Organizational Overview

Founded in 2011 by Artistic Director Josh Shaw, Pacific Opera Project (POP) produces opera in a range of venues and LA neighborhoods, especially those in Central and NE Los Angeles (NELA), to increase access for communities with historically limited exposure to opera. Since Spring 2023, POP leases a permanent office and public performance space in Highland Park, expanding its artistic and economic activity in the area. POP’s budget-conscious productions are conceived for newcomers and fans alike wishing to embrace opera with low stress and maximum entertainment value. POP has produced over 60 mainstage productions since 2011, collectively reaching 56,000+ audience members in 20+ venues. Our free online video catalog of past productions has received 337,000+ lifetime views. POP’s Education & Community Engagement Department was established in 2021; delivering free in-school programs and a low-cost summer education program to K-12 students, nearly all at Title I schools.

Core Programs & Services

1. Mainstage Programs
POP produces 4-5 staged operas with orchestra annually, performing in venues throughout central and NE Los Angeles (20+ venues and counting). Since its founding, POP has produced 60 mainstage productions, collectively reaching 56,000+ audience members.

2. K-12 Education Programs
Our year-round offerings include four in-school programs, including a Spanish-language program, and one summer workshop, through which we introduce storytelling through music and collaborative creativity, with students generating content which is performed by POP’s guest professional opera singers. Our K-12 student demographic is 68% Latinx, 5.5% African American, 11% Asian, 14% Caucasian, and 2% multiracial; 70% qualify as low-income.

3. Highland Park Recital Series
A culturally expansive, intimate vocal recital series at POP’s Highland Park Headquarters, showcasing POP’s roster of diverse emerging artists.