American Opera Projects Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Composes & the Voice - AOP's bi-annual training program, ended its 12th cycle in May 2025 with 10 new fellows, 6 composers and 4 librettists. 6 resident singers joined the program as well as 4 music directors, 2 of which were selected as "associate" music directors mentored by longstanding professionals. The program held workshops in September ahead of 2 performances in May 25 of 5 new short operas, under the banner Party of Five, held in AOPs home base of South Oxford Space in Brooklyn, NY, with over 150+ total attendees.One Drop - adapted from the play Brass Ankle by DuBose Heyward (Porgy and Bess), a new opera adapted and composed by Thomas Cabaniss. AOP produced a public workshop with Bare Opera on November 2 at South Oxford Space, after which the director & composer conducted a Q&A with the audience of 50+ attendees.AOP Plays Arvo Prt - Two performances in February 25 & May 25, in partnership with String Orchestra of Brooklyn, GHOSTLIGHT Chorus and Bang On a Cans Long Play. Featuring 1 soloist, a chorus of 8 singers, and full string orchestra. Total attendees of 200+. The Climate Opera Project - Two of the featured operas, Polar and The Watering Hole, were remounted at University of Connecticuts UConn Opera, in association with UConn Puppet Arts, on March 30. State of the Jews - World premiere of a new opera by Composers & the Voice alum Alex Weiser and Ben Kaplan on January 15 25, presented at the Streicker Cultural Center, in partnership with Orchestra of St. Lukes Chamber Ensemble. Featuring 4 principal singers, 8 chorus singers, chamber ensemble of 7 instrumentalists, the work was performed for a total of 500 in-person attendees and 2000+ live-stream attendees. The AOP/NYU Tisch Opera Lab - Training program partnered with the Tisch School of the Arts for aspiring Opera composers and librettists, staged 3 performances in May 2025 with 3 30-minute new operas inspired by the lives and histories of residents at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. Featuring 6 singers and pianist. Performed both at the NYU African Grove Theatre and Woodlawn Cemeterys Woolworth Chapel for a total of 400+ attendees. ?

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 77.9%; rating input score 78
• Program expense ratio: 80.6%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $19.59 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 88.9%; rating input score 89; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.56; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.11; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.2%; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -5.8% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.4% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings