The Company

We Value Artistic Integrity, Musical Excellence, Collaboration, Community Engagement & Inclusion

Our Mission

Chicago Fringe Opera is dedicated to presenting innovative vocal works with an emphasis on new and contemporary styles, engaging with the Chicago community through intimate and immersive performance experiences, and fostering and empowering local artists.

Furthermore, Chicago Fringe Opera is committed to fostering a culture that values and respects all people, their identities and their histories. We denounce harm against any individual based on their identity, including race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, immigration status or ability. We want to support, engage, and lift up those who have had their power diminished for the privilege of others.

We recognize that Chicago Fringe Opera operates on Native land. The areas on which our rehearsals and performances take place are the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, including the Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa. Although for over 200 years Native Nations have been forcibly removed from this territory, we acknowledge that the people of the Council of Three Fires, while facing on-going settler colonialism, continue to claim their place and act as stewards of their ancestral lands, which remain home to over 100,000 tribal members in the state of Illinois.

Our recognition is an expression of gratitude and appreciation and is intended to honor the indigenous people who have been living and working on this land from time immemorial.

Board Members

Matt Boresi
Member-at-large
Sarah Geocaris
Member-at-large
Joshua Taylor
Member-at-large

Artistic Ally

Matthan Ring Black
Baritone
Cody Michael Bradley
Pianist
Katherine Bruton
Soprano
John Cockerill
Pianist
Gabriel Di Gennaro
Bass-baritone
Daina Fischer
Soprano
Julia Elise Hardin
Mezzo-soprano
Jacquelyn Kress
Mezzo-soprano
Brad Caleb Lee
Designer
Jessie Lyons
Soprano
Ted Nazarowski
Technical Director
Clarissa Parrish Short
Soprano
Laura Smalley
Soprano
Supported by The CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture, the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Chicago Fringe Opera is member of Opera America, the nation's advocacy organization for the art form of opera.