Founder and the Executive Producer of the award-winning LOLA, Local Opera Local Artists, Ms. Liz Cass is a producer, educator, arts leader, and active operatic performer. As an immediate and global community, It is vital for people from all walks of life to sit in a room and have a larger shared experience together. In the Austin community and the world at large, it is very easy to go our respective ways and encounter not only our limited daily existence but also only those who exist in it. Our productions have attracted longtime opera aficionados and a large number of people having their first experience with the art form. Part of the LOLA mission is to meet people where they are and introduce them to opera. This production won 3 Austin Critics Table Awards. La Femme Bohème opened to sold out houses. Liz and Rebecca assembled a team of highly skilled local talent and a show was born. They called this production La Femme Bohème. LOLA is born: In the summer of 2014, LOLA was created by professional opera singer, arts administrator, and long-time Austin resident Liz Cass and opera director and Austin resident, Rebecca Herman with the idea of creating an all-female production of Puccini’s classic opera, La Bohème. Our projects give artists unique and interesting outlets for their work, pull in diverse audiences, and propel opera out of the grand hall, flowing into the larger community. We stand with our Black colleagues and all who are working toward radical change, unity and justice. Our mission includes integrity to our approach to opera, to the Austin community, and to each other. LOLA is committed to cultivating the future of opera by offering new approaches to this art form and classical singing.

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