As Boulder Opera celebrates its 15th season, Founder and Executive & Artistic Director Dianela Acosta reflects on the journey of bringing opera to more people through music, education, and community.
When Dianela Acosta moved to Boulder from New York, she brought with her a passion for performing and a growing love for introducing young audiences to opera. She saw how meaningful it could be to help children and families experience live opera, especially those who might never have considered attending a performance.
In Boulder, she recognized an opportunity to make opera more accessible, welcoming, and connected to the community.
In 2012, she founded Boulder Opera Company with a simple but meaningful vision: to create high-quality opera that everyone could enjoy.
Today, as Boulder Opera celebrates its 15th season, that vision continues to grow.
From a Simple Idea to 15 Seasons of Opera
What began with family-friendly performances has grown into a full season of programming, including fully staged productions, family operas, school field trips, educational programs, bilingual outreach, community performances, and summer concerts.
Through these programs, Boulder Opera introduces thousands of students to opera and classical music, sometimes giving them their very first experience with live performance.
For Dianela, education has always been at the heart of the organization's mission. Shorter productions, affordable performances, bilingual programming, and partnerships with schools and community organizations help welcome audiences who might otherwise feel that opera is not for them.
As Dianela shared in her VoyageDenver interview:
"For me, Boulder Opera has always been about more than producing performances. It is about bringing people together, creating memorable shared experiences, supporting artists, educating the next generation, and showing people that opera can belong to everyone."
Building an Opera Company Takes Creativity and Perseverance
The journey has not always been easy. Like many small arts nonprofits, Boulder Opera faces the ongoing challenge of funding an art form that requires singers, musicians, directors, designers, costumes, sets, venues, and many people working behind the scenes.
At the same time, keeping performances accessible to families and students means that ticket sales alone cannot cover the full cost of producing opera.
Another challenge is changing the perception that opera is intimidating or difficult to access. From the beginning, Dianela has looked for ways to bring the art form closer to people through family performances, school programs, bilingual outreach, and experiences beyond the traditional theater.
Leading a nonprofit has also meant learning many things beyond performing, including fundraising, budgeting, marketing, grant writing, community partnerships, and artist management.
Yet these challenges have encouraged creativity and collaboration.
Working with schools, businesses, artists, community organizations, and fellow nonprofits has helped Boulder Opera find new ways to serve its audiences and fulfill its mission.
For Dianela, building an arts organization is a long-term commitment that requires flexibility, a willingness to learn, and a clear understanding of why the work matters.
Bringing Opera to Life in New Ways
As Founder and Executive & Artistic Director, Dianela's work brings together the roles of artist, producer, educator, and nonprofit leader.
Each season involves choosing repertoire and artists, developing partnerships, raising funds, reaching audiences, and bringing productions to life.
She is especially proud that Boulder Opera has grown while remaining true to its original mission of making opera accessible and creating opportunities for local professional artists.
She also believes opera can take place in many different settings. It can be performed in a school, a park, an intimate dinner setting, or through an immersive experience—not only on a traditional theater stage.
The goal is to preserve the beauty of opera while finding fresh ways to invite people into the experience.
Outside her leadership role, Dianela continues to sing when she can and teach voice lessons, keeping her connected to the performing and teaching that first inspired her career. She also embraces life as a mother of two teenagers, balancing family, artistry, and the responsibilities of leading a nonprofit.
At the center of it all is her love of music, education, and bringing people together.
How You Can Be Part of Boulder Opera
As Boulder Opera looks toward its next chapter, Dianela welcomes people who believe that arts and culture are an important part of a thriving community.
There are many ways to support the organization. Attend a performance and bring a friend who has never experienced opera. Volunteer at an event, connect Boulder Opera with your community, explore sponsorship opportunities, or consider serving on its Board.
Donations also play an essential role. They help keep performances accessible, bring opera into schools, support educational and community programs, and provide paid opportunities for local professional musicians and artists.
Boulder Opera also welcomes collaborations with local businesses, schools, artists, educators, and community organizations.
Sometimes, meaningful partnerships begin with a simple question: What could we create together?
Whether you attend a performance, volunteer, donate, collaborate, or share Boulder Opera with someone new, you help keep opera alive and accessible in our community.
Celebrating 15 Seasons—and Looking Ahead
Fifteen seasons represent more than years of performances. They reflect the artists who have shared their talents, the students who have discovered opera, the audiences who have gathered to experience music together, and the community members who have helped make it all possible.
Dianela's original vision continues to guide Boulder Opera: create meaningful artistic experiences, support local artists, educate the next generation, and make opera something everyone can enjoy.
As the organization celebrates this milestone, there is much to celebrate—and more to create together.
Discover Boulder Opera
Explore upcoming performances, learn about our educational programs, and find ways to support our mission.
Visit boulderoperacompany.com to learn more.
Celebrate 15 Years of Boulder Opera With Us!
Join us as we celebrate 15 seasons of music, community, and making opera accessible to more people.
A Night at the Salon: Vintage Glamour & Opera is our 15th Anniversary Gala and Fundraiser, featuring live music, an elegant salon atmosphere, and a Silent Auction supporting Boulder Opera's productions and educational programs.
Your presence and support help us continue this work for years to come.
Join the celebration on October 17, 2026, from 6–9 PM at The Studio in Boulder!
We look forward to celebrating with you!