Entrepreneur
In 2010 the ÓperaMaya Foundation was created fulfilling the lifelong dream of its founder and general director, Soprano, Mary Grogan of bringing opera to the masses. In 2019 with the formation of Nantahala Opera, she expanded to create her second nonprofit endeavor based on this successful model, which even in its initial stages has broken records for fundraising and won awards amongst its nonprofit peers as an up-and-coming arts organization benefiting the traditionally underserved rural and indigenous populations of Western Carolina.
Every year since 2010, except 2020 due to the global pandemic, the OperaMaya Foundation has hosted an International Summer Music Festival bringing together the top professionals from the world of classical music with the stars of tomorrow. Annually debuting the winner of its Composition Competition for new works in the Maya Language and assisting with the career development of young artists via its: Young Artist Program, Emerging Artists Program, Choral Program, Festival Orchestra, Collaborative Piano Program, and guest artists from across the globe. The OperaMaya International Summer Music Festival is two weeks and 14 cities featuring world-class artists in free, open-air concerts of great historical importance throughout the Yucatán Peninsula. The first live orchestra and opera to have ever performed in Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Jose Maria Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Mahahual, Valladolid, Piste, Tinum, Dzitas, Carrillo Puerto, and many more towns and villages throughout the Yucatan, OperaMaya is a pioneer bringing this musical genre to the region. As well as the first ever to perform in Maya at the world heritage site, Chichen Itza. OperaMaya is the first organization to commission and perform original classical works written in Maya.
In 2017, the OperaMaya Foundation expanded to host a second festival. The Viva! Maya Culture Festival, which annually invites a recognized Maya artist to bring their art form to the United States. Former winners include, Mexican National Prize Winner in poetry, Wildernain Villegas Carillo, acclaimed Photographer Pedro Tec, and Maya rapper, Pat Boy! from the Marvel Movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
For more information on OperaMaya visit:
www.operamaya.com
