MISSION STATEMENT
San Francisco Opera’s (SFO) mission is to bring together growing audiences to experience opera’s transformative power. We believe opera is a uniquely compelling and emotionally thrilling art form.
Founded in 1923, SFO is internationally recognized as one of the top opera companies in the world, and is heralded for presenting productions of the highest artistic quality with a roster of world-renowned artists. SFO presents, on average, 54 performances of eight operas each season. A champion of new works, SFO has commissioned over 20 operas in its history. The Company also manages an internationally-acclaimed professional training program, the Adler Fellowship Program; presents free community engagement events; and offers a K-8 arts education program -- ARIA: Arts Resources in Action -- primarily to socio-economically disadvantaged students.
In 2019, SFO established the first fully funded, dedicated Department of Diversity, Equity and Community (DEC) in any opera company, formalizing an institutional commitment to equity and inclusion both within the organization and externally.