Endowment Trust

Cape Town Opera Endowment Trust

Like most opera and arts companies worldwide, Cape Town Opera operates in a volatile funding environment. It is necessary for the sake of sustainable and socially responsible artistic growth to find ways of overcoming financial uncertainties. The Cape Town Opera Endowment Trust now presents such an opportunity. The success of this initiative will facilitate long term artistic programming and artist engagement. Most significantly, Endowment funding will assist Cape Town Opera in fulfilling its mission which encompasses the following:

• Maintaining a full and varied programme of opera and other musical productions of world class standard, performing works from the international repertoire with local and international singers;
• Undertaking the training and development of South African singers and artists through such schemes as its Voice of the Nation Ensemble, Voice of the Nation Opera Studio and Voice of the Nation Chorus, with particular emphasis on developing artists from previously disadvantaged communities;
• Including in the repertoire original works and productions reflecting the cultural diversity of South Africa;
• Serving the whole community and increasing the appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of opera and musical productions.

To help Cape Town Opera to continue to present opera of the highest standard in future, donors now have the opportunity to create a legacy by contributing towards the Cape Town Opera Endowment Trust. Cape Town Opera Angels is an initiative to involve, recognise and thank those individuals who generously contribute to the Cape Town Opera Endowment Trust. They will be honoured in perpetuity as Cape Town Opera Angels.

As a Cape Town Opera Angel you will have the opportunity to become more involved with Cape Town Opera. In appreciation of your gift to safeguard Cape Town Opera’s future, we will invite you to a special annual event and with your permission, we would like to mention your name in our programmes.

The Cape Town Opera Endowment Trust

The Cape Town Opera Endowment Trust is intended as a permanent, irrevocable Trust that is being registered as a Public Benefit Organisation. It is independent of Cape Town Opera and administered by its own trustees. Cape Town Opera Angels’ contributions are paid into the Endowment Trust, which is administered by Investec Securities, a reputable international financial institution.

The funds of the Trust will be administered with the following objectives:

• To generate a combination of income and capital appreciation;
• To utilise a portion of the income to provide sustainable funding for Cape Town Opera operations including productions, education and outreach programmes;
• As a last resort and only in case of dire need, to support Cape Town Opera out of capital.
• Our aim is to grow the capital of the Trust to the point where it can be used to support Cape Town Opera’s long-term financial stability. The Trust does not replace Cape Town Opera’s other sources of funding, but will supplement them when necessary.

The Cape Town Opera Endowment Trustees

As of March 2007: Adv. Willie Duminy (Chairman of the Cape Town Opera Board serves as a trustee ex oficio); Mr Andrew Ovenstone; and Mrs Aviva Sulcas have agreed to be the founding trustees of the Cape Town Opera Endowment Trust. Mrs Wendy Ackerman has graciously accepted an invitation to serve as a trustee.

Cape Town Opera is a registered non-profit company with a 97,09% BEE rating.

To find out more about supporting Cape Town Opera, please contact the Fundraising Office on
+27 21 410 9806 Ahmien / +27 21 410 9840 Lize or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.