A gift from Boulder resident Paul Eklund has helped create a $2 million endowment for the University of Colorado opera program.
The opera program at the College of Music will be renamed the Eklund Family Opera Program. Eklund’s gift of an undisclosed amount was combined with university commitments to fund the endowment.
The endowment will help support three full productions, an opera program for students and a program that connects students with new composers, CU NOW.
In a university news release, Eklund said he began attending outdoor opera productions in San Diego as a child. He said he was also inspired by a recent CU production of “La Boheme.”
CU Opera opens its season on Friday with “The Pirates of Penzance.” Other productions include “Cosi fan tutte” and “L’incoronazione di Poppea.” For more information, visit cupresents.org/events/series/eklund-opera-program.
