Who We Are
What We Do
PAOT provides carefully managed grants that support emerging opera singers and composers, opera companies and performing arts organizations, youth education, outreach programs, concerts, recitals, workshops, and community performances
Who We Serve
PAOT's grant funding supports emerging opera singers and composers, opera organizations throughout the Pasadena area, classical music educators, students and young audiences, and the broader Pasadena arts community
Why it Matters
Opera is one of the world's great artistic traditions, combining music, storytelling, theater, and visual art into an unforgettable experience. We invest in arts and arts education today, to ensure the continuation of grand opera's legacy for generations to come.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote interest in and support for grand opera throughout the Pasadena area by investing in educational programs, supporting high-quality performances, developing future audiences, and financially assisting promising young singers and composers.
Our Vision
We envision a future where grand opera continues to thrive in the Pasadena area as a vibrant, accessible art form—supported by diverse audiences, exceptional emerging artists, and a community that values musical excellence.
History
Long before organizations were known by their acronyms, a remarkable group of Pasadena women came together with a shared belief: grand opera deserved a lasting place in the cultural life of their community.
Founded on October 5th, 1972, the Pasadena Area Opera Trust was created by women from diverse professional and personal backgrounds who shared a deep love for classical vocal arts. Having lived through world wars, economic hardship, and sweeping cultural change, they recognized the importance of preserving opera while cultivating future generations of performers and audiences.
Their vision extended beyond performances. They sought to introduce children to opera, support promising singers and composers at the beginning of their careers, and ensure that grand opera remained an enduring part of Pasadena's artistic identity. More than fifty years later, that mission continues. While the Trust has evolved to meet the needs of today's arts community, its commitment remains unchanged: to champion the excellence, beauty, and lasting relevance of grand opera.
Founding Patrons: Doris C. Chilcott, Mrs. N.P. VanValkenburg, Henrietta J. Detoy, Violet Cherry Kellogg, Lillian Stewart, Gertrude L. Brawner, Gladys Middaugh Baum, Winifred H. Braun, Madelene Cherry, Irene Grosse Reis, and J. Maria Pierce.
Founding Board of Directors: Doris C. Chilcott, Henrietta J. Detoy, Winifred H. Braun, J. Maria Pierce, and Bernice Sheehy
Impact
For more than five decades, PAOT has invested in organizations and artists whose work strengthens opera throughout Southern California. As the principal funding partner of the Pasadena Vocal Competition, the Trust provides grants that directly support emerging singers as they begin professional careers.
A full list of recipients can be found on their website here.
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Son Jin Kim — First Place
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Ashlyn Brown — Second Place & Audience Favorite
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Emily Damasco — Third Place and current LA Opera Young Artist
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Candace Williams — Chevalier Award for performance of African diaspora repertoire
Many grant recipients continue on to prestigious young artist programs, professional opera companies, and international performance careers.
Leadership
Our Board of Directors oversees all of the organizations operations.
Gino Gaudio
Chairman
Gino brings a lifelong dedication to the performing arts alongside an extensive background in public service and commercial real estate to PAOT. He is also the President and CEO of the Tony Gaudio Foundation for the Cinematic Arts, which honors the legacy of his grandfather, Eugene, and great-uncle, Tony Gaudio—both pioneering, Academy Award-winning cinematographers and founding members of the American Society of Cinematographers. Raised by an operatic tenor father and a pianist mother, Gino inherited this rich artistic spirit, working professionally as a singer and actor on the Broadway stage in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Complementing his creative background, Gino holds a degree in Political Science from Whittier College and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. He built a robust career in municipal government, including an 18-year tenure as the Project and Real Estate Manager for the Burbank Redevelopment Agency, and currently works as a commercial real estate broker with Stevenson Real Estate Services in Glendale. For his deep commitment to cultural preservation and community leadership, Gino was awarded the Cavaliere designation by the President of Italy in the Ordine Della Stella D'Italia. He also serves on the boards of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) and the Italy America Chamber of Commerce West (IACCW).
Mona Lands
Board Member
Pianist, vocal coach, accompanist, and advocate for singers Mona Lands retired from the UCLA Music Department in 2015 after 24 years. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Mills College, she studied piano with Egon Petri and composition with Darius Milhaud. She earned her graduate degree in accompanying from USC, where she studied under Gwendolyn Koldofsky and Brooks Smith. Ms. Lands worked for the Palm Springs Showcase for ten years, from 1994 through 2003, and served as Music Director of the Palm Springs Opera Guild and its annual Opera in the Park from 1996 through 2023. She was the accompanist for the Angeles Chorale for 18 years and for the Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition for 12 years. Since 1991, she has served as Music Director and Pianist for The Opera Buffs, as well as Director of Auditions and the Artists of the Future Competition which she started in 2022. Ms. Lands joined the Pasadena Area Opera Trust in 2022 and became a member of the Pasadena Vocal Competition staff at its inception in 2019. Throughout her career, she has coached and mentored many exceptional singers who have gone on to successful opera careers, including tenors Charles Castronovo, Jesús León, Rodell Rosel, and Joshua Guerrero. She believes that discovering, encouraging, and developing vocal talent is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences a person can have.
Wendy Pylko
Board Member
Bio coming soon
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Jill Young-Manson
Board Member
Bio coming soon