We will introduce you to our amazing cast and production of Amahl and the Night Visitors and tell you more about the amazing things MIOpera is doing and has done for the Central Illinois Arts Community!

As 2025 comes to a close, we are asking you to please include MIOpera in your holiday giving. Our 2026 Season can only happen with your financial support!! We are looking to raise $5000.00 or more between now and January 1st so that we are able to begin the new year on a high note! Without you, there would be no MIOpera, as you are the true stars of our productions! All donations are tax-deductible and directly fund our current and future productions. When you donate to MIOpera, you are partnering with us to assure that he musical arts in Bloomington-Normal and Central Illinois continue to not merely survive but THRIVE! Please consider partnering with us by making a donation today and get your tickets to our upcoming holiday performances of Amahl and the Night Visitors! Keep the music playing! We are so excited to announce our 2026 that includes a musical, Opera premiere and a new partnerships, but we cannot do this without your support!
Happy Holidays, may your season be filled with inspiring music!
See you at the Opera,
Tracy Koch, MIOpera Artistic Director
Donate here: https://www.miopera.net/checkout/donate...
Or send a check payable to MIOpera
MIOpera
13 Smokey Court
Bloomington, Illinois 61704

11/21/2025

Learn more about our upcoming performances of Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors from MIOpera's Artistic Director and Resident Stage Director Tracy Marie Koch! Thank you Katie Buzard @ Illinois Public Media for writing this amazing article and supporting
Classical Music in Central Illinois!

MIOpera, a professional opera company based in Bloomington-Normal, will present Gian Carlo Menotti’s one-act Christmas opera,

11/17/2025

Our Fabulous Artistic Director is raising money MIOpera for her Birthday!! Help her celebrate by donating today!!

Send a message to learn more

10/25/2025

Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors
Experience the Christmas Season with MIOpera!
Tickets are now available: https://www.miopera.net/tickets
Friday December 12 @ 7pm
Saturday December 13 @ 7pm
Sunday December 14 @ 3pm
Family Friendly!
Synopsis
AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS IS A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL JOURNEY 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.

10/24/2025

Experience the Holidays with MIOpera!
MIOpera is so excited to announce its last production of 2025, this will conclude our Opera Goes to Church Series!! Tickets go on sale soon!
Friday December 12 @ 7pm
Saturday December 13 @ 7pm
Sunday December 14 @ 3pm
Normal First UMC
211 N. School Street

Show running time 1 hour 15 minutes
Synopsis
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.

07/19/2025

After our amazing opening night, the Sanctuary @ Normal First UMC is all set to welcome you back today, Saturday July 19 @ 7pm and tomorrow, Sunday July 20 @ 3pm for MIOpera's last two performances of Nunsense the musical!! Join us in our beautiful sanctuary for an uplifting, inspiring and hilarious night with the sisters of Normal First! Get your tickets here: Miopera.net/tickets or you can purchase them at the door 30 minutes before the show opens!

03/27/2025

2025 MIOpera International Vocal Competition Update! The Semi-Finalists Videos have been posted to our YouTube Channel! Finalists and Winners will be announced the week of Monday April 7th! Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com//videos
Good luck to all the Semi-Finalists!

02/10/2025

MIOpera returns with a new concert series Music @ the Sanctuary and a season of shows in both Peoria, Bloomington and beyond!! Details soon! Our first concert will be La Fiesta de la Pasion: A Celebration of Spanish Song & Opera!
Performances Dates
March 21 @ 7:00pm: Eureka, Il
March 23 @ 4:00pm: Bloomington-Normal, Il
March 30 @ 4:00pm: Peoria, Illinois
Venues and details will be posted soon!
Looking forward to an amazing season of Opera, Music & Song!

01/14/2025

Mark your calendars to hear the winners of our International MIOpera Vocal Competition! Do not miss these stunning artists on the cusp of major careers!