As Africa’s premier opera company and one of South Africa’s largest permanent non-profit, performing arts organization, CTO provides permanent employment to young singers, opera practitioners, instructors and administrators. 2020 marked its 21st anniversary, with a Level 1 BBBEE status and Section 18A status for educational programming. We are audited annually by Meredith Harrington Inc Chartered Accountants. COMPANY ANNUAL AND FINANCIAL REPORTS CAN BE FOUND HERE.

“The South African voice is unique, rich with colour and strength and it represents this country’s best qualities. Cape Town Opera nurtures that voice, providing opportunities for a wealth of talent. Cape Town Opera gives to audiences – both at home and abroad – the opportunity to experience that wonderful South African sound, what a gift!” – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu


The past 21 years have seen Cape Town Opera reach incredible milestones:

◾ we remain the only full-time, non-profit opera company in Africa, and the only South African training programme for university graduates in opera performance.

◾ graduates of our Young Artist Program are now soloists at prominent opera houses such as the Vienna State Opera, Dutch National Opera, National Opera Studio (London), and Daegu Opera; they have won or placed in prestigious music competitions such as London’s Olivier Award, Placido Domingo’s Operalia Competition, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition and the Belvedere International Singing Competition.

◾ we have invested approximately R400m in the South African economy.

◾ we have done close to 3000 local performances in Cape Town as well as tours to Argentina, Austria, Australia, Dubai, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mozambique, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Wales.

◾ over 750,000 young South Africans have participated in our free music training programme across South Africa and have participated in the creation of our youth operas and musicals.