About the Opera League of Los Angeles

Founded in 1981, the nonprofit Opera League of Los Angeles is the primary volunteer support organization, and co-founder, of LA Opera, the resident opera company for the City of Los Angeles that was established in 1986.

The Opera League produces an array of educational programs including seminars, gatherings, musicales, master classes, and much more, all with the common aim of expanding the appreciation of opera by bringing people together to celebrate this timeless art form.

Our army of volunteers not only help execute the League's own programming, but much of LA Opera's programming as well. To that end, the League's famous cast dinners and artist services provide an empathetic touch that sets it apart.

The League also raises funds to help produce LA Opera programming.

This is why LA Opera's extraordinary success is a direct reflection of the robust and tireless support of the Opera League. Supporting opera through education, volunteerism and fundraising, being part of a global community where everyone has the opportunity to experience the depth and beauty of opera, is baked into our DNA.

The League will always continue to strive to stimulate interest and participation in opera for the benefit of the cultural, educational and musical life of the community.

Opera League Gallery

OLLA History

Left to Right Presidents: Lorraine Saunders, Molly Siefert, Toni Bird, David Barry, Anne Combs, Warren Schubert, Alice Coulombe

Opera League Volunteers waiting for the busses to bring in students for Saturday Morning at the Opera

AALAO Event Left - Right Ben Kerr, Eva Grant, Angel Blue, Delores Kerr

2014 - Austria, Left – Right: Back: Ernie Propokovych, Jack Schwartz, Judy Lieb, Stu Bowne. Middle: Mimi Rotter, Barbara Schelbert, Lisa Lyon, Jutta Gehlen, Rebecca Bowne, Gayle Kirschbaum Front: Randy Diaz, Brita Millard, Heinrich Schelbert, Ed Lieb, Robert Dornhelm, Peter Gray, Horst Gehlen, Rosalie Kornblau, Petra Zerbst, Larry Harper

Left – Right: Pianist, Unknown Suzanna Guzman, William Vendice, Unknown, Michael Gallup, Unknown

At the Hollywood Bowl OLLA Picnic and Opera in 2014

2010 LA Opera Ring Cycle Ed Schaff Volunteering at the OLLA Concierge Service booth

John Spear and Ernie Propokovych doing dishes at a Musicale at the home of Millicent Gappel

Dress Rehearsal Ticket Pickup – Left – Right: Unknown, Unknown. Seated: Ann Mosser. Standing: Allan Edmiston, Alma Guzman

Opera League Volunteers doing "Lightwalking" during rehearsals – Left – Right: Lynne Mitchell, Rosemarie Zaiser, Alma Guzman, Laurel Howat, Paula Settle

2018 One of Brita's European trips to Germany and Austria to see 7 different operas! Left – Right: Christa Marks, Hedda Ketsched-Tolomei, Ernie Propokovych, Anne Propokovych

Opera League Volunteers at a Cast Dinner in the Green Room

Eleanor Gnup attending the 2008 Master Class with Carol Vanness and Young Artists

Left - Right Stacy Brightman, Margaret Merritt

AALAO Event Left – Right: Eva Grant, Eric Owens, Joyce Nembhard, Joel Graham

1999 Left – Right: Singer, Alicia Garcia Clark, Sherwin Sloan

2010 The Bezuyen Concert Inaugural Fundraiser for the Student Bus Fund: Arnold Bezuyen and Stacy Brightman

2010 Fred Dear at the "Shop at the Opera"

2010 LA Opera Ring Cycle Volunteers staffing the Opera League Concierge Service booth

2010 Left – Right: Volunteers Patricia O'Donnell, Amalia Shebby, Carol Donlan, Fred Dear, Wendy Van Haerlem, Monica Gutierrez-Roper

Musicale with Millicent Gappel and Ann Russell Sullivan

Dale Ross and Anne Propokovych at the Premier Dinner in 2008

Thomas Shepard and Anne Russell Sullivan at an Orange County Musicale

Luxury Drawing June 1999 Left – Right: Unknown, Alice Coulombe, Jerry Faris

Opera League at the Fashion Institute. Left: Alyce Williamson

Volunteers at the Peter Hemmings Award Dinner in 2015. Left – Right: Mike Phillips, Monica Gutierrez-Roper, Carol Daskal, Tom Lady

Luxury Drawing Event Left - Right Doris Koplick, Delores Kerr, Ben Kerr, Rebecca Bowne, Annilese Silverio

Hemmings Retirement Event Left – Right: Carol Henry, Carol Bierhorst, Unknown

Saturday morning at the opera with students. Volunteer Ed Lieb in the back.

Dr. Gordon Traub and John Welch at an Orange County Musicale at the home of Sylvia and Gordon Traub

One of the famous fundraisers: The Luxury Drawing June, 2000

2010 Hemmings Award Dinner at the Athenaeum Left – Right: Margi Mostue, Rebecca Bowne, Nina Haro, Diane Gray, Alma Guzman, Wendy Van Haerlem, Judy Lieb, Unknown

Diane Gray holding a copy of the famous “Aria” cookbook compiled by OLLA volunteers

Opera League at the Fashion Institute. Left – Right: Lynne Mitchell, Brita Millard, Alma Guzman, Mike Sholer, Carol Sholer, Susan Stamberger

Volunteers serving dinner at a Musicale at Millicent Gappel’s home: Dorothy Wait, Ed Schaff, Brita Millard

May 1999 Left - Right Robert Marino, Madeleine Coulombe, Alice Coulombe, George Dunning

John Welch, Unknown, Stu Bowne, Claire Chambless, Eric Owens, Fabiola Hensley, Bob Gilman, Unknown

OLLA Volunteers - Left – Right: Ron Streicher, Unknown, Larry Verdugo, Mary Riggs at an Educator’s event for Ghosts of Versailles

Peter Hemmings Retirement Event: Alan Hanson, Jay Galbraith

2010 Hemmings Dinner at the Athenaeum Dan Donlan with "Opera Dog" Elbert

Lorna Blancaflor and Claire Chambless at an Orange County Gathering at the home of Sylvia Traub

Peter Hemmings Retirement Event Left – Right: Tom Keiser, Jane Gifford, Bill Keiser, Dick Seifert

Volunteers at the OLLA Trip to the Santa Fe Opera House in 2015. Left – Right: Mike Phillips, Beverly Phillips, Kathy Crandall, Mimi Rotter

Ray Busmann modeling a costume at the Costume Shop Tour

Early AALAO Members

Volunteers at the Peter Hemmings Award Dinner in 2015. Left – Right: Steve and Karen Kohn, Barbara and Bill Green

Artist Services Volunteer Jerry Farris picking up arriving artists from LAX

Left-Right Back: Bill Keiser, Unk, Warren Schubert, Barbara Merkle, Bernard Greenberg, Lynne Mitchell, Margaret Merritt, Paula Settle, Unk, Bob Holmes. Seated: Unk, Monica Weil, Unk, Audrey Hanson, Unk, Barbara Schufreider, Unk, Joann Toll

2001 Soprano Suzanna Guzman, Chris Topher Hahn

Opera League bus fund sponsoring student trips to Saturday Morning at the Opera

Warner and Carol Henry being presented the Hemmings award by Sherwin Sloan. Duff Murphy is on the right

Opera League at the Fashion Institute

OLLA Volunteers at a Cast Dinner including Laurel Howat, Carol Donlon, Monica Gutierrez-Roper, Karen Kohn, Rebecca Bowne among other volunteers

Peter Hemmings Retirement Event: Left – Right: Unknown, Tina Gilfrey, Rod Gilfrey, Unknown, Paula Settle

2001 Membership Committee OLLA Office Left - Right Bob Bernard, Beverly Johnson, Robert Holmes, Lynne Mitchell, Audrey Hanson, Unknown

2018 trip to Munich/Salzburg. Left – Right: Brita Millard, Diane Henderson, Tom Lady, Ed Lieb, Dan Donlon, Carol Donlon, Judy Lieb, Hedda Ketsched-Tolomei, Tina Perkins, Larry Verdugo

Opera League at the Fashion Institute. Molly and Dick Siefert

Hemmings Award Dinner at Athenaeum Alice Coulombe presenting Jeff Kleeman with the Hemmings Award

Founded in 1981, the nonprofit Opera League of Los Angeles is the primary volunteer support organization, and co-founder, of LA Opera, the resident opera company for the City of Los Angeles that was established in 1986.