Welcome to Bel Cantanti, an opera company within the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area devoted to giving performance experience to both seasoned and aspiring professionals. Between the beautiful singing and glorious music, you will find yourself thoroughly captivated.

"Bel Cantanti Opera continues to be one of the best kept musical secrets in the Washington area."

AllArtsreview4u

"The future of opera as fun rather than spectacle or museum piece, lies with such groups as Bel Cantanti Opera."

Washington Post

"Bel Cantanti… reaffirmed the belief that we are living in a golden age of opera and the hope that opera in America has a promising feature. Bel Cantanti … makes the special magic of opera happen.”
Washington Post

“… an absolute delight for opera aficionados and the perfect opportunity for timid newbies to be surprised at just how much fun opera can be.”

Washington Times

"Bel Cantanti Opera has emerged as a great showcase for area talent."

Arlington Weekly News TV

"Bel Cantanti…shows a serious, focused orientation, high ambition and significant potential."

Washington Post

Get involved

Welcome to the Bel Cantanti Volunteer Page!

Yes! I would like to lend a hand and help BCO by becoming a volunteer!

Please check the areas of your interst where applicable.

Housing out of town singers.
Every BCO performance usually includes a few members of the cast from out of town. We always need volunteers who would be willing to open their homes to welcome these singers and provide housing for them during three weeks of the rehearsals and performances.
Set fabrication, carpentry, painting.
Bel Cantanti does not use extensive sets, but even modest platforms, arches, stairscases need building, adjusting, painting. We would like to have stage crew volunteers in order to help us design, build, run and strike the performances.
Communication and Media outreach.
The amount of people attending our performances depends on constant work in public relations and promotions: spreading the word to others, puting up the posters, sending emails to the friends and just telling people about us. Our survival depends on you.
Video and sound recording.
We always need professional engineers to help us to capture the performances and rehearsals, volunteers who would donate their time and skills in order to make our work more presentable for you.
Light design.
Light design is an important part of the each BCO performance. It helps so much to express the emotions and beauty of the music. We need profesionals and volunteers to help design the shows.
Graphics and printing
We need volunteers who are able to help with printing the posters, brochures and programs.
Costume fabrication and alterations.
Our costume designer, Kathleen McGhee is always looking for people who know how to design and build costumes. Every costume that we rent or build ourselves needs a lot of alterations and care. Let us know if you like to sew and would like to help.
Fundraising and grant writing.
One of the most important activities of Bel Cantanti Opera board is finding financial recourses in order to support the company. Only part of our budget is covered by the ticket sales. Research grant possibilities, writing the applications, finding the organizations and connecting us with the people who are willing to sponcor and support BCO financially is the most important part of our life and survival in these economics.
Membership on the Board of Trustees/Committees
We all are enthusiasts of the Opera. We love it, serve it, give it all our time. We are looking for people who share our love for the Opera. Let us know who you are. We would like to invite those people to Bel Cantanti Opera board.
Other interests. Let us know if you have any other ideas how to help us.
Contact information. Please provide your email adress for us to be able to get back to you.

We will contact you once your request is processed and discuss with you what you can do to help us. Thanks in advance!