Announcing Opera on the River 2025!
Saturday, July 26, 2025 - Lowell Park South, Stillwater, MN
If Rain: Trinity Lutheran Church
Grand Concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
Opera on the River 2024
Experience the magic of St. Croix Valley Opera's Opera on the River 2025 Festival, returning to the picturesque banks of the St. Croix River in downtown Stillwater! Join us for a month of festivities, including St. Croix Valley Opera's 5th Annual Opera on the River Vocal Competition on June 28th at Bethel Lutheran Church in Downtown Hudson, WI. The festival culminates with the Opera on the River Grand Concert on July 26th at 7:30 pm in the park as well, a free event open to all! Bring your chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets and enjoy an enchanting evening of music, featuring headliners soprano Hailey Clark, mezzo-soprano Meridian Prall, tenor Joseph Dennis, and bass-baritone Reginald
Smith, Jr. With our chamber orchestra led by our conductor, Joseph Li from Minnesota Opera, experience an unforgettable journey through beloved opera and musical theater classics, culminating in a breathtaking finale under the sunset sky in Lowell Park on the banks of the beautiful St. Croix River! Don't miss your chance to hum your favorite tunes from the evening in the days and weeks following the festival! For an even more luxurious experience, upgrade to our VIP packages, which include gourmet catering provided by Scheel's Catering. Limited seating is available - reserve yours today!
A Word From Our Creative Advisor - Jack Swanson
Opera on the River 2025 Headliners:
Soprano
Mezzo-Soprano
Conductor
Tenor
Bass-Baritone
Emcee
Featuring our chamber orchestra by STRINGenius, including members of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra.
Don't want to hassle with carrying a lawn chair to the park? Want to be treated like royalty at the Opera on the River 2025 Festival? Then grab your VIP Seats now! You'll enjoy the ultimate VIP treatment with prime front and center table seating with cocktail tables and chairs, and delicious buffet-style catering provided by Scheel's Catering. This is the exclusive opportunity you've been waiting for to indulge in the best that the festival has to offer. Don't miss out on this new VIP Experience seating - click the adjacent image to make your selections and get your VIP Experience tickets today!
We are proud to partner with our friends at Scheel's Catering who will provides the delicious gourmet buffet-style offerings in the exclusive VIP Experience front-and-center seating.
The Opera on the River Vocal Competition on June 28th at Bethel Lutheran Church in Downtown Hudson, WI is open to unmanaged singers between the ages of 18 and 34. Full eligibility criteria can be found here. The judging panel for the competition includes MacPhail's Jean del Santo, and Dennis Petersen, and UW Superior's Dr. Vicki Fingalson. Modest cash prizes will be awarded to the singers who place first, second, and third, and there will also be a "People's Choice" candidate selected by the spectators. The top winning singer may also have an opportunity to be recognized in the Opera on the River Grand Concert at the end of the month. The general public is invited to attend all of the vocal competition day, hosted at Bethel Lutheran Church Downtown Campus in Hudson, WI.
Beginning at 4:00 pm on Saturday, July 26th, 2025, SCVO will host a Performing Arts Fair in Lowell Park that will include other music and arts organizations, non-profits, and schools from around the region representing their organizations to the crowd in the park. The performing arts fair serves two community-focused purposes by providing a platform for Opera on the River attendees to explore all of the arts offerings that our vibrant region has to offer, and by encouraging them to explore the Stillwater area and the downtown community of unique businesses and restaurants.
​Now Accepting Registrations!
Be a part of the St. Croix Valley’s biggest celebration of the performing and visual arts. Showcase your work, connect with thousands of attendees, and take part in this vibrant, family-friendly event.
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2025
📥 Download the Registration Packet
📧 Contact: Keegan@SCVOpera.org
Presented by St. Croix Valley Opera
#OperaOnTheRiver2025
According to Obed Floan, SCVO’s Executive Director, "We at St. Croix Valley Opera are thrilled to witness the ever-growing popularity of Opera on the River Festival, a testament to the enduring support of our community. This expansion not only enriches the cultural tapestry of the greater St. Croix Valley but also introduces audiences to the diverse performing arts offerings across the region. Join us for an array of family-friendly activities, from the Vocal Competition to the Performing Arts Fair, culminating in the spectacular Grand Concert. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you all!"
Obed Floan
Executive Director
Opera on the River 2025 Volunteer Operatunities!
(Click on Image Above or Button Below to Sign Up Now!)
Are you ready to be a part of something truly special? Join us for Opera on the River 2025, a magical festival brought to you by St. Croix Valley Opera. We're looking for passionate volunteers to help us make this event unforgettable.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved and make a difference. As a volunteer, you'll get to experience the beauty of the St. Croix River while enjoying world-class opera performances.
We provide all the training and resources you need to succeed, so no prior experience is necessary. You can sign up for specific shifts soon.​​
​
And if you're interested in pursuing a career in opera, this is the perfect opportunity to gain valuable experience and make connections in the industry.
Join us for Opera on the River 2025 and be a part of something truly special. Contact us today to learn more about how you can get involved!
.jpg){kind=logo}
