San Francisco Opera Center

[3] Soprano Sheri Greenawald served as director of the San Francisco Opera Center from 2002 through 2020.

On August 30, 1953, San Francisco Opera founder and first General Director, Gaetano Merola, died at Stern Grove while conducting a young American singer in "Un bel di" from Madama Butterfly.

Participants also perform in two complete opera productions with orchestra and the Schwabacher Summer Concert.

The program incorporates intensive training in operatic repertory languages, diction, acting and movement and culminates with the Merola Grand Finale, a concert with full orchestra at the War Memorial Opera House.

[citation needed] The Merola Opera Program is free to its artists and is supported by contributions of individuals, foundations and government entities.

[citation needed] The Adler Fellowship is a program to support young singers managed by the San Francisco Opera, started under the leadership of General Director Terence A. McEwen.