Supporting singers since 1983

How do young classical singers pay for lessons, coachings, head shots, and scores? How do they fund audition fees and travel? How can they afford to buy proper concert attire?

Forty years ago, these questions inspired Los Angeles-based opera enthusiasts Rena Cohen and Le Somers to begin providing financial help to the opera students at USC, UCLA and other Southern California institutions. Cohen and Somers discovered that the needs were great, so they paid out small amounts from their own pockets. Then the idea came to them – if they banded together they could create a larger pool of funds and help many more struggling young artists. Thus, in 1983, from this nucleus grew the Opera Buffs, dedicated to assisting up-and-coming singers in their 20s or early 30s, finishing their academic years or out and seeking gigs, who were intent on building careers in opera.

 Resources for young singers were scant at the time. Long Beach Opera had opened and visiting companies such as the Met and the New York City Opera brought their own artists. But there was not yet a Los Angeles Opera or any small local companies. There was little chance for singers to gain employment and experience locally. Even beyond Southern California, major companies had not yet developed young artist programs to train (and pay!) fledgling talent.

The Opera Buffs was the first organization not connected with a school of music or an opera company to reach out to young classical singers with financial support and paid performance opportunities.

We understand that singers succeed based on their talents and ambition and dedication to their craft. Their success is their own. But it takes time and money before singers attain financial independence. For 40 years we have been assisting them with direct grants, with paid performances – as well as encouragement and advice. 

In the Opera Buffs’ early days, financial gifts were small. Performances were in church halls or private homes. But the idea caught on and as the need became apparent, membership grew among people who love the art form, and the Opera Buffs quickly expanded its number and variety of presentations, and began presenting concerts in professionally equipped halls that properly showcased the singers’ talents. With this evolution the group became a recognized cultural force in the community.

Then and now, our direct grants can be applied to lessons, coachings, head shots, scores – any career-related expenses. Equally important, we present recitals and events to showcase our artists, performances that provide experience and exposure to the public, under the guidance of professional conductors and stage directors. In recent years we have begun to produce full concert operas with orchestral accompaniment. All are open to the public as part of our outreach to the community.

Through the years the Opera Buffs has assisted more than 700 Southern California artists with $1,140,000 in grants and honoraria. And the work goes on. Talents we have helped nurture fill the stages at LA Opera, the Met, and opera companies throughout Europe and the world. Many of the successful opera stars of today credit the Opera Buffs with providing critically important support early in their careers, offering experience-building performances, financial aid, and the assurance that our enthusiastic members were in their corner, encouraging them, relishing their career growth, cheering them on. The stars of tomorrow are waiting in the wings. We are there for them.

Famous singers assisted by the Opera Buffs include:

Angela Meade ♦ Richard Bernstein ♦ Angel Blue ♦ Charles Castronovo ♦ Tracy Cox ♦ Khori Dastoor ♦ Danielle De Niese ♦ Michelle De Young ♦ Julianna DiGiacomo ♦ Greg Fedderly ♦ Rod Gilfry ♦ Joshua Guerrero ♦ Susanna Guzmán ♦ Jesús León ♦ Sondra Radvanovsky ♦ Rodelle Rosel