Lynn Wyatt
Houston Grand Opera (Houston, TX)

Level 1 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget Over $10M)

An international leader in raising support and awareness for worthy causes, and one of Houston’s most active philanthropists, Lynn Wyatt has made it her mission to bring Houston Grand Opera (HGO) to its maximum artistic potential, and to ensure that HGO will continue to innovate the opera world for future generations. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and an active philanthropist, Mrs. Wyatt has been the vice chairman of the HGO Board since 1984 and is a longtime member of HGO’s marketing committee, where she has provided valuable guidance on ways to attract new audiences and expand the demographic of the company’s reach. She is a strong proponent of HGO’s community collaborations, such as The Refuge (2007), an original work highlighting the stories of seven immigrant communities in Houston; and the fall 2010 production, To Cross the Face of the Moon / Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, the world’s first mariachi opera. Mrs. Wyatt’s prowess in the area of special events is legendary and has resulted in some of the most successful fundraising events in the city’s history. In 2005, she chaired the organization’s 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee Gala, which raised a record-breaking $2.5 million dollars for HGO. Recently, Mrs. Wyatt’s husband, Oscar, announced a $1 million donation to create the Lynn Wyatt Great Artist Fund, an endowed fund dedicated to bringing the very best talent to HGO.

Eleanor Caulkins
Opera Colorado (Denver, CO)

Level 2 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget $3M – $10M)

Mrs. Eleanor “Ellie” Caulkins has spent more than half of her life as an advocate for opera performance and education, and for the past 28 years her greatest cause has been helping to establish and nurture Opera Colorado. Through Mrs. Caulkins’ tireless efforts as a leader, advocate and contributor, Opera Colorado has grown in stature regionally and nationally. Mrs. Caulkins’ interest in opera began after attending an adult opera education class, but soon blossomed into a lifelong passion. Her devotion to the art form inspired her to become a key figure in the founding of Opera Colorado in 1983 and to serve on numerous committees and as chairman of the Board. Through her strong leadership and position in the company and community, she has been named a Lifetime Honorary Chairman of the Opera Colorado Board of Directors. In addition to her tireless volunteerism, Mrs. Caulkins’ stalwart commitment to the financial and artistic health of Opera Colorado has been key to the high level of artistic excellence and recognition achieved by the company today. For most Colorado citizens, Mrs. Caulkins is best known for the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, a permanent home for Opera Colorado in Denver. The naming of the opera house was a gift from her husband and five children, and is a fitting tribute to a woman who has devoted so much of her time and resources to ensuring that opera is an integral part of the Denver artistic community. In addition, Mrs. Caulkins has had a leadership role for many years with the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council and as a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Jackie Lockwood
Dayton Opera (Dayton, OH)

Level 3 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget $1M – $3M)

Jackie Lockwood’s nearly 40-year involvement with Dayton Opera has significantly shaped the company into what it is today. Since the early 1970’s, Ms. Lockwood has been highly involved in Dayton Opera, as a subscriber, member of the Opera Guild of Dayton and its Board, the company’s marketing director and a member of the opera’s Board of Trustees. In June, the board voted unanimously to confer upon Ms. Lockwood the title of Honorary Trustee. Today, Ms. Lockwood continues to be a vital, enthusiastic participant in all things related to opera, continuing to provide her keen insights on marketing and audience development. Ms. Lockwood has contributed significantly of her time throughout her leadership as a trustee, her guidance as a past staff member and her patronage as a sponsor of numerous opera productions. Beyond this, she and her husband have invested in the success of Dayton Opera through significant personal and foundation gifts. She has been able to use her example of generous giving, as well as her passion and love for opera and specifically Dayton Opera, as a means to leverage and encourage giving by others. She has also provided in-kind support through home hospitality for Dayton Opera artists, underwritten the production of archival recordings of Dayton Opera productions, which otherwise would have been cut from the budget, and advanced Dayton Opera into the technological age by underwriting new electronic marketing efforts.

John I. Riddle
PORTopera (Portland, ME)

Level 4/5 Honoree
(Annual Company Budget Under $1M)

In 1994, John I. (Jack) Riddle founded PORTopera (formerly Portland Opera Repertory Theatre) to provide high-quality opera productions in Maine. A former president of Portland Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Riddle had the contacts necessary to identify the right people to involve when creating an opera company. He knew what, where and when the new opera company would perform, and he knew how to market the arts in New England. He is a strong advocate for high production values, yet maintains a sharp eye on budget and unexpected expenses. Mr. Riddle has been at the forefront of the company’s efforts in audience development, He supported a special ticket price for children a 2007 production of Il barbiere di Siviglia and for a 2010 production of Hansel and Gretel on the theory that these family-friendly operas would convert children into future opera aficionados. Mr. Riddle has also worked intensively on PORTopera’s Young Artists Program which tours Maine and New Hampshire to bring opera to rural areas. Always a major financial supporter, Mr. Riddle was the first to contribute money when the company was founded. He has been the principal fundraiser over the last 10 years and he has worked on the corporate support campaigns, efforts at securing funding from foundations and wooing major contributors.

Monica Sloan
Calgary Opera Association (Calgary, AB)

Opera.ca Honoree

Monica Sloan is the managing director of JKS Holdings, past managing director of Intervera Data and is also the vice-chair of Opera.ca.