Mission

Marble City Opera was founded in 2013 under the Executive Artistic Leadership of Kathryn Frady. Marble City Opera is Knoxville's chamber opera company, bringing American Chamber Opera and innovative performances of traditional operas to new audiences. Marble City Opera brings world class singers, directors, and conductors to the stage while maintaining a dedication to creating opportunities for local, regional, and emerging artists. Marble City Opera has strong community ties and connections to other organizations, businesses, non-profits, schools, and artists within Knoxville, and the East TN community.

Why an Endowment:

Former Managing Director & Bass-Baritone, Brandon Gibson performed with Marble City Opera from its inception, joined as the Managing Diretor in 2017 and continued in the position until his sudden passing in 2022. During his time with Marble City Opera he sang leading roles in world premiere's such as Beauford Delaney in "Shadowlight" by Larry Delinger and Emily Anderson, wrote grants, fostered new partnerships and collaborations with other local organizations, supported the mission of promoting local and regional artists, and most recently wrote the libretto for the World Premiere Opera, "I Can't Breathe." Beyond Brandon's work with Marble City Opera he worked with many of the non-profit and theater companies across the city. A real rennaisance man, his work was seen in writing for online publications, PBS voiceover work, the Clarence Brown Theatre, Knoxville Shakespeare Company, Knoxville Opera, Carpetbag Theater, and many other local appearances at festivals. He also served on the boards of The Big Ears Festival and WUOT, and was named one of the 40 under 40 in 2021. Marble City Opera would like to carry on his legacy, love for theatre, music, the arts, Knoxville, and opera into the future by beginning an endowment in his memory to continue the sustainability of the organization that he helped grow.

More info about MCO:

Within a very short amount of time, MCO has garnered community and industry acclaim. Notable productions include the World Premiere of Shadowlight by Larry Delinger, noted by Opera Wire as one of the Top 6 Operas to see in February 2020. Shadowlight was developed in collaboration with the Delaney Project and Knoxville Museum of Art about local artist Beauford Delaney. Known for innovative stagings of traditional operas, MCO produced an all-female cast of La Boheme performed in a nightclub, and La Traviata in a historic home where the audience was immersed in the production traveling from room to room with the action of the opera. Many Marble City Opera productions were named Most Memorable Opera of their year: The Copper Queen & I Can't Breathe in 2021, Tosca in 2020, Suor Angelica in 2019, La Traviata in 2017, the double bill of La Divina and Gallanty in 2016, and the World Premiere of Amelia Lost in 2014.

In reaction to the 2020 pandemic, Frady joined the Health Department of Knoxville as a Covid coordinator and after creating a mitigation plan, she led Marble City Opera in producing the first live performance in Knoxville as well as the first live performance of Opera in the United States with a reimagined production of Pagliacci under the outdoor TN amphitheater stage in August 2020. Frady devised a plan to continue performances throughout the season by offering a hybrid production season including in-person and online viewings of all of their productions. In addition, and in response to recent events surrounding racial injustice, Frady and former managing director, Brandon Gibson began development on a new opera entitled "I Can’t Breathe" with an African-American composer and librettist team, which will currently be performed by a coalition of four opera companies.

Marble City Opera has a history of inclusivity and bringing light and work to underrepresented artists and stories. Productions such as La Femme Boheme, Amelia Lost, Blue Monday, Ties that Bond, Sweets by Kate, Follow Suit, Nero Monologues, Beneath Suspicion, City of Ashes, and Shadowlight to name a few. The tradition to connect to social themes began with the first full production with orchestra in 2013 when soprano and founder, Frady donated 9 inches of her hair and audience donations to Children with Hair Loss following the final performance of The Gift of the Magi.

The Marble City Opera Brandon Gibson Memorial Endowment

Team Members