The Halifax Summer Opera Festival Association (HSOF) is a Canadian nonprofit charitable organization based in Nova Scotia, dedicated to advancing education and public appreciation of opera and musical theatre through summer performance training and productions. Registered under the Business Number 845278522RR0001, the association has been active since 2005 in producing fully staged operas and musical theatre works and in providing educational opportunities and scholarships for young performers in the Halifax region.

Overview

HSOF operates an annual summer festival in Halifax, focusing on the training and development of singers typically at the university or young professional level. The festival presents three fully staged operas or musical theatre works each summer, drawn from the standard repertoire, to challenge and enrich both artists and audiences. Since its inception, the association has produced 33 full-length productions and has trained hundreds of singers, most of whom are Canadian.

Mission and Activities

The association's mission encompasses three main goals:

• To advance education by providing summer opera and music theatre performance training for adults, youth, and children in Halifax.
• To provide financial assistance through scholarships for successful applicants to participate in the festival's educational programs.
• To enhance public appreciation of the arts by delivering high-quality public performances and offering free performances and lectures targeted at audiences who might otherwise not have access to such cultural events.

HSOF emphasizes an artist-centred, creative, and professional approach, maintaining relatively low-budget and modern productions that respect their source material. Its audience includes a wide range of opera and theatre enthusiasts, from newcomers to experienced patrons.

Organizational Structure

As of October 2023, the Board of Directors includes Jane Gordon, Christina Dadford, David Mosey, and Andrew Pelrine. The Artistic Director, serving ex officio, is Nina Scott-Stoddart. The organization is supported by donors who contribute to general funds or scholarships, with all donations over $10 eligible for tax receipts.

Impact and Community Involvement

HSOF plays a significant role in fostering the performing arts community in Halifax by:

• Providing scholarships totaling thousands of dollars annually to promising young singers.
• Engaging audiences through over a dozen concerts each year.
• Offering educational programming, including lectures and performances designed to broaden access to opera and musical theatre.

The festival also holds fundraising concerts, such as the planned event featuring Mozart's The Magic Flute, to support its mission and future operations.

Recognition

The Halifax Summer Opera Festival Association is registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, complying with all regulatory requirements. Its charitable status helps facilitate donations and tax benefits for supporters, aiding the sustainability of its training and production activities.

The Halifax Summer Opera Festival Association remains an important cultural institution within Nova Scotia, committed to nurturing talent and expanding the reach of opera and musical theatre in the Canadian arts landscape.