FM Opera Receives Grant for Young Artist Program

The FM Opera Company, founded in 1968, brings high quality opera experiences for any and all members of our community and region.

Completing its third year, the Gate City Bank Young Artist program has expanded to provide a 12-week intensive training program for young singers and pianists who have finished their graduate training and are in the early stages of their professional careers. Chosen from national auditions, the participants receive a weekly stipend, a travel allowance and housing during the program.

“We believe that artists should receive a living wage while pursuing their art with compensation levels that equal similar programs across the country,” said David Hamilton, General Director.

Each season the cohort prepares a program of opera scenes to take into area schools and to community events. This year, they performed for more than 4,000 schoolchildren in the FM community with additional performances in assisted living facilities, Gate City Bank branches, and for community organizations. In addition, they performed leading roles in a special Young Artist production (Mollicone’s The Face on the Barroom Floor) and were featured in roles in the spring mainstage production.