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glimmerglass festival
Welcome to the web site of the Guild of Glimmerglass Festival, a volunteer organization whose purpose is to support the renowned Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York. On this site you will find information on our ongoing year-round activities. You will want to bookmark this page and check back often to keep up-to-date on our events and activities. If you are not a member and would like to join us, you can contact us by using the email link at the bottom of the page, or use membership form that you’ll find in the Join the Guild section.
Founded in 1975, The Guild began by supporting the Glimmerglass Company in any way we could. When I think of the legendary Aggie Jones’ Chow Wagon (an RV that served home cooked meals to the Company in the parking lot of the Cooperstown Central School) I feel a kinship to those who, from the very beginning of Glimmerglass, have worked so tirelessly to make the Glimmerglass Festival a reality.
The Guild of Glimmerglass Festival has many activities to support the Festival over the course of the season. We contribute to the Festival in many ways, not only financially, but also with so many other volunteer opportunities. In 2018, the Guild reported over 3,000 hours of volunteer work.
The 2019 Festival Season will start with the excitement of the Education Committee’s well-attended Talking Opera programs in May and June. The Education Committee will bring area school students for “A Day at The Opera” with behind-the-scenes tour as well as enjoying a Main Stage performance.
In 2018 The Guild served over 2,000 meals. We will gather for the annual Eat and Greet in June 2018 when Guild members prepare their favorite dishes to share with the 400 members of the cast, crew, orchestra and administration. Before you blink, we will be celebrating the openings of each of the Main Stage productions with cast parties serving delicious food to our guests, the cast and orchestra. Many hands will cook and bake to feed the cast, orchestra, support staff and volunteer ushers on each of the Saturdays where there is a matinee and then evening performance. These “changeover dinners” are my personal favorite and how I came to truly relish being part of The Guild. We celebrate the close of the Youth Opera and their wonderful achievements.
Somehow, in between it all, we party at The Cooperstown Country Club and are entranced by the Young Artists. The Guild Gala in August is always a memorable night with a Silent and Live Auction that always puts the “fun” in fundraising. The Guild sponsors the Doris Shields Administrative Intern each season. In total we were able to donate $40,000 to the Company in 2018.
It is an honor to serve as President. This is an amazing group of people who continue to help Glimmerglass Festival in any way we can. If you are not a member but want to join the fun, please download the membership form and mail it to Winnie Olsen, Membership Chairperson. We would love you to have you join us!
Announcements will help you stay up-to-date on current happenings of interest to Guild members.
Upcoming Events will give you a detailed listing of Guild events and activities both during the Festival season as well as throughout the year.
Use our online form to join the Guild, renew your membership, or make a donation.