During the 18th Annual OLA Conference, the network of Ibero-American theatres, festivals, and opera companies and the Spanish cultural foundation signed a collaboration agreement with the aim of establishing initiatives with an impact on the classical performing arts sector in Ibero-America. The agreement was signed in Valencia by Carmen Gloria Larenas, president of OLA and general director of Teatro Municipal  of Santiago (Chile); Andrés Rodríguez, member of the OLA board and opera director of Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires; and Julia Sánchez Abeal, CEO of the Reina Sofía School of Music.

The 18th OLA Annual Conference, held in June 2025 at the Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, was the setting for the signing of a collaboration agreement between Ópera Latinoamérica (OLA) and the Reina Sofía School of Music of the Albéniz Foundation (Spain).

The agreement was signed in Valencia by Carmen Gloria Larenas, president of OLA and general director of Teatro Municipal de Santiago (Chile); Andrés Rodríguez, member of the OLA board of directors and opera director of Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires; and Julia Sánchez Abeal, CEO of the Reina Sofía School of Music.

In line with OLA’s goal of creating international networks for work, training, and education for opera in Latin America, in addition to establishing alliances with organizations around the world, this new collaboration agreement seeks to unite the efforts, actions, and knowledge of both institutions with the goal of establishing initiatives that will impact the classical performing arts and theatre management sectors in Latin America. This agreement, in turn, focuses particularly on developing the artistic talent of young people in the region in disciplines such as opera singing and musical performance.

“OLA is an organization always committed to establishing new alliances and collaborations that contribute not only to the development of networks for institutions and artists, but also open up new opportunities for development, especially for opera singers. We are proud of the signing of this agreement, which builds a new bridge to connect young talent with global centers of training and opera,” said Carmen Gloria Larenas, president of Opera Latin America (OLA) and general director of the Teatro Municipal de Santiago (Chile).

“OLA’s annual conferences are opportunities to strengthen relationships and showcase initiatives that have been in the works for some time, and these agreements are taking shape. OLA and the Reina Sofía School of Higher Education are organizations that have the capacity to generate synergies that benefit young people through professional development initiatives such as digital forums, mentorships, and artist residencies. These types of agreements reaffirm our belief that the artistic potential of the Ibero-American region greatly benefits from these collaborative approaches,” says Paulina Ricciardi, OLA’s executive director.

“Since its inception more than 30 years ago, the School has had a deep and enduring connection with young Latin American talent. Our alumni include leading figures in Spanish-speaking opera such as Celso Albelo, Aquiles Machado, Ismael Jordi, and Ana Lucrecia García. Currently, 30% of our students come from Latin America, and all enjoy free tuition, which is one of our hallmarks. With this alliance with OLA, we aim to continue consolidating this natural relationship with the Ibero-American artistic community and contribute to the development of young talent among new generations of artists, while strengthening this bridge with the School as a destination for excellence in education,” says Julia Sánchez Abeal, CEO of the Reina Sofía School of Music.

Joint Action Plan

The collaboration agreement between OLA and the Reina Sofía School of Music of the Albéniz Foundation contemplates developing a joint action plan that encompasses the main interests, contexts, and development lines of artists in the Ibero-American region.

The agreement’s actions include an initial diagnostic phase, followed by the definition of specific lines of action. These include the possibility of generating and exploring collaborative networks—through artist residencies that strengthen ties between both institutions—as well as providing opportunities for collaboration and opportunities for professional dialogue.