Amarillo Opera was founded in April 1988 by Mila Gibson. The first production was Puccini’s Madama Butterfly starring Gibson in the title role. The production was a huge success and a Founding Board of Directors was established with Dr. Merrill and Catherine Winsett, H.R. And Thelma Fulton and Gibson as the Founding Directors. Since the beginning, a strong working relationship with Amarillo College has enabled the company to grow artistically, financially, and administratively. Today, Amarillo College continues to provide administrative facilities, rehearsal and performing spaces, and a line item budget to assist with production expenses. The company is a professional member of OPERA America, and since 2006, has been one of the 3 resident companies for the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Amarillo. Amarillo Opera serves up to 500,000 people annually through its comprehensive outreach programs and educational services. In September 2009, David O’Dell succeeded Gibson as Amarillo Opera’s General Director. An advocate for developing the next generation of American operatic artists, Mr. O’Dell is fiercely committed to making sure that the Texas Panhandle plays an important role in the future of opera in America – developing an adventurous style of production committed to the development of regional artistry, representative of regional sensibilities and of the highest international standards that can be produced on a regional budget.