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American Opera Initiative Tickets

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On the schedule

American Opera Initiative Tour Dates & Tickets

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Inside the performance

Sound, stage & company

Onstage company

Documented collaborators

The American Opera Initiative (AOI) shapes the future of contemporary American opera. Since 2012, AOI commissions three 20-minute operas each season from rising composer-librettist teams. Performances feature the Cafritz Young Artists and the Washington National Opera Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, under the Washington National Opera umbrella. This page highlights AOI’s history, notable works, and upcoming performances, with a focus on accessibility and reliable scheduling for new audiences.

The live experience

What reaches the room

AOI supports mentorship from industry leaders and breathes life into hundreds of new works on national stages. Stay connected for the latest world premieres and touring engagements, including forthcoming projects and showcases in Washington, DC and beyond. We’ve got you covered for dependable access to contemporary American opera from a trusted program that helps shape the art form.

The essentials

Quick Facts About American Opera Initiative

  • AOI was founded in 2012 by Francesca Zambello as a program to stimulate the future of contemporary American opera.
  • Each season AOI commissions three 20-minute operas from emerging composer-librettist teams; performances involve the Cafritz Young Artists and the Washington National Opera Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.
  • Mentorship and leadership include Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, Program Director Christopher Cano, Artistic Advisor Kelley Rourke, conductor George Manahan, and mentors such as Tracy K. Smith and Kamala Sankaram.
  • Notable AOI works have gained national attention, including Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang’s American Soldier (commissioned via AOI in 2014) and Grounded by Jeanine Tesori and George Brant (world premiere with WNO in 2023–24); both later earned Grammy recognition nominations.
  • 2025 AOI slate featured three world premieres: Tati (Kyle Brenn, Lex Brown), Cry, Wolf (JL Marlor, Clare Fuyuko Bierman), Mud Girl (Omar Najmi, Christine Evans).
  • 2025 dates included a Washington, DC showcase on January 18, 2025 (Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center) and an on-tour NYC presentation on January 23, 2025 at Kaufman Music Center.

AOI supports mentorship from industry leaders and breathes life into hundreds of new works on national stages. Stay connected for the latest world premieres and touring engagements, including forthcoming projects and showcases in Washington, DC and beyond. We’ve got you covered for dependable access to contemporary American opera from a trusted program that helps shape the art form.

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