OUR STORY
Opera For Us Foundation is a performing arts organization dedicated to educating and exposing opera, to a wider audience, while amplifying BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Singers and Performers. Our mission is to make the beauty and emotion of opera accessible to all, regardless of background or financial means. Through various initiatives and performances, we aim to enrich lives and inspire a love for this timeless art form.
Opera For Us is proud to be a member of
Our projects range from community opera performances to educational workshops that introduce opera to schools and local communities. By engaging with diverse audiences and creating immersive experiences, we aim to break down barriers and foster a deeper appreciation for this magnificent art form. Our goal with each performance and outreach opportunity is to highlight as many black and brown performers, instrumentalists, and artists as possible.
OUR PURPOSE
Our community performances bring the magic of opera to urban neighborhoods and public spaces, creating unique and memorable experiences for all attendees.
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We had the honor of partnering with Toastique Chesapeake for an outdoor program, A Toast to Opera at the Pointe ,featuring opera scenes, dance, and solo performances. The event was held at Summit Pointe where ticket holders and residents within the area were able to enjoy the program.
COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES
Our educational workshops introduce minority students and community members to the world of opera, offering insights into the music, stories, and theatricality that make opera a truly special art form. We had the honor of being recipients of a grant through Portsmouth Public Schools for 2025-2026, to curate opera and vocal workshop after school programming for secondary schools.
Educational Workshops
Our community performances bring the magic of opera to urban neighborhoods and public spaces, creating unique and memorable experiences for all attendees.
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We have had the honor of partnering with the city of Norfolk for our first annual "At the Park Before Dark" in the NEON District, a free program highlighting vocal students from the Governors School of the Arts, local professional opera singers, a drum corps, and spoken word.
Youth Outreach
PAST & CURRENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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Meet the Founder!
Denise Battle Price is a multi genre vocalist, specializing in the areas of opera and art song. Ever since she was a young girl, Denise always had a passion for people and impact and wouldn't realize until recent years her passions in singing and community outreach would be the perfect intersection of her purpose. She has opened for Stevie Wonder, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and studied overseas briefly in Graz, Austria, where she gained additional insight and experience in German lied and opera workshop. Having performed with the Virginia Opera, Bronx Opera, and New Rochelle Opera, she was able to extend her expertise as an Artist in Residence with the Contemporary Arts Network (the CAN) in 2023, where she exposed the Hampton Roads area to black women composers, black art song, opera, while highlighting additional black opera singers in the area.
In the fall of 2023, she launched her not for profit organization, Opera For Us Foundation which exposes, educates, and engages the community, specifically BIPOC, to opera through real life experiences and storytelling. Denise is a proud alumni of Norfolk State University, where she obtained her undergraduate and graduate studies in Music Education and Vocal Performance. She has an extensive background in vocal coaching with amateur and professional artists, in addition to contracted work to assist worship leaders and groups in worship spaces. She serves as a vocal judge and panelist. She is also a member of the Washington DC Recording Academy chapter . Her gratitude extends to her amazing husband who helped curate the name of Opera For Us, while in the ideation stages of the company.