DENVER, CO (November 10, 2025) — Opera Colorado marks a major milestone this season: twenty years since the opening of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the beloved home that transformed what the company could dream, create,
and share with its community. To honor this anniversary, Opera Colorado will host a Grand Gala and special concert headlined by Grammy Award–winning baritone Will Liverman on Friday, February 27, 2026.
The Grand Gala: Honoring 20 Years of the Ellie
The evening begins at the Seawell Ballroom, where guests will toast 20 years of extraordinary performances and the visionaries who made them possible. The gala’s honorary chair, Ellie Caulkins, played an instrumental role in Opera Colorado’s founding and in creating the world-class theater that now bears her name. We are also proud to announce our co-chairs: Marcia & Dick Robinson and Jack Finlaw & Gregory Movesian.
“Twenty years ago, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House opened its doors and transformed what Opera Colorado could do,” said Barbara Lynne Jamison, Opera Colorado’s Ellie Caulkins General Director & CEO. “It gave us a home to match our ambition, a stage worthy of the stories we tell and the community we serve. This gala celebrates not only that history, but also the impact it continues to make every day.”
The event includes cocktails, an exquisite dinner, a live auction of exclusive experiences, and performances by Opera Colorado’s 2025–26 Artists in Residence, all leading up to the highly anticipated concert by Will Liverman at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Will Liverman in Concert
Audiences will experience Will Liverman in Concert at 8:00 p.m. at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Known for his powerful voice and magnetic artistry, Liverman, a Grammy Award–winning baritone celebrated for his performances with the Metropolitan Opera and beyond, will perform an unforgettable program of beloved classics and contemporary gems.
Tickets for the concert are also available to the general public starting at $29, with an Afterparty Bundle option that includes open bar, light bites, and live entertainment alongside gala guests, extending the celebration well into the evening.
Celebrating the Home That Made It Possible
Since its opening in 2005, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House has served as the heart of Opera Colorado’s artistic and educational mission—a place where stories of love, loss, and redemption have inspired audiences from across the state. Over those past two decades and since its inception in 1983, Opera Colorado has expanded its reach through statewide tours, digital innovation, and in-school programs that have connected thousands of students to the arts.
“This anniversary is about honoring the community that helped build this home and the art that continues to thrive here,” added Jamison. “As we look to the future, we remain committed to sharing opera that reflects, inspires, and unites Colorado.”
Event Details
Opera Colorado Grand Gala
Friday, February 27, 2026 – 5:00 p.m., Seawell Ballroom, Denver Performing Arts Complex
Cocktails | Dinner | Live Auction | Performances by Opera Colorado Artists in Residence
Will Liverman in Concert
Friday, February 27, 2026 – 8:00 p.m., Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Tickets start at $29 ($34.80 with fees and taxes) | Afterparty Bundle available
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