About
Nickel City Opera
Administration
Eileen Breen-Executive Director
Valerian Ruminski-Artistic Director & Founder
Suzanne Fatta-Managing Director
Steve Vaughan-Production Director
Nickel City Opera
Board of Directors
Fran Cirbus
Kevin Cornacchio
Michael Feeley, Esq.
David Granville
Anthony Grisanti
James Healy
John Kreuzer
Founded in 2004, Nickel City Opera is a 501 c3 nonprofit producing full-scale operas, complete with costumes, sets and 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.
Rigoletto Poster
2010
SHOT! Poster
2016
NCO produced ‘The Barber of Seville’, its’ first opera in June of 2009 at the Riviera Theatre to great accolades in the Buffalo News. The following year ‘Rigoletto’ was presented and the Buffalo News trumpeted, ”Magnificent Rigoletto proves Nickel City Opera is For Real".
Since its inception, NCO has produced full scale opera productions including Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Boheme, Don Pasquale, Il Tabarro, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Tosca, The Marriage of Figaro and the World Premiere of SHOT! by Persis Vehar about the assassination of President McKinley produced at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre.
With the continued goal of producing high quality opera and quest to bring opera to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, NCO looks forward to building on its success through acclaimed performances, innovative fundraising and community outreach.
Celebrating its 15th year anniversary, NCO has garnered artistic praise and is grateful for the generous community support of Western New York.
Il Trovatore Poster
2016
