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Founded in 2004, Nickel City Opera is a 501 c3 nonprofit and Buffalo’s only major opera company producing full-scale operas, complete with costumes, sets and a full orchestra.
Founder and Artistic Director Valerian Ruminski utilizes his extensive network of friends and colleagues as well as his own experience as an opera and concert performer to cast NCO’s shows with talent Western New York audiences might not have the opportunity to see.
“The one word that keeps coming up as I receive feedback on our productions is ‘value,’” said Ruminski. Citing a region and era where dollars are tight, Ruminski says many different forms of entertainment compete to receive peoples’ hard earned money. “I’m proud to say we’re able to keep the ticket prices of our productions reasonable and still provide audiences with a quality show, including professional opera singers and musicians.”
Indeed, NCO’s productions have received favorable reviews from local media, which further underscore the surprise and delight in finding such a jewel amidst Western New York’s celebrated artistic organizations.
NCO primarily stages its shows out of The Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center in North Tonawanda, N.Y., but Ruminski relishes the challenges and opportunities of bringing NCO productions to other Western New York venues--both traditional and nontraditional--in his quest to bring opera to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
With the continued goal of producing high quality opera and a small but loyal following of patrons and supporters, NCO looks forward to building on its success through more acclaimed performances, innovative fundraising and community outreach.
Past Productions include:
Barber of Seville - June 2009
Al Jolson: Son of a Rabbi- Dec 2009
Rigoletto - June 2010
Amahl & The Night Visitors - Nov. 2010
Il Trovatore - June 2011
Il Tabarro - July 2011
Amahl & The Night Visitors- Nov.2011
La Boheme- June 2012
FOR TICKETS- www.rivieratheatre.org
or call 716 692 2413 $24-59 pricing
2010 Nickel City Opera production of Rigoletto
Administration
Artistic Director and Founder - Valerian Ruminski
Music Director- Michael Ching
Production Manager - Wesley Krantz
Development - David MacAdam
Artistic Advisor-Jim Price
Administrative Assistant- Sarah Goehle
Administrative Assistant- James Wright
Outreach - Sylvia Volk
Legal Aid - Michael Feeley at Rupp, Baase etc...
Accounting - M-I Accounting in Cheektowaga NY
Riviera Exec Director - Frank Cannata
Program Design - Jaime Strible
Telemarketing - Patti Ikeda
Composer-in-Residence- Persis Anne Vehar
Board of Directors
Andy Anselmo- Singer's Forum Founder
Frederick Meli- P.Eng. (retired)
Dr. Michael Noe- SUNY-BUFFALO
Francis Cirbus- Chopin Singing Society
John Hoffman - The Buffalo Bar and Grill
Dr.Judy Wolf- Former GBOC Exec. Director
Vernon Siegel- President, Sieco
Suzanne Fatta- Independant Performer
Karen Podd- Nardin Academy
Advisory Board
Samuel Ramey - Metropolitan Opera star
George Shirley - U of M Professor in Ann Arbor, MI
Michael Moore - Oscar winning filmmaker
Richard Troxell - star of Mitterand film, 'Madama Butterfly'
Marc Verzatt - world class opera director
Jeannine Cowles - President of Weight Watchers of Oregon
Nickel City Opera - WNY's Premiere Opera Company
Season 5- Don Pasquale June 28/29 & 30th,2013
