Opera. Redefined Stages. Bold Voices. Shared Justice. Connection.
Rising Waters
Collective
Next Up:
Rooted & Rising:
A Concert Honoring Women in Song
Join us for Rooted & Rising, an evening of song, drinks, and community connection. Celebrate the growth of Rising Waters Collective—a bold, locally-rooted performing arts organization—dedicated to lifting voices and stories of the Pacific Northwest. Come raise a glass and help us rise, together.
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July 31
7pm
Private Residence, Vashon Island
August 27:
Vox: The Art of the Inner Monologue
Get ready, Bellingham!
On one unforgettable night at Lairmont Manor, soprano Ibidunni Ojikutu and pianist Jay Rozendaal bring Vox: The Art of the Inner Monologue to life in a brand-new English adaptation of Poulenc’s La voix humaine.
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August 27
7pm
Lairmont Manor, Bellingham
It’s haunting. It’s powerful. And it’s happening just once.​
2025 - 2026
Season
Welcome to Rising Waters Collective's inaugural season!
Experience the raw emotion and innovative storytelling of chamber opera!
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Rising Waters Collective creates bold, locally rooted chamber opera that amplifies stories of our region, commissions and showcases regional talent, and embraces opera as a living art form—one that resonates with the struggles and hopes of our time while honoring its deep traditions.
October 2025: VOX. A reimagining of Poulenc & Cocteau’s La voix humaine as a multi-location, multi-interpretation experience. 1 day, 8 performers. 8 unique interpretations of the opera in different venues across the region, offering varied artistic perspectives on the same work. This decentralized approach transforms the piece into a dynamic, citywide event, deepening audience engagement and emphasizing the universal yet deeply personal nature of the opera’s themes.
MARCH 2026: ECHOES OF HER. A concert celebrating the lives, stories, and music of women of the Pacific Northwest.
August 2026: US PREMIERE - disPLACE. Two powerful contemporary one-act operas explore displacement, home, relationships, and survival. Through gripping stories and evocative music, they confront the forces that uproot lives, in this case gentrification, giving voice to those who fight to reclaim their place in the world. Urgent, thought-provoking, and deeply human.​​
Rising Waters Collective
is
Opera. Redefined Stages. Bold Voices.
Shared Justice. Connection.
Through bold storytelling, innovative collaborations, and a relentless pursuit of artistic integrity, Rising Waters Collective cultivates a space where opera is not just performed but lived—where history, engagement, and creativity converge to inspire lasting impact.
We
Are
Led by four visionary leaders with expertise as opera singers, actors, educators, producers, curators, and researchers, Rising Waters Collective stands at the intersection of artistic excellence and social change. United by a deep commitment to the power of opera, they reimagine the art form as a vehicle for equity, accessibility, and transformation. Their leadership is rooted in a shared dedication to social, economic, and environmental justice, shaping productions that challenge conventions, amplify underrepresented voices, and engage directly with the needs of their community.
