About Central City Opera Guild & L’Esprit de Noël
The Central City Opera Guild is a member organization devoted to supporting Central City Opera, a true Colorado treasure. Since 1932 the company has presented a summer opera festival in its restored 1878 Opera House located in the historic gold mining town of Central City. The Guild was established in 1974 and those pioneering women created L'Esprit de Noël as their signature fundraising event.
L’esprit de Noël directly supports the four pillars of CCO’s Mission:
Pirates of Penzance, 2024 Festival Opera
Summer Festival: Founded in 1932, Central City Opera is the fifth oldest professional opera company in the country. Its renowned summer festival takes place at 8,500 feet above sea level in an intimate 550-seat jewel box opera house.
Education: Central City Opera’s year-round education and touring programs connect 40,000 students, families and seniors each year with live performances, workshops and residencies throughout Colorado. In 2018, 50 schools and organizations were awarded scholarships to bring opera programs into their communities.
Central City Opera House
Historic Preservation: The Guild provides award-winning stewardship of the Opera House and 27 other vintage properties in the Central City / Black Hawk National Landmark Historic District.
Young Artist Training: Around 30 participants from nearly 1,000 applicants each year are selected for The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, a rigorous 10-week program that integrates daily opera training with main stage performance opportunities. The artists are housed in the Opera's historic properties during the summer.
2024 L’Esprit Committee members
Chairperson: Lauren Crist-Fulk
Guild President: Katie Grassby
Additional Committee Members:
Louise Atkinson, Heidi Burose, Karen Christiansen, Liz Clarke, Suzie Erzinger, Katie Grassby, Caryne Mesquita, Mena Moran, Melissa Rick, Susan Stiff, Karen Ritz, Denise Sanderson, Bailey Sells, Jodi Welborn, Wendy Wenkstern
Central City Opera Staff: Scott Finlay, Megan Quilliam
Contact central city opera
administrative office location:
4875 Ward Road, Ste 100; Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
phone: 303.292.6500
Inquiries about the guild can be sent to Guild President, Nancy Hemming at nmhemming1@gmail.com.
