Brava! Opera Theater and James M. Collier Young Artist Program is a opera company created in 2010 by Artistic Director Willene Gunn and General Director Lorrie Hall with benefactor James M. Collier. Professional singer, actress, stage director and educator, Ms. Gunn served as Director of the Opera Program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 1975 to 2005 and Artistic Director of Rogue Opera from 2006-2009. Ms. Hall, singer, non-profit arts consultant and grant writer was the Executive Director of Rogue Opera from 2004-2009. Laurie Anne Hunter, Juilliard graduate and former New York City Opera Conductor is the conductor, pianist and vocal coach and is Adjunct Faculty at SOU and Rogue Valley Chorale Conductor. Mary Witt and Lauren Cypher handle PR and Development and Elaine Plaisance in the Major Donor Relations laison.
 
Brava! Opera Theater and James M. Collier Young Artist Program is a company with an emphasis in four areas of performance: 

1. Opera Workshop involves singer training with theater games and improvisation in addition to staging operatic arias and scenes culminating in a concert. The purpose of the workshop is to help emerging opera singers develop musical and theatrical tools essential to create and build a character for performance.
2. The Vocal Competition was created to recognize and encourage promising young operatic talent, and is held each October in San Francisco. Cash prizes for the three winners total $5,000. The first place winner presents a recital in southern Oregon in the spring.
3. A chamber opera is presented each March at Camelot Theater.
4. Free tickets are donated via the Free Youth Tickets Program to students of all ages who show an interest in music but are unable to afford a ticket.

 
The emphasis of Brava! Opera Theater and Young Artist Program is on the choreographed emotional duet created in opera between music and theater. The mission is to train the complete singer/actor, recognize and showcase young operatic talent and present high quality concerts and professional chamber operas.