Dear Friend, The Claremont Opera House is a stage for local and traveling talent and a landmark for generations. This historic theater has weathered many storms and celebrated numerous triumphs in its long history.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Scott Hagar, the most recent 23/24 Season delivered a beacon of hope. In a post-pandemic era of financial pressure for performing arts venues nationwide, COH staff, board members, and volunteers dedicated many hours of their time and valuable skills to host 50 events and welcome over 16,000 guests, including 3,000 students and area youth. We closed out our fiscal year in July earning $15,084 in net income, 75% of which was allocated toward preservation reinvestments for the building. As we look forward, we are optimistic. The upcoming 24/25 Season is already shaping up to offer exciting experiences for everyone. Our vision is to continue to inspire and engage the community with a love of the arts.

We are thrilled about a significant investment in our technical infrastructure, with upgraded speakers and stage lighting made possible through grant funding awarded by the Northern Borders Regional Commission Catalyst Program, generous contributions from local charitable foundations, and commitments from friends like you. Installation should be completed this Fall. This will not only enhance experiences for performers and guests, but also eliminate ongoing expenses of regular equipment rentals, which permits us to apply those resources more effectively.

With a solid milestone achieved toward capital improvements, please help us to now invest in our talented team. We are immensely grateful for our handful of dedicated volunteers, but volunteerism overall for many non-profits has not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels; COH is no exception. This is a key aspect for the need to grow the organization’s paid staff. Today, we humbly ask for your continued generosity as a Friend of the COH. Your contribution would provide for office support to conduct regular box office hours, essential bookkeeping tasks, targeted marketing and advertising, increased volunteer outreach, and more. Our goal is to raise $20,000 through this campaign. Any amount you are able to contribute is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your kind consideration and your impact in our enduring legacy. ...on behalf of the COH Team